window weatherstripping

I am planning to black out the window pillars on Wilma the Wagon. Instead of tucking the vinyl behind the weatherstripping, I would like to remove it for the install and put it back on after the vinyl is installed. Any tips or tricks from fellow longroofers?

The weatherstripping is actually the run channel. Removing it is a lot easier than reinstalling it. To remove it, start in the front, and work to the back. Be careful that you do not catch the clips that hold the interior reveal to the door frame. Once you get to the back of the window, the run channel extends into the door about 8-12 inches. You can pull it out, but putting it back in requires that you detach the glass from the regulator, to give you some room to pass the flanges that hold the rear of the run channel in place. After reinstalling the run channel, you can reattach the glass to the regulator. If you are going to remove the glass to tint it, for the rear windows, you need to remove the triangle at the rear of the back door glass to get the glass out. After removing the lower bolt, there is a small nylon fastener in the middle of the run channel of the triangle, and they are hard to find, so do not damage it when removing it.

The tint that is behind the vertical part of the run channel may wear more than the other part, and could even detach from the glass, and rip the visible part.