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View Full Version : Rain gutters - why so big on modern cars?



mikedc
12-30-2023, 05:37 AM
What the title says.

Modern vehicles have HUGE guttering around the trunklid (and the base of the windshield). The trunk channels look big enough to hold a golf ball in some places, whereas on classic cars it was barely enough to hold a finger.

The modern ones look way beyond anything necessary to get rainstorm or snow water channeled away. And the channels are also randomly layered with non-sealed plastic cladding, which would seem to defeat the purpose if they were actually prioritizing water runoff. The plastic cladding is great for trapping water/ice and leaves and other muck.

Same with the way the channels drop right down onto the bumper covers & plastic taillights (which often don't seal tightly against the sheetmetal there). The designers seemed so concerned with getting the water cleared when it was around the trunk opening, but that concern is gone as soon as the water is down to the taillight panel area.

Why are they doing this stuff?

211147

raustinss
12-30-2023, 06:38 AM
Engineering... strength

mikedc
12-30-2023, 08:07 AM
Unibody rigidity? Is that all?

Is there anything else to know about the big gutter designs in terms of water & debris drainage?

Lonnies Performance
12-31-2023, 08:44 AM
The hinges used to be in the trunk along with the support springs etc... now the hinges & struts are in this gutter, so it need to be larger.

mikedc
12-31-2023, 04:18 PM
Yeah, holding the trunklid hinges is probably part of it.

But I think water drainage must be a factor too.
Even the T-top channels in the roofs of 4th-gen Camaro/Birds look bigger than previous years.

raustinss
12-31-2023, 05:06 PM
its all safety and strength , alot of new cars use the roof rain gutter for where the roof panel meets the quarters so they dont have to do any bodywork