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Jeep Wranglers are designed with removable body components, like the top and doors. In this tech guide we’ll discuss the procedures involved with removing the doors, storage solutions and tube door options available.
When the weather gets warmer, the doors need to come off. These half doors and replacement doors are a great and safe solution to wanting to take the doors off.
The first step in the removal of Jeep doors is to loosen and remove the T50 cap nuts on the door hinges. This can be done with a T50 socket and ratchet. It’s also beneficial to lube the door stems and hinges when the doors are removed, in order to make future removal easier.
If your Jeep is equipped with power windows, locks or mirrors, there will be a wire harness that will need to be unplugged. Before unplugging the wire harness, lower the windows to ensure that the glass is properly protected within the door frame and to make removal easier. Once the window has been lowered, disconnect the wire harness by first sliding the red locking pin and then pushing down on the tab release. When the harness is unplugged, firmly hold the door with one hand as you unlatch the door strap. This is an important step to prevent the door from swinging forward and making contact with the front fender/hood cowl and causing damage.
Once the strap has been removed, from the inside, feed one arm through the window and grab the outside door handle, the other hand can support the bottom of the door as you lift the door off the hinges, completing the removal process.
Once the doors have been removed, it’s important to safely store them. There are a variety of storage options available. A common method of storage is through hangers. The best type of hangers utilize the door hinge. These wall mounted hinges avoid any stress on the door frame and rubber weather strip.
Another common method of storage are floor brackets that protect the underside of the door frame, but this could make it difficult when lifting the doors during the re-installation process. Similar to the floor brackets, there are storage carts specifically designed for easy mobility and protection of the doors.
If you’re looking for some type of protection while the factory full doors are off the Jeep, a good option are steel tube doors. These doors are light and typically have an open design to still provide the open cabin feel, but also provide a steel frame of protection for the occupants.
Tube doors come in a variety of styles to choose from. If you plan on driving on the road and your state requires side mirrors, it’s important to choose a tube door with mirror provisions. Several tube doors have brackets or mounting points for the full door mirrors. However, if your Jeep is equipped with power mirrors, it might be easier to purchase a new set of manual mirrors for your tube doors. Removing power mirrors from the full door could be labor intensive and time consuming.
In addition to mirror provisions, several tube door designs can also accommodate storage straps and cargo netting for an enhanced styling element and storage while on the trail. It’s important to note that although some doors come equipped with locking latches, they aren’t designed to be a suitable security option to prevent any valuables inside the Jeep.
Another point to consider when choosing a tube door is the exposure to the elements. The open design typically found in tube doors, is great at providing air into the Jeep, but it also allows water and other elements from entering the Jeep cabin space. This is an important fact to keep in mind if you plan on doing any water crossing while on the trail. If you choose to do any type of water crossing, a closed half door solution might be a better option to look into.
Full Size Jeep doors with power windows can weigh up to 60lbs. The weight and awkward size can make it difficult to remove and move around during storage. It’s important to consider assistance during your initial removal and installation.