I've always wanted to make up some tube doors, so I finally got down to it and here is what I came up with. This is my first real fab of sorts, so it took a little longer than I thought. I used 1.5" squre tube because I thought the square shape fit the XJ body style instead of the round tube. Plus it was easier to cut. All I have is a 4.5" grinder so some of the initial cuts were rough and took a little persuasion to get the angle correct.

Here is the start of the frame with some tack welds to hold in place for fitment:



Got the cross bar fitted in:



Test fitting the passenger side when I got a chance to get out there after putting the kids to sleep:



Both fully welded and bedlined:



Final product:



I just used the gate latch method for closure, I was suprised how well it ended up working:



Gate latch again. The 1.5 inch tube was a perfect fit for the 4 mouting holes on the latch:



Here is the hinge side (sorry for the fuzzy pic). I had to cut part of the hinge stop off in order to use my method of mounting. I just drilled through the tube and welded in some grade 8 bolts that extended all the way through the tube and hinge. I can either put a nut on them to hold them in place or they are fine just to sit in there:



Here is a side view. I tried to match the body line as best I could. Also, they sit pretty much flush with the rest of the body so they should slide across trees, rocks, etc. easily :



Anyway, let me know what you guys think or if you have any ideas on how I could improve them. Thanks.

 

I like the simplicity, I think instead of a nut on the hinge bolts you should just drill a hole through the threads for a cotter pin and it would be cool to add some steel plate to make it somewhat armor proof and go with the body but I suppose that might take away the idea of "tube" doors

 

Nice. I like the square tube, simple design, but different. Good work. Wondering about the gate latch, tho, keep us posted on how they hold up to vibrations and jolts on the trails....

 

Sweet looking tube doors! I like the square tubing, goes well with the XJ shape.

 

Thanks guys. I am hoping to get on the trails this weekend and test them out a little. I also bought some plate initially wanting to maybe add it in a few places, especially hide the ugly hinge area, but held off on that for now. I may add it in later after some trail time. I also added some nice plastic caps for the open ends of the tube where the bolts are to make them a little prettier.

 

those look awesome! u should post your measurements and make a little write up.

 

deff cant wait for some trail pics

 

The fronts worked out so well that I decided to make some rears with the same materials. The gate latch worked out pretty well too, only a very slight rattle (nothing louder than the other squeaks and moans from the XJ on the trails) so I stuck with the same latch and hinge mounting on the rears. Didn't get any trail pics from the last time out wit the fronts only, but they did take a nice bash on a tree when it swung open after my copilot didn't close it.

 

That looks great. When will we see these in the vendor section?

 

Looks good....any pics of it looking directly from the side?

 

Thanks. Not sure how the backyard fab would go over there, but I have thought about it. Maybe after the welding skills are honed a little further. I'll keep you in mind though if you need some.

 

I'll grab some when I can and throw them up.

 

Forgot about this pic with it open...

 

How much in materials to build those? They look good. Looking to do something similar.

 

i love the way you got the latch to fit right up with what was already there good job