ive been looking into making my doors removable on my 96 xj and ive done my research but ive read that the doors are a main support to the unibody and its a bad idea to go doorless and ive read it doesnt matter and isnt a support since its just the rubber seal that sits between the door and the frame. which is true?

thanks,
joma

ps. i am planning on doing this mod http://heavymetalxj.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/6/

 

the door only touchs the body in 3 places, the hinges and the door pin for the lock. the amount of strength is so little you wont notice. i drive and heavy wheel mine with no doors. no problems yet. if you are worried get frame stiffeners to strengthen it up. or a roll cage

 

Biggest worry for me would be if your were involled in a side impact crash in the door area you could be injured more seriously.

 

This. Since your doors go parallel to your "frame" rails they do not offer any significant structural suppord. (Besides, think about that little latch. How is that one little bit going to be structural?) The hatch does however offer lateral rigidity because it's perpendicular to the rails. Roll your windows down and stick your fingers in the gap between the top of the door and the roof/body. What do you feel?

 

same here. thats why im always careful when driving it with no doors

 

X2 on driving carefully. Only other downfall is rain. But a $15 tarp and some paracord makes a great rain cover and takes me about 5 min to put up if you rigg it up the right way. Ill take some pics of it if your intrested.

 

It'll fold in half on the first rough spot in the road.

Id leave them on.

 

could you post some pics of this? sounds like a good idea.




and how heavy is each door roughly?

 

40 pounds I'd say. Maybe a little more

 

If you twist it up enough you do run the chance that the doors will never fit again. I wheel with guys who've done the doorless mod, and although they love it,it does take a toll on the rig. Anyone saying the doors dont have anything to do with the integrity of the vehicle is just pulling the answer out of their ***. One of the three rigs I'm familier with having this mod went to the boneyard due to being too tweaked to get the doors back on. Doorless is cool as hell, but you do run a risk they'll never fit again.

 

I had manual windows and locks on mine, they were not too heavy.. I also wheeled mine with doors off, the only thing that sucks is the rain.. and then when you put the doors back on you feel cramped..

 

Do you live in an area with snow? Driving without doors wearing a snuggy isnt very fun

 

I literally just got home from wheeling doorless, and they slid right back into place and latched with no issues. It was actually the first time I got to take this jeep out and.it was great. I didnt like the doorless at first but I loved it after getting used to it. you can see rverything so much easier
It wasnt hardcore wheeling compared to what alot of you guys do though, it was mostly rocky creek and mud banks.

 

2 door wrestling match!!! 68 LBS each! I don't know how much the 4 door versions weigh, but these will test you at the end of a long day!!!!!!!! (Added by radio flyer on 07-27-2009 08:23 PM)

I put one on a scale.

 

back in march during a trip to the badlands. it got way more flexed out than this in a few other places and almost rolled 3 times lol. doors went back on without issues.