Why Don't All Jeeps Have Doors? (Explained & Solved) | Motor & Wheels (2024)

We’ve all had that feeling of awe when looking at a Jeep drive by without any doors or a top. If you haven’t seen anything like that before, you were probably looking at the wrong Jeep model.

Just like any other car manufacturer out there, Jeeps have different models with different features. Some models have removable doors and tops while others don’t.

Here’s everything you could possibly want to know!

Check also our article here with a list of cars and pickups without doors.

These Jeep Models Do NOT Have Doors

All the two-door and four-door Jeep Wrangler models, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited and Jeep Gladiator models have removable doors. These models also feature removal soft tops and removable hard tops on all Jeep Wrangler JK, CJ, TJ, and JL models.

All Jeep Wranglers With Removable Doors.

• Sport
• Freedom Edition
• Rubicon
• Willys Wheeler
• Sahara
• Sport S
• Altitude
• Rubicon Recon
• Jeep Gladiator

Customizing a jeep not only sets you apart from the pack, but it also allows you a sense of freedom. Some Jeep owners go all out to upgrade and customize their already capable Jeeps. One of the best features in customizing a Jeep is the ability to take the top and the doors off.

There are countless features that set Jeeps apart from its competitors. Jeeps are one of the most iconic outdoor vehicles out there. This is no surprise judging from the support and love around the brand.

One of the most attractive features of a Jeep is the ability to be customized.

It’s amazing how easy it is for a Jeep owner to remove its doors and tops.

With enough practice, this can be done in under 15 minutes. The Jeeps do have electrical windows and other electrical connections but this is all bundled in one plug for easier disconnection.

Unlike other vehicles, Jeep’s removable doors do not have any structural role in the overall function of the Jeep. This means that removing the doors does not compromise on safety or other aspects of the Jeep. When offroading, the doorless look is beneficial in that you can see the terrain where the tires are rolling over. This makes it easy to see obstacles and avoid them by steering accordingly.

For normal street driving, a Jeep without the doors and tops can make you feel like you’re flying. The wind just hits you everywhere and this can feel amazing if you are not used to it. Most Jeeps that have removable doors also have removable tops or soft tops.

This gives the Jeep an even more stripped-down look.

With all that open space, the Jeep gives off a summer-vehicle look that makes it appealing for outdoor enthusiasts. On the other end of the scale, if it’s winter, all that wind is not necessary. This is where Jeeps that don’t have the luxury of removable doors come in handy.

These Jeep Models Have Doors

All Jeep models except for the Wrangler models and Gladiator models have doors and hardtops that come unremovable from the factory. This means the doors cannot be removed without aftermarket modifications.

All Jeep Models With Doors

• Jeep Cherokee
• Jeep Liberty
• Jeep Patriot
• Jeep Compass
• Jeep Grand Cherokee
• Jeep Renegade

Jeeps that don’t have removable doors aren’t less capable than their door-less counterparts.

The same offroading capability you’d find in a Wrangler can be found in other models as well. Jeep models have advanced 4×4 drivetrains that make them tough offroaders.

The Jeep brand has made its mark in the offroading world and this has lead to a growing community of Jeep modifiers and aftermarket upgrades. Upgrading or modifying a Jeep is now easier than ever. This is what increases the appeal for the Jeeps, they are just that easy to modify or upgrade.

For Jeep enthusiasts who just love the stripped-down, door-less look of a Wrangler, many have taken to modifying their Jeeps. This usually means going the aftermarket route to have the doors taken out. Even though this is not recommended for a number of reasons, Jeep owners make it look easy. It requires a bit of know-how, but there are reports of owners who’ve successfully removed their doors. Just because it’s easy to do it, it doesn’t necessarily mean it should be done.

For all we know, this can pose a lot of unknown dangers.

Is It Dangerous To Drive A Jeep Without Doors?

Driving in a Jeep without doors is relatively safe. This is because the removable doors typically don’t compromise the structure of the Jeep and therefore do not affect how safe the Jeep is.

Driving a Jeep without doors is relatively safe because the doors play a minimal role in the overall protection during an incident. This means that a Jeep’s doors don’t necessarily have any safety features that can prevent injury.

This is different in other cars because the doors of the vehicle might have side airbags and other safety features. In the case of other cars, the doors do play a vital role in case of a crash. The airbags installed on car doors and the door’s structure is made with safety in mind.

Jeeps, on the other hand, have a structural bar that protects from side impacts. In a side-impact, that structural bar on the side of the Jeep will absorb most of the impact.

All car crashes are different and crash tests can’t always tell exactly what every crash will look like.

Having said that, the side panel of the Jeeps has been crash-tested to prove the efficacy of the doors. What these tests proved is that the doors will not play a huge role in injury prevention in the case of a crash.

However, the Jeep doors can lessen the number of injuries sustained from external debris. Things like glass and road debris that fly out during the crash have no barrier if the doors are removed. These can injure the passenger even more but a solid door can prevent this. This together with the obvious precautions like wearing seatbelts and being a safe driver will also go a long way in injury prevention.

However that may be, it does not seem to deter Jeep owners from driving without the doors.

Driving without doors is especially prevalent in the summer months when the extra cool wind is always welcomed. Depending on where you live, you might have different laws pertaining to vehicles without doors.

Is It Legal To Drive A Jeep Without Doors? (Rules Per State)

It is not legal to drive a Jeep without doors. Most states require cars and pickups to have doors installed. The required number of rear-view or side-view mirrors varies with each state.

As an example, Jeep drivers in Pensylvania have gotten tickets for many years when driving without doors.

Although it is illegal to drive a Jeep without doors in most states, there might be exceptions. These laws differ by state and they typically require that a certain number of mirrors be installed if the Jeep’s doors are removed. This can include the number of side-view mirrors and rear-view mirrors on the vehicle.

On a Jeep, when the doors are taken out, so are the side mirrors attached to the door.

It means the driver’s view is limited and this increases the risk of a collision.

To prevent this, state laws make sure to include the number of mirrors to be installed if a Jeep is door-less. It’s always best to check with your state laws and make sure you have the correct number of mirrors installed.

States That Require One Mirror:

• Alabama
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• New Mexico
• North Dakota
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Wisconsin

States That Require Two Mirrors:

• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• New Hampshire
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island
• Washington
• Michigan
• Nevada

States With Additional Requirements:

Again, it’s best to double-check the laws with your respective state. Laws are updated all the time and it just might have been changed in a specific state.
Door-less Jeeps are allowed on the road, but with a few restrictions such as the mirror requirements above. It wouldn’t be fun getting pulled over for something that would’ve taken just a minute to check.

This is why it is recommended to check the laws with your respective state.

Going door-less in a Jeep looks appealing, but if the necessary side-view mirrors or rear-view mirrors aren’t installed it can land in trouble with the law.

This is also for the passenger’s protection because the driver needs to be aware of all the surroundings while driving. The mirrors help in this case.

There are a lot of aftermarket mirrors available for Jeeps.

These aren’t very difficult to get a hold of. What can be difficult is wondering if going door-less is for you.

You may also be wondering about the process of removing the doors and going door-less with a Jeep.

Can You Take Off The Doors On Your Jeep?

It’s possible to remove the doors on your Jeep if the legally required amount of mirrors is reattached to the Jeep and your state allow it. The process of removing the doors is fairly easy and can be done by yourself.

It looks like the process of removing the doors is straightforward for any of the Wranglers. Removing the doors on the Jeep can be done alone. You might need to take some precautions to ensure you don’t damage the door panel or other parts in the process.

With a little practice, the two-door Jeep Wrangler can take you well under 30 minutes to remove all doors.

The issue that comes up the most is finding alternative aftermarket mirrors to reattach.

Jeep has a large enough following that finding extra mirrors shouldn’t be much of a problem. This is due to the fact that these aftermarket mirrors are compatible with most of the Jeep Wrangler models.

When the necessary mirrors have been installed, the Jeep is then ready to be driven doorless.

Driving without the doors will be a great ride, but just make sure that seatbelts are worn and all necessary safety precautions have been taken.

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