What are the disadvantages of half doors?

[Mrprez]

So, I was looking at CL for TJ parts and found an ad for someone with half doors with glass upper sliders, regular soft windows and lower soft doors in yellow that wants to trade for full doors. Sounds intriguing.

What are the disadvantages of half doors?

Seems to me this would increase the fun factor a lot. The SO would not want to ride around without some type of door.

 

[tworley]

Half doors here on a DD here. They are fun. With a decent set of uppers (bestop) I dont think you can go wrong. Disadvantages; easier to break in if you leave parked on the street.

 

[Mrprez]

Half doors here on a DD here. They are fun. With a decent set of uppers (bestop) I dont think you can go wrong. Disadvantages; easier to break in if you leave parked on the street.

We live out in the boondocks. Not right on the edge of the earth, but you can see the sign from here.

We are going to be visiting irun later this week and picking up his soft top that he is selling. Probably will sell the hard top. Trying to maximize the fun factor on this Jeep.

 

[Byhumba]

I have both sets (full and half doors). I have not put the full doors on for the past 1.5yr. Pros: fun, better look, removable windows, and arm rest at the right height. Cons: stated already...easier to break in.

 

[Irun]

Building on what has been said, there are three major disadvantages to 1/2 doors, assuming the windows are in:

1. Easier to break into
2. Noisier
3. Poor visibility

That said, if you're looking to maximize the fun factor, there's no better choice than 1/2 doors and a soft top!

 

[Mrprez]

What’s involved in swapping the locks on the door?

 

[Irun]

What’s involved in swapping the locks on the door?

Super easy. Remove the door panel, disconnect the rod linkage and remove the lock.

 

[Mrprez]

Did you list your TJ here for sale? I thought I saw an ad for it. Could be old age though.

 

[Irun]

It also helps to get a door trim tools set and clips, something like this one

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q1P2T87/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[Mrprez]

It also helps to get a door trim tools set and clips, something like this one

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q1P2T87/?tag=wranglerorg-20

Nice kit. I put one on the list.

 

[Irun]

Did you list your TJ here for sale? I thought I saw an ad for it. Could be old age though.

Not on here yet. I probably will be over the next week. I finally got the parts swapped out and it's now put back together.

 

[g.hayduke]

What’s involved in swapping the locks on the door?

That depends. There are at least 2 different size lock assemblies used on different year TJs. I bought a set of 1/2 doors and the lock assemblies are a different size than those in my '05 full doors. So depending on what you have compared to the 1/2 doors you are looking at, the lock assemblies may or may not fit.

Basically the hole in the door that the lock assembly fits into can be at least 2 different sizes, maybe more. If anybody knows more, I would love to know the details.

 

[Mrprez]

That depends. There are at least 2 different size lock assemblies used on different year TJs. I bought a set of 1/2 doors and the lock assemblies are a different size than those in my '05 full doors. So depending on what you have compared to the 1/2 doors you are looking at, the lock assemblies may or may not fit.

Basically the hole in the door that the lock assembly fits into can be at least 2 different sizes, maybe more. If anybody knows more, I would love to know the details.

He doesn’t say what year his Jeep is.

 

[Mrprez]

Not on here yet. I probably will be over the next week. I finally got the parts swapped out and it's now put back together.

You don’t happen to have a stock front bumper knocking around that you are willing to part with?

 

[Mrprez]

Well, we decided to keep the full doors for now.

 

[Chris]

Nothing wrong with full doors

 

[MountaineerTom]

You can re-key the cylinders relatively easy if that's why your wanting to swap the cylinders, if you end up getting some half-doors.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/how-to-re-key-half-door-lock-cylinders.26338/

 

[gg1]

My TJ came with full doors that I still have. I ran across half doors locally and picked them up. I can't imagine ever putting my full doors back on. I got lucky and picked up slider uppers for like $40 and am just leaving my half doors on and putting my full doors in some closet. lol Sure it is easier to break into, but I have a soft top on all the time, so who cares?

 

[THEREALJIM]

My first Jeep had the half doors with the upper glass sliders and I loved them!... Until winter hit or when I would try to do a quick car wash and water would spray in through the gaps. But for summer they're awesome. I was thinking of trying to find another set for my current Jeep someday

 

[Plumber1]

I have both doors, I use the full in winter and the half all summer. The one advantage for me is I hate off roading with full doors. Trying to look out over the top of the door frame and see were the front tires are is impossible. With the half doors I can lean out and see the sides of my jeep and tires. I just changed from my summer setup to my winter setup. As far a locks go I bought my half doors used and never changed the key locks to work, whats the point. I never leave anything of value inside the jeep. I do have a Tuffy under seat lock box that I do keep some stuff in sometimes.