1999 TJ Reverse Door Handles

HondaXR250

Member
Joined
Dec 16, 2018
Messages
26
Location
OHIO
So me and the wife needed to replace the TJ's door handles as they were loose, and passenger side was a pain to open. Was hoping we could get them to mount on backwards. We started on the drivers side, and honestly the worst part is just being able to get to everything, which is mainly the handle keepers. Took us about 2 hours to do the drivers side, because we was winging it, and figuring things out. Once we moved to the passenger side, it literally took about 20 minutes. It was so easy to do, no cutting at all. The only modification is bending the arm for the handle. Which you can take completely out, bend it and test it easily. If anyone is looking to fix that abomination stock junk facing the wrong way pair of handles, dont hesitate to do it. All you need is a flathead or two, torques head, and a pair of pliers.



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The story is that Jeep flipped the handles on the TJ after too many people complained about tree branches snagging the old style paddles and opening the doors.
I dont drive mine in the woods, so no problems there. They otta do a recall on these 4 poppers, and give us an engine, or some rear ends.
 
Okay, this is new to me.

So you're telling me certain years of TJs have backwards door handles, and others don't?

What year did they make the change?
 
I wish someone would do a step by step in pics.
 
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Once the paddles are flipped, you will notice how natural it feels which is identical to a YJ full door factory setup.

I may be in the minority in saying this - I like the way the TJ handles are placed. Being right handed, I can't see how the YJ style would be more "natural" to grip and open, unless perhaps you use your thumb to flip the paddle open.
 
I may be in the minority in saying this - I like the way the TJ handles are placed. Being right handed, I can't see how the YJ style would be more "natural" to grip and open, unless perhaps you use your thumb to flip the paddle open.
Your comment doesnt make any sense. For the TJ handles, you have to use your thumb. For the YJ handles you use your fingers, and it is much more natural and comfortable.
 
I never noticed that they were were different to begin with so I walked outside, looked at my TJ and my son's YJ and sure enough they are opposite. @jjvw 's story about stuff snagging on them doesn't seem too far off. I'd call them suicide handles but I do wonder how often that ever happened.

Vaguely related: the PO put the gas cap from a 1969 Charger on the passenger side of my CJ. I always worried about swinging open both on and off the road but it never did happen.
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Now that I own it again and it needs some "restoration", I want to replace it with the cap from an early 1970s Challenger.
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I may be in the minority in saying this - I like the way the TJ handles are placed. Being right handed, I can't see how the YJ style would be more "natural" to grip and open, unless perhaps you use your thumb to flip the paddle open.

I can't see how opening the left side driver door with my right hand would be "natural" either. Maybe there's a square dance move that would get me around my arm to let me get into the Jeep.
 
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Vaguely related: the PO put the gas cap from a 1969 Charger on the passenger side of my CJ. I always worried about swinging open both on and off the road but it never did happen.
View attachment 150644

Now that I own it again and it needs some "restoration", I want to replace it with the cap from an early 1970s Challenger.
...

Terra Tires from a Ditch Witch! My dad had those on his cj5 back in the mid 80s.
 
I may be in the minority in saying this - I like the way the TJ handles are placed. Being right handed, I can't see how the YJ style would be more "natural" to grip and open, unless perhaps you use your thumb to flip the paddle open.
It is the equivalent of short people flipping the door handles over on their Dodge pick-up over so they don't have to unnaturally lift up since that's for tall folk. Easier to pull down when that's as high as you can reach.