is it legal?

[red90xj]

hey guys... ive been seeing pics of some xj's with their 2 front doors off... is this legal to drive aruond the streets with? im not to sure about it.. but why not a xj? when the cj's tj's yj's all have removable doors? they are jeeps arent they? i think it should be allowed.. "my opinion"

 

[Kejtar]

hey guys... ive been seeing pics of some xj's with their 2 front doors off... is this legal to drive aruond the streets with? im not to sure about it.. but why not a xj? when the cj's tj's yj's all have removable doors? they are jeeps arent they? i think it should be allowed.. "my opinion"

Depends on the laws/regulations in your area.

 

[rallyemore]

Who cares. Just wear a seatbelt.

 

[red90xj]

anyone every wonder why they never made removable doors an option for xj's?

 

[sidriptide]

around here you need to have 2 mirrors and seat belts. so mount a mirror on your fender and as long as you dont get stupid you will likely be ok, but you really need to research your regs.

 

[scorpio_vette]

you have to checks laws for your specific state. according to wisconsin law if it was designed from the factory with removable top, then you can also remove the doors. but you do need to relocate the mirrors, because mirrors fall under a different law and are required.

since XJ's did not come with removable top, that would make it illegal here to take the doors off. CJ's, YJ's, TJ's came with removable tops, so you can take the doors off.

 

[Kejtar]

anyone every wonder why they never made removable doors an option for xj's?

Umm maybe cause it was a permanent hard top??

 

[red90xj]

ok anyone got the reg's for Canada B.C ?

 

[Darky]

You could always try Google...that place turns up some wonderful stuff when you're looking for some obsure piece of info, such as door regulations in British Columbia...

 

[afd516]

Around here you need to be able to see 200' behind you. If you remove both doors and have a huge tire hanging off the back of you rig you are illegal, remove the tire or mount a mirror to the fender you are good.

I personally believe that cops do not give a crap. Just do not be an ass or do anything in stupid in front of a cop. I am sure if he wanted, he could come up with a laudry list of things to ticket you for in addition to removed doors.

 

[casm]

As a rule of thumb in California, doors are not a legal requirement though this may well vary by jusrisdiction so take it for what it's worth. Mirrors and seatbelts have no variance that I'm aware of, though.

I routinely drive a vehicle that came without doors from the factory and have had zero issues with law enforcement. YMMV.

 

[scorpio_vette]

routinely drive a vehicle that came without doors from the factory and have had zero issues with law enforcement

ok, let's see if i'm just not reading this right again, so i can make an ass out of myself.

your vehicle came "without" doors from the factory??? what are you driving??? or did you mean it came "with" doors from the factory, but the law hasn't had issues with you driving without the doors.

sorry if i just completely missed this one. i'm still waking up.

 

[play_in_the_mud]

I have a 95 XJ, the guy i bought it from cut the hinges, put wiring harnesses on it so you can take the doors off. Its comepletely legal provided you have a seat belt and mirrors. Seatbelt, no problem, Mirrors? I have harley mirrors with threads on the bottom, put it in your top door hinge, screw it tight with a wingnut, adjust it so you can see and you'll never get bothered. It was nice out on thursday so I had my doors off and drove all day with no problems, its actually kinda funny the looks you will get from a cop that rides by. On a sidenote it doesnt matter if you had removeable doors from the factory or not. There used to be an old stationwagon that drove around here with no front doors and never got bothered.

 

[scorpio_vette]

On a sidenote it doesnt matter if you had removeable doors from the factory or not.

you have to checks laws for your specific state. according to wisconsin law if it was designed from the factory with removable top, then you can also remove the doors. but you do need to relocate the mirrors, because mirrors fall under a different law and are required

it still depends on specific state rules. everywhere is different. would be nice if there were some cops that could chime in. by the way i have the actual chapter/paragraph numbers of the wisconsin law here if anybody is interested i can type it up or try to link to it.

plus it also depends on whether the cop was having a good or bad day. and if your a woman. it's unbelievable what my wife gets away with on her jeep, but when i'm behind the wheel i get pulled over for everything she get's away with.

 

[dyna]

Remember the old Broncos? they had permanently attached doors that werent originally to be removed. Then duffy enterprises made the fiberglass insert to smooth out the door opening after it was removed.That was OK. Being I work next to the Pismo dunes I see lots of old blazers and what have ya with no doors.They never seem to get bothered by our local CHP officer. And frankly she`s pretty bitchy. But like everyone says check the regs first.

 

[GhostDakota]

In PA the only reason it's legal to remove the doors on a YJ/TJ is due to the lip on the bottom of the doorwell and the removeable top. CJ's it's legal 'cause they were a factory option. What I am doing with my XJ, putting safari doors on, SHOULD be legal as it is STILL a door.

In PA you only need 1 rear facing, unobstructed mirror, etc. Every state is different with these type of laws/regulations.

PA: Tires can't stick past the flares
DE: Tires can stick as far past the flares as you want 'em to

Just some examples...

 

[KB1JKN]

I had my doors off all last summer on my DD, with a 1 hr commute to work passing on avg. mavy 9 cops each way. Wear your seat belt, and dont give them some reason to pull you over and cite you and you shouldent have a problem.

 

[casm]

your vehicle came "without" doors from the factory??? what are you driving??? or did you mean it came "with" doors from the factory, but the law hasn't had issues with you driving without the doors.

sorry if i just completely missed this one. i'm still waking up.

No problem. The vehicle in question's a 1969 Citroen Mehari and although doors were an option, mine just came with the 'safety' chain across the door opening. No top, either.

I actually did some research into this when I got the car, and it appears as though doors aren't part of the bodywork requirement in CA other than if you're going to have them on the vehicle, they need to not pose a threat to other road users. Removed or removable doors are not a problem, but you will require functional seat belts, lighting, mirrors, etc.

That's just my reading of it - I'm sure someone who actually is a lawyer could be a lot more specific about it. Note though that individual municipalities may have their own requirements.

 

[scorpio_vette]

No problem. The vehicle in question's a 1969 Citroen Mehari and although doors were an option, mine just came with the 'safety' chain across the door opening. No top, either.

that's one interesting looking little thing. but it agrees with what i said earlier.

it was designed from the factory with removable top, then you can also remove the doors

you said yourself "no top, either".

but then again i'm just stating that from wisconsin law. i'm sure it does vary between states and that's why people have to check for that and not assume what somebody in one state is doing applies to them.

 

[casm]

that's one interesting looking little thing. but it agrees with what i said earlier.

They also did a 4WD version (which sadly never made it to the US market) with a 'real' 4x4 drivetrain - selectable 2WD (FWD in 2WD years ahead of Subaru) or 4WD, high and low ratios, selectable centre diff. Almost bought one before I moved here; the low ratio would *really* crawl. Amazing what two cylinders and 29.5bhp can do

you said yourself "no top, either".

I should've been more specific on that. It came with a full-length removable canvas/PVC roof that just bungees in place - not much different to a CJ in that respect, really.

There's a guy I see driving around here from time to time in a Scout II with no doors (and I gotta give the guy credit: he runs it doorless even in the rain). It's a hardtop, so I'm guessing that in California at least the door requirement isn't dependent on roof construction. Seen the same thing on passenger vehicles as well a few times.

but then again i'm just stating that from wisconsin law. i'm sure it does vary between states and that's why people have to check for that and not assume what somebody in one state is doing applies to them.

Exactly - this is one of those 'how long is a piece of string' types of questions.