Why Some Jeeps Don’t Have Doors!
Despite being a fun to drive car, when most people think of Jeeps they think of the car that has no doors. If you have ever seen a Jeep commercial then you have seen how great and fun it looks to drive a Jeep or you may be on the opposite end of the spectrum where you wonder why anyone with a sane mind would want to drive a car with no doors. Either way, whether you are for it or against it, there is a reason why the company decided to not give their car doors.
You may be surprised by the reasons actually. We will also go through the pros and cons of having no doors on your vehicle because yes there are both pros and cons. Let’s get started!
Why Some Jeeps Do Not Have Doors
Before we get started, it is important to note that Jeeps do come with doors and roofs but most drivers decide to remove them. This is important to note because Jeeps do not come factory-made without doors which is what many people might think if they do not know much about the company itself.
The doors are always there but there is an option to remove them. If you go to a Jeep dealership and wonder why all the models seem to have doors on them, then you will understand why.
Some people like the look and feel of not being boxed in their cars and driving a Jeep, or being a front passenger or backseat passenger, to a doorless Jeep is quite an experience. There is nothing like it and it makes driving down a simple road seem so much more like an adventure.
Note: if you take a look at the bright yellow sticker on your Jeep, you will see that it is actually a warning sticker. The warning sticker notes that either the hardtop or soft top of the vehicle as well as the doors offer no safety protection in an event of a collision.
That is why they are removable because the main purpose of having a solid rooftop and doors is to protect the people inside the vehicles. Once that purpose has been removed then there is no need for the rooftop and doors, hence why they can be removed in the first place.
A Quick History Lesson
Most people might not know this, but Jeeps were originally designed to be military vehicles. They were designed with a removable fabric top and removable fabric doors.
The reasons or this is because these doors and tops were usually removed in combat and combat areas to make entry and exit easier for the soldiers.
Pros of Having Doors on Your Jeep
- The first and most obvious pros to keeping the doors on your Jeep is that you do not have to spend any time or energy removing them in the first place. You just take the car as it is and not have to waste any time looking up tutorials on how to remove them.
- Also, piggybacking on the first point, if you are going to remove them, you need to find a place to store them as well. Unless you are 100% sure that you will never need them again, then chances are, you will want to keep them.
- If you do decide to sell your Jeep, do not know that the resale value will drop immensely if you do not have the original roof and doors attached as an option. You also want to make sure they are in good condition as well. We will not dive into what will happen if you misplace them or lose them when you need them…
- A more obvious and more important factor is the safety factor. Now, most people might argue that the roof and jeep doors are too soft to offer much support. However, they will protect you from minor car accidents on the roads. Some protection is better than no protection, and without any doors and roofs, it is guaranteed that there will be damage done if you get into an accident whether it is minor or not.
- Another upset is that having doors and a roof will protect both you and your vehicle from mild and harsh weather conditions. Can you imagine being caught in the rain without any doors and roofs? Not only will it be an uncomfortable ride for you but it will also do a lot of damage to the interior of your Jeep. you will have to spend a lot of money to fix that as well. Not to mention, it would be very uncomfortable for your passengers.
Cons of Having Doors on Your Jeep
- It takes away from the driving experience. I mean what is the point of owning a Jeep if you are going to keep yourself all walled upright? It is more fun and most drivers say the sole reason they bought a Jeep is for the removable doors and roof options.
- It is great to take off-roading. One of the best off-roading vehicles is a Jeep. Once you have gone off-roading without doors or a roof, it is hard to back.
Important: Do Not Forget to Comply with the Law in Your States
Wouldn’t it be nice if every state could agree on whether or not driving without doors on your Jeep is legal or not? Well sure, it would make life easier but like many laws, that is not the case.
Despite whether you enjoy your Jeep with no top and no doors or not, what is important is whether your state allows it.
Some states are more than fine with you not having your doors installed, but they are more concerned about your mirrors. If your side-view mirrors are attached to your doors and you do not have any doors, then you will have to find a place to reattach them to your Jeep to increase your visibility.
If not, then it will be extremely dangerous for you to reverse, pull over, or even change lanes in traffic. It is not only dangerous to you but also those around you. Have you ever driven without any side-view mirror? It is no fun and extremely scary so do not risk it.
It is also important to note that many states require you to reattach both side-view mirrors. Other states are not as strict and they just want you to have two mirrors but they do not specify which kind of mirror or where those mirrors should be placed. It is best not to guess and risk the ticket.
Where does your state stand?
States that Require One Mirror
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Montana
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oregon
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Wisconsin
States that Require Both Mirrors
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- New Hampshire
- Oklahoma
- Rhode Island
- Washington
States with Strict and Additional Mirror Laws
If you live in one of the states listed below you can either consider yourself very unlucky (that your state is so strict but you do not want to keep the doors and roof on your Jeep) or very lucky (that you state takes driving regulations and safety very seriously).
- Kansas: You need to have rearview and left-side-view mirrors
- Kentucky: Must have an interior rearview mirror and left-side-view mirror
- Maryland: Must have a mirror on the left side-view and an interior rearview mirror
- Michigan: You need to have mirrors for vehicles above a certain size
- Missouri: No need for mirrors for cars manufactured before 1968 and all factory-installed mirrors for cars made after 1968
- Nevada: You need mirrors for vehicles above a specific size
- New Jersey: You might need mirrors depending on the vehicle’s age
- New York: A left side-view mirror is needed and an interior rearview mirror
- Ohio: Just need only a rearview mirror
- Pennsylvania: You have to have doors be attached
- Vermont: Need one mirror of at least a certain size
- Virginia: You need to have two mirrors for vehicles of a certain age
- Wyoming: You need to have two mirrors depending on the vehicle’s age
The Takeaway | What Are Your Final Thoughts?
When it comes to Jeeps with doors and Jeeps without, it all comes down to a matter of preference. Which do you like better? Next, it comes down to the state that you live in. Even if you love to ride without doors intact, if your state is against then you should not risk it.
Most people think Jeeps just do not come with doors because most Jeep owners ride their Jeep without any doors or roof but that just is not true. It was designed to be a military vehicle and not having the roof and doors was just for convenience.
However, many years later, Jeep still stuck with the original design and that speaks volumes. Whether you keep your doors and roof on or not, driving a Jeep is always a good time.