So, I've been trying to justify to my wife why soft doors are worth over $800 for a 4door and it is becoming more and more clear that it is a lost cause. I love going doorless in the summer, but I work about 45 minutes away from home. I had to drive home in the rain once last year and that was enough to make it so I don't go more than a few minutes away from home withouth my doors. I had soft doors on my old CJ-5 and they were the bomb.

My idea is to start trying to build some. I want to do them in a 1/2 door style like the bestop that can come apart. Mostly because I think the lower 1/2 will be easier and if I can't do the lowers I'm sure I can't do the uppers. And, if I can build the lower 1/2's but it becomes clear I won't be able to do uppers...at least I'll have some 1/2 doors.

The plan is to use a parts bender to bend some 3/8" (not sure of the best dia. to use, probably whatever the pin for the hinge is) round bar into a skeleton frame for the door. I found a website that sells Sunbrella Canvas fabric by the yard which is used to make outdoor patio umbrellas among other things. Its waterproof, uv resistant, mold resistant. Sounds pretty cool (unless anyone knows where you can buy actual sailcloth material by the yard?) I looked at the instructions on the installation of the Bestop soft doors and they look pretty simply made, but i'm not sure what would be the best way to secure the fabric around the frame (I can't sew.) I was thinking about doing something like laces where I could streatch the fabric over the frame, cut small holes along the edge of the fabric inside the door and use nylon cord to stich together the holes across the width of the door like lacing up a shoe. This will ultimately fail if you can't cut canvas without the hole continuing to rip. Not sure how that works. Maybe there is some kind of simple grommet type of thing that I can use to stop a hole from becoming a rip. I also thought about some glue on velcro but I don't know how it would hold up to Memphis heat in the summer.

I also have seen door latches called "bearclaw" latches on this site before on others door builds. They are pretty reasonably priced online.

I'm thinking I could build the lower 1/2's for pretty cheap. I've found the latches for $37/pair and the material is $16.50 for 54" wide sold by the yard. The uppers are more of a mystery...Any Ideas?

Here are some pictures of everything I plan on using:
1st is a parts bender my dad has.
2nd is the bearclaw latch
3rd is the sunbrella mateiral used on a boat bimini
4th shows a motorcycle seat with the seat material held on how I'm thinking

 

I found another material that could be cool. Anyone familiar with nylon cordura? I found some online for some 60" wide x the yard for $12/yard.

The only experience I have with this material is that I have a really good set of winter hunting boots that are made out of this and they are indestructable. I wear them when I ride AVTs and they've been through it all and look as good as the day i got them. As I understand it they are used on military issue boots. The website describs the mateiral as "back coated with a 3/4 ounce urethane coating." Sounds cool... In the picture the cordura is the portion of the boot upper that is not leather. Could be a nice material for when they are piled in the back of the jeep on top of each other and under a bunch of crap

 

This is going to be cool.

 

X2

 

X3

 

If you are going to use 3/8 rod then you dont need a parts bender just a good set of tube benders and it would be easier to make it with one piece. And you can sew it is easier then you think just practice. But if find that its to hard for you just go to a tailor and they would do it for you no joke, my motherinlaw is one and would like to do something like that over some of her reg. bullshit she has to deal with.

 

ive thought about doing this as well but i deffinetly dont have the patience to do this. i stopped at a few tractor supply shops to see what they do for there tractors because they are a canvus type door and id really like to have something i could roll up or something and put in the back. im really interested to see what you come up with. i was thinking about a roll up canvus from the sports bar to the seat fram or something not completely water proof but prevents the tire splatter

 

I'm gonna keep an eye on this build.... If it comes out good.... I'm going to copy you and tell all the girls at the beach, IT WAS MY IDEA!!!!!!

 

Then I'll have you build me a set and tell the girls at the beach that I did them myself! We'll take them all home! Haha

 

You can use the rod with sleeves so the framework can be pulled apart for assembly/disassembly.Canvas snaps-like on the old Jeep tops,boat covers can be installed with a simple snap kit,from Harbor Freight onto your fabric. Or have someone machine sew on the Velcro once you have the fabric fitted with the overlap neededIY with the snaps. The rods inserted into the sleeves gives rigidity,the fabric holds it together by folding over the rod and snapping/velcroing to itself.Taking the door off,unsnapping the fabric "skin" pulling the rods out of the sleeves,bundle the rods & roll up in the fabric.Voila! Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words....