Getting ready to go topless & doorless
JK Freak
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 976
Likes: 1
From: Cen Cal
I usually head out with just the two front panels. Like XFactor said, not much water comes through the side, but water will make it it under the driver/passenger carpet. Water will also leak from the from where the top panels screw through the sound bar and onto your head/shoulders. I recommend a rain shell. You know people have to think you're crazy when you're driving past them on the freeway doorless. 
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
I just got my jeep this year.. I have dual tops, and a couple questions about summer use.
We've got a couple day trip planned in april in northern AR, and I would seriously like to leave my full doors at home, and just go.
April... It's bound to rain.
What do you guys use for your summer set-up? what tops and covers do you take, and recommend?
I could take the factory soft top.. but it won't cover the door openings.. So for overnight, I could get a trail cover... but it requires taking off the soft top to use it... right?
I could get a bikini top with a trail cover.. which would be easier for overnight..
I've seen an 'emergency rain guard' but it only covers the back doors....
Is there a way to carry the full sized stock doors on the jeep with me, without damaging them?? They seem sorta large for that..
How do you guys handle doorless / topless summer operations on trips?
Thanks in advance!
We've got a couple day trip planned in april in northern AR, and I would seriously like to leave my full doors at home, and just go.
April... It's bound to rain.
What do you guys use for your summer set-up? what tops and covers do you take, and recommend?
I could take the factory soft top.. but it won't cover the door openings.. So for overnight, I could get a trail cover... but it requires taking off the soft top to use it... right?
I could get a bikini top with a trail cover.. which would be easier for overnight..
I've seen an 'emergency rain guard' but it only covers the back doors....
Is there a way to carry the full sized stock doors on the jeep with me, without damaging them?? They seem sorta large for that..
How do you guys handle doorless / topless summer operations on trips?
Thanks in advance!
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 188
Likes: 6
From: Knoxville, TN
Keeping the doors upright is key. Not sure of the whole mechanics but the stealership warned me about breaking the glass in the door if I put them in the back- so I never tried. X2 on wanting soft doors- I've taken them off HMMWVs and thrown them in the back- wish I could do the same with my jeep!
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 3
From: Columbus, Ohio
I have the bestop soft 2 piece doors. . pretty much once summer arrives, my full doors hang in the garage all summer.. and I keep the soft doors tossed in the back of the jeep for those just-in-case moments.. I have a bag that stores my windows so i can close the jeep all the way up if it looks to be a really bad storm... or long rain..
the soft doors keep out 80-90% of the water.. enough that you will stay pretty dry driving and nothing electronic will get ruined.. but if the jeep is parked in the rain with soft doors on ive had water drip in and fill up in the floor pans.. i just yank the drain plugs and am good to go...
-Christopher
the soft doors keep out 80-90% of the water.. enough that you will stay pretty dry driving and nothing electronic will get ruined.. but if the jeep is parked in the rain with soft doors on ive had water drip in and fill up in the floor pans.. i just yank the drain plugs and am good to go...
-Christopher
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: Sterling, VA
Last year I pulled all my carpet and bedlined the interior. Once I did that, I turned my stock soft top into a bikini style top using the clover patch setup (http://www.4wd.com/productdetails.aspx?partID=3633). Once I did that, the doors and windows were off all summer. I drove quite a bit in the rain and never really got that wet. If I had to go far, I just used rain pants and a rain coat. As long as it wasn't freezing cold, the doors stayed off 
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte
Don't forget mirror relocation brackets. Some states and local areas are pretty strict about sideview mirrors. Plus it's a safety issue. I think the freedom panels are a good idea. They cover all the way to the doors without using the door surrounds. Hope you have fun on your trip!
I got excited thinking about going doorless again and didn't read that you were 4dr. 
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: joplin, mo
Don't forget mirror relocation brackets. Some states and local areas are pretty strict about sideview mirrors. Plus it's a safety issue. I think the freedom panels are a good idea. They cover all the way to the doors without using the door surrounds. Hope you have fun on your trip!
