full soft doors
JK Newbie
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: Emmaus, PA
Only problem with the upgrade to a Supertop is that starting with the TJ's, the OEM top was far superior to the Supertop.....as far as ease of installation/removal. Back in the day with my YJ's, the Supertop won hands down over the OEM top, but from '97 on ya couldn't be original equipment.
The biggest hurdle with the full soft doors and pre-TJ models was that the upper door sections were different from the factory. Upper half doors had that squared off corner while the full metal doors were rounded. This prevented the soft doors from being used on OEM soft tops...not a problem with a Supertop since they accomodated the rounded off full door setup....if that makes sense (it sounded okay when I was typing it
).
Anyways, with the TJ and now the JK, all door variations were interchangeable with whatever top was on. Unless they do something stupid and reinvent the wheel with the door surrounds on whatever aftermarket replacement they're gonna push out (I'm sure it'll be yet another variation of the Supertop) for the JK, I don't see why the doors wouldn't work the same as the TJ applications.
The biggest hurdle with the full soft doors and pre-TJ models was that the upper door sections were different from the factory. Upper half doors had that squared off corner while the full metal doors were rounded. This prevented the soft doors from being used on OEM soft tops...not a problem with a Supertop since they accomodated the rounded off full door setup....if that makes sense (it sounded okay when I was typing it
).Anyways, with the TJ and now the JK, all door variations were interchangeable with whatever top was on. Unless they do something stupid and reinvent the wheel with the door surrounds on whatever aftermarket replacement they're gonna push out (I'm sure it'll be yet another variation of the Supertop) for the JK, I don't see why the doors wouldn't work the same as the TJ applications.
Eternal ***erator
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,270
Likes: 3
From: Niagara, New York
I can think of one. To be a convertible door, it would need to be frameless, or it wouldn't be a half door. With offroading, the window would rattle an absolute ton. Plus, all the weatherstripping to seal the window would have to be part of the door surrounds, so you would have to take that off as well I suppose. Just more parts/pieces to mess up or lose. Plus, I'm sure it would be fairly complicated.
It would be a huge piece of glass if you took the normal half door bottom and just put glass up to the roof as well.
It would be a huge piece of glass if you took the normal half door bottom and just put glass up to the roof as well.
Yup, i concur, there would need to be additional weatherstripping etc. on the surround... but to counter that...
Why not... ...take the standard full door, and just make the top surround removable? it would be smaller, lighter, and easier to store in the Jeep than the current uppers. Leave the glass in the door the way it is, and pop of the top "U"? Whala, half doors, with a solid upper, and full glass. No taller than the current full door lower sill height, marginally heavier with the junction needed, but minimally so. The soft & hard top remains the same as current production, as does the surround pieces..... in fact, everything does except the door itself.
I really dont see the downside. Yes, the glass could rattle in the door. but it doesnt in my full door, why would it if i removed the top frame?
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Wiliamsburg, VA
Eternal ***erator
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,270
Likes: 3
From: Niagara, New York
JK Super Freak
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,266
Likes: 0
From: Wiliamsburg, VA
Because it's not going to rattle when down. It's going to rattle when up and not braced against something.