Ok, I just picked up a set of factory rear half doors for my JK. I have stripped them down and getting ready to paint. Half doors are fairly rare up here and I spent a long time hunting them down before finding them 2 states away. I never leave things of value in the jeep and don't care much if someone does steal something as that is what insurance is for. The doors however, I would like to keep. I plan on buying a set of McGard hinge pin locks and as I have read they are all useless. So here is my theory. I am aware that the locks are useless because the hinges can be removed from the doors anyway. Right? Well since I already have the half doors torn apart I noticed the hinge bolts (holding hinge to door itself) actually extend into the door about 3/4". My plan is to add a nut to these bolts preventing the bolts from being removable from the outside. This with the McGard locks would make it VERY difficult to steal the half doors yet only a couple easy nuts to remove them for me (maybe 5 extra min?). I take the doors off as soon as I can and rarely put them back on, however, my children often ride with me and I feel more comfortable having some form of door. The halfs will remove easily when needed yet have quick close in ability if they are with me in rain. Does anyone see any reason why this wont work?

 

not sure what threads and diameter the hinge bolts are, but you possibly could get some bolt caps or better yet a security fastener?

 

The doors are apart.......throw a tack weld on the back of there. They'll never get it off. Remember though that if they can't take it that they'll most likely trash it.

Just make sure you properly fit the doors before you do the tack weld or the nut on the inside. I set up some half doors and they did require some adjustment before I was satisfied with the fit.

 

Wouldnt they be covered by your insurace?

 

Yeah insurance would probably cover them too. Problem is they come in about 100 pieces and need to be put together and then repainted. Not something I would want to deal with in the summer (the only time I really NEED them). Im sure insurance would also pay for the assembly and painting but that's a long process the dealer wants a lot of money for... so I would rather save that money (for other mods) and do it myself. Couldn't bring myself to pay them when I CAN do it. Doubt it would be a real concern in this area anyway but these are the one thing that I would miss/need and would not want to deal with. I also worked out a trade for a chunk of the cost of the doors so the receipt shows trade/cash, I have no idea how or if the insurance company would deal with this? Guess I need to call them

 

Maybe I've missed them but I can't recall reading any posts about half-doors being stolen. Plenty of slashed soft tops and occasionally stolen spare tires but not doors.

 

Half doors are worth a pretty penny and they sell quickly- I don't know how many folks question where the doors came from. Since you mention the theft of doors though, it brings to mind a case local to me where the guy parked his jeep in a hotel parking lot (staying there obviously) and came out the next morning to find all 4 doors (FULL doors) had been stolen. The guy is a member here, or was at the time of the robbery and the whole incident was a fiasco for him. While it isn't prevalent, it is possible and very easy to do.


Assembling the doors, on the other hand, takes just a short afternoon. I assembled a set for a friend while he was in Japan. He shipped everything to me, left me the jeep and I took care of the rest. He came home to a jeep with half doors on it and fulls in the back.


The insurance company *should* reimburse you for the full value of the doors if they are indeed removed from your possession. The insurance is to indemnify the situation and vehicle- even if you traded a pocket of lint for the half doors.

 

I would say to also stamp your VIN# all over the outside edges & even something hidden inside the door. So when they do try to sell them if stolen they have to cover up all those spots.

 

I remember this. White jeep? He had his hood and hard top stolen as well. I still tell people the story. I think he was pretty far from home too.

Might I suggest a tamper proof bolt? I am sure you could search and find something similar to what people use to prevent their aux lights from being hiked. The double nut thing is a good idea, however I would imagine that if someone was going to steal your doors, they would likely have scoped your jeep once already eyeing up what they need. Sorry if I just made you more paranoid. I would feel the same.

 

Yeah, that's the guy. I thought the top and hood went too but I wasn't sure. Rigid and factor55 make tamper proof bolts.

An additional nut (double nut) on the inside of the door would be something nobody would see no matter how hard they were looking.