No Doors Illegal?

Guest · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Hey whats up everyone? I was just wondering, is it illegal to drive a Jeep CJ 7 without any doors at all? I just bought mine and wasn't really sure. It feels kind of weird without doors but I just wanted to make sure. Maybe I'll invest in some half doors or something

Thanks a bunch!

Guest · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Go ahead and drive w/out your doors, just as long as you have a mirror to look back on the driver side (Depends on how strick your the police are) you can probably get away with using your mirror on your windsheild

booher · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

I'm pretty sure no doors is legal in most states!! As long as your not driving around naked!! Or holding a beer in your hand. LOL No doors is a great feeling huh??? Enjoy, your CJ!!

sillsmack · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Yeah,

I thought about that when i bought me first CJ years ago.

I found that CJ's were classified as trucks which do not require the same stict safety requirements passenger cars do,
i/e that hugh iron I beam in the doors of all passenger cars.

All Wranglers YJ & TJ both have doors on alla time. Either a full or half steel door.

Do these have the iron beam in them ?
Dunno...

Did the law change and now all YJ's & TJ's are classified as passenger vehicles and do req them ?
dunno...

But I have seen several YJ's & TJ's which have fabricated an alternative mirror mount, usually where the CJ mounted thiers, windshield hinge, and these Wranglers drive around without doors.

Apperantly the Cops either don't realize there is a difference in Jeep CJ/YJ/TJ safety req
OR
There is no difference in the safety req.

You right.
Driving in an open Jeep without doors IS a different feel. Different than riding in a convertable with the top down.

The best thing on the planet is to be working a high mountain trail in an open Jeep.

When your out there in it, You can feel the outdoors, smell the outdoors and sometimes taste it too.

When you pull back onto the blacktop, you'll notice the trail dust is all over you & your Jeep.

Yeah, if you ain't getting it all over you, you ain't doing it right.

It just don't get any better than that.

O IIIIII O · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

As past post state, You have to have the driver side mirror to be legal. This is true on any vehical, cars, trucks, Jeeps..etc... In most states it is illegal to drive w/ the windshield down while on main roads. Most states require seat belts as well.

willys · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

unless you own a 53yr old cj, that never came with doors, or seatbelts. but you will sport two mirrors, one on the windshield & one on the drivers side, last time i checked [in the state of michigan]if you have the windshield down, you must wear safety glasses. but depending on where you live the enforcement is another story.....

O IIIIII O · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

Does anyone know a web site wecan go to, inorder to find local state laws re: Jeeps and such?

David · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

First of all, the laws will vary state to state. You will need to check your local laws. If you're really curious, most states have an on-line version of their laws. A little time on the net will find them. Most of these have a search engine capability, so you can look up the information you're after for your particular state.

Having said that, I'd think that few states would require anything more than what the jeep came with. I.E., for a jeep that came from the factory with fabric doors, I don't see a requirement for steel doors to be put on. They would be "grandfathered in" in most cases.

Now then, I wouldn't be surprised if the Feds regulated the MANUFACTURE of vehicles without doors at some point; however, that's different from whether you're allowed to drive with them off. Also, the manufacturers may have simply put doors on in response to (1) customer demand, and (2) lawsuits.

Remember that riding a motorcycle is still legal. That's a whole lot more dangerous to the rider than riding in a jeep without doors. This is a different issue from riding with the windshield down, since that affects your abilities as a driver, while no doors simply affects your chances of surviving a T-Bone crash.

Hope this helps.

mudduck · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2003, 08:00 PM

I don't know if you have done this or not but when I had the same ???? I simply stopped and asked a uniformed Police Officer. But I would suggest that you ask atleast two officers because they tend to add there own opinion to the way the "law" feels about this topic.

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95 yj, aal, 1 1/2 shackle with 32in bfg mt's