Draft Email to sdro
draft email:
I received a fine for not having doors, but 2001 Jeep Wrangler TJs were designed to remove the doors just like the roof, etc. I can take off and put on my doors in less than two seconds without the use of tools.
In the owner’s manual (as well as on the vehicle) it says that “The top and doors on this vehicle are designed only for protection against the elements. Do not rely on the top and doors to contain occupants within the vehicle or to protect against injury during an accident. Wear seatbelts at all times.” “Although your vehicle may be equipped with a soft top or optional hard top to give the occupants protection from the weather, these tops do not offer structural protection in the event of an accident and do not change the open-body characteristic of the vehicle.”
Motorbikes do not have doors, nor seatbelts—as designed. I know Jeep Wranglers (although safer than motorbikes even without doors) are not motorbikes—but nor are they standard cars designed to need doors either.
The doors which were designed to be optionally removed do not provide additional protection in a collision because they don’t contain side intrusion beams as are standard with other vehicles. However, the structure of the chassis without the doors was designed to sustain impact on its own without doors and complies with the "Dynamic Side Impact Occupant Protection" ADR due to the height of the seat, not due to protection offered by the doors, as the doors offer nothing more than protection from the elements (weather).
However, unless the side mirrors are relocated via after market brackets they will not comply with other ADRs. I have, however, relocated the side mirrors to the chassi in order to comply with the requirement to have mirrors.
The owner’s manual also references in several other places that the vehicle was designed to be driven with the doors removed:
Page 82: “NOTE: If the doors are to be removed, pull the #4 fuse from the fuse block to prevent dome lamp illumination.”
Page 103: “Outside rear view mirrors are mounted on the doors. If you choose to remove the doors, see your authorized dealer for a replacement cowl-mounted outside mirror.... NOTE: If the doors are removed, the courtesy lights will remain on. To turn these lights off, remove fuse #4 in the fuse panel. Refer to ‘Fuse Panel’ in Section 7 of this manual.”
Page 104: “(Warning) If you remove the doors, store them outside the vehicle. In the event of an accident, a loose door may cause personal injury.”
As described above, unlike other vehicles, which were designed to be driven with doors, the Jeep Wrangler TJ model was intentionally designed to be safely operated with the doors removed...as well as the top—just like motorbikes and other non-standard cars.
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Pura Vida is white 2001 TJ with 31" tires and 2" lift
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