Driving W/ Doors off on Highway - Safe??? Jeep's Offical Position????
08-17-2012 | 12:45 PM
#11
JK Newbie
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Magnolia, Texas
Inquiring minds (concerned / paranoid) told me they consider the jeep unsafe to drive with the doors off on the highway, even buckled in and with two side mirrors.
I'm a very safe driver and only go 55 on the highway, and driving around with the doors off for the first time this year, I can personally attest to the safety of it (I don't engage in unsafe practices)
What I want to know is, is there anything official from Jeep that states the vehicle is safe to drive on the highway with the doors off vs. it being only an off-roading type of thing as some people are claiming?
How would the insurance companies view getting into an accident with the doors off vs. the doors on? Would they try to use that as an excuse to weasel out of a claim?
I'm a very safe driver and only go 55 on the highway, and driving around with the doors off for the first time this year, I can personally attest to the safety of it (I don't engage in unsafe practices)
What I want to know is, is there anything official from Jeep that states the vehicle is safe to drive on the highway with the doors off vs. it being only an off-roading type of thing as some people are claiming?
How would the insurance companies view getting into an accident with the doors off vs. the doors on? Would they try to use that as an excuse to weasel out of a claim?
08-17-2012 | 01:13 PM
#12
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 399
Likes: 1
From: Rogers, AR
Jeeps official position is CYA. Like pretty much everything else these days.
From the owner's Manual:
"Do not drive your vehicle on public roads with the doors removed as you will lose the protection that they can provide. This procedure is furnished for use during off-road operation only."
They actually put this same notice in the manual twice, once for the instructions on the front doors, and once for the rear doors.
But who reads directions anymore anyways.
From the owner's Manual:
"Do not drive your vehicle on public roads with the doors removed as you will lose the protection that they can provide. This procedure is furnished for use during off-road operation only."
They actually put this same notice in the manual twice, once for the instructions on the front doors, and once for the rear doors.
But who reads directions anymore anyways.
08-17-2012 | 04:32 PM
#14
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke, Va
Interesting, although I'm not surprised they recommend you not have them off while you're on public roads.
Scenario: Person has doors off, gets into an accident (t-boned, vehicle flipped, turned etc.), and they find out that Chrysler did not mention that in the owner's manual or on the Jeep anywhere. There's a fairly good chance that the person involved in the accident could sue because they did not tell them not to remove the doors. But with them saying not to take your JK on public roads with the doors off saves them from any of the sort.
Just a legal tactic, nothing more. I'm sure the people who put that in the owner's manuals and on the Jeep drive on public roads with their doors off. They know just as much as all of us that they don't protect us much more with or without them on.
Just keep enjoying the only full-size production vehicle with removable doors from the factory.
Scenario: Person has doors off, gets into an accident (t-boned, vehicle flipped, turned etc.), and they find out that Chrysler did not mention that in the owner's manual or on the Jeep anywhere. There's a fairly good chance that the person involved in the accident could sue because they did not tell them not to remove the doors. But with them saying not to take your JK on public roads with the doors off saves them from any of the sort.
Just a legal tactic, nothing more. I'm sure the people who put that in the owner's manuals and on the Jeep drive on public roads with their doors off. They know just as much as all of us that they don't protect us much more with or without them on.
Just keep enjoying the only full-size production vehicle with removable doors from the factory.
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Awesome Dad Bod (07-23-2021)
08-18-2012 | 09:48 AM
#16
JK Super Freak
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 11
From: Olympia, WA
That's the point. Folks (including me) do millions of miles on bikes without any of those things. Shit happens on the highway, and when it does the body of a Wrangler offers false security at best. No matter what you drive survival on the highway requires a combination of skill, common sense, and some luck.
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Awesome Dad Bod (07-23-2021)
08-18-2012 | 10:02 AM
#17
JK Jedi
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 6,546
Likes: 2
From: Panorama city,Ca
Originally Posted by MeatCurtains
It says on the roof of my vehicle that the tops and doors are there for nothing besides protecting you from the elements. That tells me that Jeep expects the crash testing/roll over tests/whatever to be just as dangerous with the doors on.
Originally Posted by OH9JK
Yep MeatCurtains is correct. They are only there to keep you dry and warm
Originally Posted by kaptkrappy
^^^^^^^^
Good example.
Here's the warning sticker. It cracks me up everytime I see it.
<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=355271"/>
.
Good example.
Here's the warning sticker. It cracks me up everytime I see it.
<img src="https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=355271"/>
.
Originally Posted by whiskey_golf
I peeled every sticker but that one because of the humor factor.
And because of that sticker I would think that Jeep intends for you to use common sense. Personally I feel okay around town but wouldn’t run at highway speeds with my kids in the back. My main concern is road debris kicking up off the front tires.
And because of that sticker I would think that Jeep intends for you to use common sense. Personally I feel okay around town but wouldn’t run at highway speeds with my kids in the back. My main concern is road debris kicking up off the front tires.
08-18-2012 | 02:45 PM
#19
JK Freak
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Inquiring minds (concerned / paranoid) told me they consider the jeep unsafe to drive with the doors off on the highway, even buckled in and with two side mirrors.
I'm a very safe driver and only go 55 on the highway, and driving around with the doors off for the first time this year, I can personally attest to the safety of it (I don't engage in unsafe practices)
What I want to know is, is there anything official from Jeep that states the vehicle is safe to drive on the highway with the doors off vs. it being only an off-roading type of thing as some people are claiming?
How would the insurance companies view getting into an accident with the doors off vs. the doors on? Would they try to use that as an excuse to weasel out of a claim?
I'm a very safe driver and only go 55 on the highway, and driving around with the doors off for the first time this year, I can personally attest to the safety of it (I don't engage in unsafe practices)
What I want to know is, is there anything official from Jeep that states the vehicle is safe to drive on the highway with the doors off vs. it being only an off-roading type of thing as some people are claiming?
How would the insurance companies view getting into an accident with the doors off vs. the doors on? Would they try to use that as an excuse to weasel out of a claim?
If I remember correctly chrysler states that the doors on the wrangler are not mean't for your protection and I remember reading that. So whats the difference doors on or off it does not matter.
08-18-2012 | 05:48 PM
#20
JK Freak
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 545
Likes: 1
From: Lehigh Valley, PA