Fabric Doors for Moab Trip

[TyTheJeepGuy]

I got some fabric doors for the JL in "early." I ordered them back in June but they were backordered and not expected til next month, well surprise I got them before my Moab trip. Now on to my reason for posting: The doors don't fit that well and I was expecting this from the complaints online. Some have been able to bend them into the correct shape apparently but for now they do ok for me.

They are the Bestop fabric doors for the JL. I didn't see much else for what I was going for; I wanted to be able to have that half-door or doorless experience without getting destroyed by wind out to the trail, and the ability to toss them back on in case of inclement weather or the like, and to be able to warm myself back up in some situation where I get too cold.

I'm thinking of bringing these on the Moab trip where I'll be a state away and there will be a combination of highway driving and wheelin. However it feels like I'm driving my dad's old CJ with both these and the fabric top on and I'm wondering if I'll regret dealing with it for a week and I'm interested to see what the forum members with more experience have to say, so on to the poll!

Do I go full Jeep mode and deal with a bit of wind and cold (and hopefully not but possibly, some water getting in) compared to factory doors, or do I have more modularity and get some Moab wheelin in doorless or half door?

[open_circuit]

My fabric doors are awful in high winds or at high speeds (on the highway). With strong winds they tend to pull out and flap at the top of the frame. They are extremely loud. If I were to take them on a trip to Moab, it would only be if I could stash them in the Jeep and take off the hard doors when I get to Moab and swap in the fabric doors.

I'm not bringing my fabric doors on this trip, however. I'm staying full hard-sided, particularly since I plan to sleep in the Jeep.

[Jim]

I'm staying full hard-sided, particularly since I plan to sleep in the Jeep

My mosquito/bugs comment had soft doors in mind - so nevermind.

[open_circuit]

My mosquito/bugs comment had soft doors in mind - so nevermind.

I'm bringing some mosquito net to put over the front door / windows so i can get ventilation. I imagine this can work with soft doors similarly, though accounting for the poor fit of soft doors to the frame will complicate it a bit.

[TyTheJeepGuy]

I'm thinking an interstate week long trip isn't a good first tryout for the soft doors. They'll still serve well for getting out to trails with some wind and elements protection and the ability to take them off or go half-door once in the trail, but I think for the Moab trip I'll play it safe with the hard doors. Maybe I can get them to fit better by bending them into a better shape like some online have suggested.

I had them at highway speed last night and they did pretty well but I'm not sure how they'd behave with a stronger crosswind.

[open_circuit]

Maybe I can get them to fit better by bending them into a better shape like some online have suggested.

I had them at highway speed last night and they did pretty well but I'm not sure how they'd behave with a stronger crosswind.

If you figure out how to get the uppers to fit better, I'd like to know how you do it. I've not had much luck reshaping the upper frame. It's a finicky thing.

[TyTheJeepGuy]

the biggest concerns for me are the gaps at the bottom. they seem to be pretty common based on online reviews, I might end up reaching out to Bestop and seeing what they recommend or have to say on the subject

[FINOCJ]

JMO - and keep in mind my I drive a 1970 cj5 so I don't know how the JL doors work - but if you have decent doors and top that make the highway drive enjoyable, then I would keep those, and once in Moab, I'd just remove the doors and keep them at the campsite/motel etc - even if you keep the top on, there is nothing like jeeping with the doors off - except maybe also having the windshield down. That is a bit tougher if you are going from one location to another each night as door storage can be an issue. Of course, I run my jeep mostly topless from April to Nov and getting rainy, wet, dusty and smelling like carbuerated exhaust is a big part of the experience. I can't imagine you will have any issue with being cold in Moab this time of year....

[newracer]

Can you take the soft doors with you and use them there?

Kind of off topic but I'll love to have a set of the Bestop Core Doors as they give every option.

[TyTheJeepGuy]

I can take the soft doors with me but the issue is storage of the factory doors once I'm there and wheeling. I was thinking the soft doors would be good for blocking highway wind (at least mostly) and then are pretty small and light and come off super quickly, so I'd toss them in the back above my gear or just take the upper halves off on the trail. Tonight I'll see how much room they take up in the back and try to come to a final decision :)

[Jim]

I remember making three trips into the Moab ?motel 6? - one trip for the two soft uppers and two trips for the hard lowers - elevator ride to second or third floor. In my mind was - I'd just do soft doors and when I don't want the doors I'd just strap tie them to the back of the spare tire.

I'm on a low burn to find a set of full soft doors for the YJ...

[The StRanger]

In and out with door is a a pain in the !!!!! But there nice for road driving.
If you have room you can put half doors upper and lowers in the back and go doorless.
this is my personal opinion but if you go doorless out on the road, bring earplugs !!!!on the right kinda day doorless is the way to go !


my vote is fabric doors during the summer, full door in winter.

[TyTheJeepGuy]

Thanks for the feedback! I was able to adjust the doors so they fit a bit better, I think I'm gonna go for it. I'll be bringing my "cold weather" pack anyway so worst that happens is I just need to pull over and throw some thermals on.

Also, Moab convenience stores should sell stickers showing a guy carrying Jeep doors around with "Moab" underneath it. I'd put it on a travel mug!