running doorless for a long time. body bending?

[vortec]

since we're already hitting high 90s around here with some nasty humidity, i have the urge to go wind-tunnel style. that's no doors and no top. i've cruised around like that some over the years, but never left the doors off very long. my friend said his jeeper buddy left his doors off all summer and then they wouldn't go back on because the body bent. is this a problem on the blazers? do the doors really play such a large role in the structural support of the body or is that one more way jeeps are lame?

 

[NV_K5]

On Gen I's I've seen people not able to put the doors back on w/out jacking up the truck and putting jack stands on thier sliders to get the body arched back. Also going topless w/Gen I's in my own experience is getting harder and harder to get lined up after a summer of toplessness.

 

[badmix]

Never thought about it. but I would say that it does play a role. Depends how hard you wheel and what your suspension and body mounts look like. Energy has to get transfered somewhere.

 

[6.2Blazer]

Definitely depends on what type of Jeep it was. If it was any type of CJ, YJ, TJ version then running without the doors should of been absolutely no issue as the doors are not designed to provide any structural support. If something like a Cherokee (XJ) then I could definitely see it being a problem because the doors are designed as a intergral structural member and the unibodies are known to have issues if wheeled hard at all without extra reinforcement.

I would consider a K5 somewhere in the middle of those two types of vehicles, but no first hand experience. I run sans doors during the summers but also have 3x3 square tube rockers and a fullcage so it's well reinforced.

 

[vortec]

Definitely depends on what type of Jeep it was. If it was any type of CJ, YJ, TJ version then running without the doors should of been absolutely no issue as the doors are not designed to provide any structural support

that's why it surprised me when he said that. it was a YJ. i figured the boxed frame and rollbars would keep it rigid enough and i wouldn't expect those puny doors to be much use structurally. i wonder if that guy just beat the hell out of it that summer.


i can defnitely see it being a significant problem on gen1s or full-vert gen 2s. reinstalling the top has never been a problem on my 82 yet, and i leave it off for about 4-6 months at a time, during the best weather and offroad times. i don't know if i'd really want to wheel it doorless because of bushes and the fact that it's nearly 200 miles each way to where we usually go and it's nice to roll up the windows and cut wind noise on the highway.

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I drove and wheeled mine a lot and could always get the doors back on with no trouble.

I even smashed the rockers up pretty good.

 

[dyeager535]

Can't see how it would make a difference. The doors are only attached at the two hinges, the problem with flex in these trucks is typically behind the a-pillar. They'd need to be welded or attached in multiple non-moveable locations (door striker doesn't count) to be of structural significance, assuming they have much structural integrity themselves.

 

[6.2Blazer]

If he had those issues on a YJ I would guess there is more to the story...either body damage or it had the common YJ rust along the rockers and floor that caused it to tweak.

Yes, the doors on a K5 do make a difference in structural integrity. On a half-way properly set up door when you close it the door is solid and it won't move in any direction, therefore it has to be tying in with rest of the body.

 

[Chevy305]

To be safe, I'd say reinforce the body supports on the underside, and be sure your body mounts are in good shape and torqued to spec.

 

[blazin_blazer]

i'm about to run 2x3 from front mount to 2nd, up agaianst the floor and mount up my 75 doors and cut the top ot my 1/2 top...eventually

 

[dyeager535]

Yes, the doors on a K5 do make a difference in structural integrity. On a half-way properly set up door when you close it the door is solid and it won't move in any direction, therefore it has to be tying in with rest of the body.

The door hinges/striker are not adding structural integrity to the K5 body or frame, or else the doors would twist when the body does, and they don't. My windshield doesn't move in any direction, that's not because it's a structural component.

The door frame front may be reinforced to prevent the door hinges/doors from twisting (and breaking the glass) but that has nothing to do with the strength of the door. The door frame connecting the A/B pillars is what provides strength to the body.

Even t-top GM cars cracked the body, that's because the door wasn't framed, just like the full-removable top Blazers.

I will concede that if the body is flexed so much that the door is hitting the frame, it will add some resistance to twist, but it's not a design feature, it's the limits of the body/frame.

 

[1978Blazerk5]

the only time i would worry about it is if you smash your rockers up really good. A buddy Of mine has that problem with his samurai, he cant run doors anymore. and also had that problem with an old Chevy pick up about 4 or 5 years ago.

 

[Desert Yeti]

I've had my doors off for as much as a year at a time, including some wheeling in the rocks, with no problems on a '79. I think with a 1/2 top K5, you'll have no problem at all unless you get really crazy (in which case you should probably have a cage anyway) or really smash up your rockers.

I understand wanting to roll the windows up for the drive to the trail, but man, wheeling with the doors off is what "doors off" is all about! Being able to lean out and spot your own tires as you're crawling over stuff is awesome!

I have the quick-release pins for my doors and one time actually took them off at the trail head and ratchet strapped them into the back for the trail ride! Didn't, obviously, save any weight on that trip, but the visibility, ventilation, and ease of access is sure nice!