Tube Doors or Half Doors?

[mrk5]

Well, what do you all think? Which would be better?

I could get some half doors locally for around $75, maybe less if I negotiate. They would be similar to these posted by MNorby:

Or I have a set of tube doors, but I need to fab new hinges and fix/replace one door latch. They are moneypit's old tube doors in this pic:

As I see it:

• HALF DOORS:

I like the half-door idea because they will be more secure, better hinges and latches. They would also keep splash-back out of the cab and contain junk from rolling out. Not as important, but I think the half doors will look nicer.

In the negative column, I'm concerned the half doors would get banged up on the trail. I also wonder if the visibility would be as good. With no doors on the truck, I like being able to look down to my left and be able to see the rocker area.​

• TUBE DOORS:

On the plus side, I think the tube doors will provide more visibility. They have a perforated steel panel across the bottom so I think the junk in the cab would be contained.

There are a few negatives. First I still need to fab hinges and fix the latch on one door. The latches on the tube doors will work okay, but they aren't the most secure. These doors won't keep splash-back out of the passenger area.​

I guess my preference would be the half-doors, but only if I'll still have good visibility. Maybe the doors won't cut down that much on the visibility along the rockers.

So it all comes down to visibility, I guess.

 

[BLZN4FN]

I would do the Tube doors. I think you would have more visibility with tube VS cut doors plus I think they just look better than steel doors that have been cut.

 

[twoslo4five0]

i looked at this and decided just to boatside my truck but its not done yet..i vote tube doors if you got alot of tube done if not half doors

 

[GsxrMike]

I vote half doors because they look better and I don't think visibility will be a huge problem since you can lean out alot easier to look down at the rocker. A quick question...will the doors from a mid 80's truck (M1008) fit on a mid 80's K5? I would like to make some half doors out of them if they will fit. Thanks!

 

[carpeonnel]

I'm gonna have to go with tube doors for purely aesthetic reasons

 

[VegasBruce]

I think you should use the half doors and send me the tube doors.

 

[NorCalKid]

IA quick question...will the doors from a mid 80's truck (M1008) fit on a mid 80's K5? I would like to make some half doors out of them if they will fit. Thanks!

they should bolt right up

I vote half doors, you can easily lean out and see the rocker area and the lines of the truck aren't all messed up. It might look cool to skin the tube doors with stock door skins though

The one thing I don't like about my half doors is they are pretty heavy, something to think about if you are worried about that sort of stuff

 

[blazerboss 85]

half doors in my opinion there is somewhat of a lost sense of security with tube doors. any you cant put speakers in them

 

[Obseen]

I'm gonna have to go with tube doors for purely aesthetic reasons

I aggree with ^^

 

[Bent77]

I like the tube doors for viz and looks. Plus, if you smash it good, you can still remove it w/o having to use a torch

 

[oatsk5]

I like both half doors because you can have soft doors made to fit the frame so you wont get soaked if it rain or your playin in the mud

 

[moneypit]

I like both half doors because you can have soft doors made to fit the frame so you wont get soaked if it rain or your playin in the mud

hmmm.... i still have those for them tube doors

 

[70jimmy]

Been thinking about the same question for the Jimmy. I am leaning toward tube doors with a cut donw the middle to lean out.

Also on a weird note I was thinking a plex or lexan skin that is removeable along with a top tube section that would be removeable and have its own removeable lexan panel.

good visibility but different grades of protection from mud and rain when desired.

Now if that money tree would only bloom to put these ideas into reality.

 

[cabledawg]

When I was looking into this same thing earlier this year, I dug through some old post. Someone had posted that whenon the rocks, tube doors were ok for protection. But on trails with high brush and trees, he said that the guys running tube doors were getting jabbed with sticks and such, but the guys with half or full doors didnt have that problem. So I voted half doors to cover all the bases

 

[Muddytazz]

I still wish I had the half doors that I made for my old burb. Oh well, I'll just make another set someday for the K5

 

[wayne]

Tube doors.

 

[mrk5]

Thanks for all the good points guys; you've brought up some stuff I hadn't considered.

I vote half doors because they look better and I don't think visibility will be a huge problem since you can lean out alot easier to look down at the rocker. A quick question...will the doors from a mid 80's truck (M1008) fit on a mid 80's K5? I would like to make some half doors out of them if they will fit. Thanks!

Yes they will work. The 76-91K5's & Burbs and 73-87 pickups are all interchangeable on the front doors. One of my doors was from a 75 K10.

Are the tube doors even going to work without having the two rollcages?

Good point.

hmmm.... i still have those for them tube doors

Really?

 

[pauly383]

No doors is lighter , and you are sitting on a trailer in that pic anyway

Tube it out so you have side bars to climb into over , and put the stuff that can fall out into proper storage places like consoles and locking boxes

this little wire Fred added to seat mount bars , kept whatever he had under there in a box or whatever , from sliding out sideways :

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

I like the half doors

 

[mrk5]

I like the half doors

Well it may be a moot point now since they sold before I could contact the guy. Unless I fab my own...