Jibs Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Most who were at the show probably saw my Brat with the tube doors, but those who weren't here ya go: They use the stock door mounts as well as the stock door latch. I really enjoy them, they come in handy when I'm offroading. They're A LOT lighter than the stock doors as well, so thats good as well. What are your opinions on tube doors? They DO make driving on the highway a little noiser than with conventional doors, but they help a bunch with creating wind and making me cooler in the heat. And YES I did travel all the way from Reno to the show with these puppies on! I didn't get pics up sooner as I wanted it to be a surprise for everyone at the show. I'll get more pics up soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott in Bellingham Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I really like your Brat , those tube doors our great , it was fun to see it out on the trails , its nifty you used the stock mts and can still open the doors , good job, and yes the stock doors do weigh a bit , and every pound removed will help preformance Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soobmater Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 they look good. i bet they come in handy on the trails. better be wearin some rain gear when it is raining:lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I liked them... Made wheeling alot more fun, except for when I got stuck and kept flinging rocks into the interior -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Driving without doors is just plain fun. Tube doors are the next best thing. However I have to wonder about the effect of the structural integrity of the unibody when the doors are removed? I think a good compromise would be a cut down door? ( Planting ideas in someone's head...) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 I dig it Jibs! I prolly wouldnt drive down the hiway with them; just throw them in the back. Put them on at camp and leave my normal doors at camp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooinater Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 i like them. if i ever got time that's what i was going to do. since i don't have time to even hardly get around to fixing my car... i'll just be running without doors all around. 118 degrees and no a/c... need those doors off. along with the fact seeing on the trail is a lot easier. they are sweet though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudduck Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 Ran my old Toyota without doors quite a bit. Great on noce days and out on the trail. Not so good when you have to drive 4 hours to get home in the rain and later blizzard conditions though. Still got a lot of thumbs up. I wouldn't worry about the unibody when running without doors. People have been doing it with XJ's (Cherokee) for years. If you do run doorless, get rocker panel protection!!!! I learned that the hard way. Doors don't fit quite right after the rockers fight with rocks!!!(but thats what the BFH is for, right?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s'ko Posted July 20, 2005 Share Posted July 20, 2005 what size tubing did ya use? I was thinking of making a door similar to a Jeep's soft doors. BW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibs Posted July 20, 2005 Author Share Posted July 20, 2005 I think its 1" tubing with 1/8" id. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WoodsWagon Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 The doors aren't a structural member. Otherwise, it would be difficult to poen them if you had one wheel up on a rock. Tube doors kick @ss, and yours look well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam N.D.J. Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 The doors aren't a structural member. Otherwise, it would be difficult to poen them if you had one wheel up on a rock. This is true. The body shouldn't be tweaking to the point that you are relying on the doors to keep it intact. That would mean that you are an East coaster. I drove my Brat around for an entire summer without the doors on it, and suffered no ill effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Tip your car up on three wheels and see how well your doors fit? You will notice a difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike W Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 Hey it's about time someone built tube doors. Nice job. I bet you could sell quite a few of these. Seems to me that these doors would be about as structural as stock doors. And if the unibody is getting flexed and abused a lot, then it might be time for a cage and/or sub-frame. But of all the old Soobs getting torture tested on the trails, how many have folded up? Amazingly the unibody seems to take it pretty well. For foul weather and highway, you could add quick mount lexan or aluminum door skins with flush mount quater turn fasteners. Or maybe stock steel door skins and clear vinyl window with velcro? I think Summit has the fasteners and not too expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorganM Posted July 21, 2005 Share Posted July 21, 2005 The doors flex with the unibody; they aren't holding it together so it wont flex. On or off the unibody is going to flex and twist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboSPFI Posted July 23, 2005 Share Posted July 23, 2005 Those stock brat doors are kind of heavy, I bet you felt that weight come right off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brumby Boy Posted July 24, 2005 Share Posted July 24, 2005 if you are worried about the mud flinging up you could pop rivet some tin over the tube. it wouldnt seal but it would help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zefy Posted July 24, 2005 Share Posted July 24, 2005 hey they are sweet! i saw you at the show with them... going into the bush and mud... wearing WHITE pants!!! you crazy baffoon! going without doors though... the unibody does get some structural support from the doors... especially in frontal crashes... have you ever wondered why most minivans and some cars automaticly lock the doors when you get over a certain speed??? its not to stop children from getting outa the car... its to provide strength! just thought i'd give my thoughts, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibs Posted July 24, 2005 Author Share Posted July 24, 2005 hey they are sweet! i saw you at the show with them... going into the bush and mud... wearing WHITE pants!!! you crazy baffoon! , Thanks for enjoying them. I know about the pants I planned it that way. It's more fun with white pants cause you could tell that we were out and having fun. That and I didn't want to take the time to change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheSubaruJunkie Posted July 24, 2005 Share Posted July 24, 2005 I just came back smelling like burnt clutch... that got everyones attention at the award's and raffle handout. The tubes worked great. Except for when i got stuck and flung rocks at me -Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scoobyclimbs Posted July 26, 2005 Share Posted July 26, 2005 Nice job Jibs! Those doors are sweet! But hows the brushing!!! LOL! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibs Posted July 26, 2005 Author Share Posted July 26, 2005 Nice job Jibs! Those doors are sweet! But hows the brushing!!! LOL! It's great! It was a lot of fun going through those narrow trails at the show, with all the Broom bushes so close to the path. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusza Beben Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 Those tube doors ROCK! I have wanted to "skeletonize" a subie for quite some time and make an ultralight trail rig. Your doors are very similar to what I've had in mind. Excellent work! DB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phizinza Posted August 18, 2005 Share Posted August 18, 2005 cool... That brat is turning into a wicked offroad machine. Tho I do like to keep the interior clean in mine... And they would prolly be completely illagel in Australia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jibs Posted August 19, 2005 Author Share Posted August 19, 2005 cool... That brat is turning into a wicked offroad machine. Tho I do like to keep the interior clean in mine... And they would prolly be completely illagel in Australia. Yeah I can tell I'm gonna be cleaning a lot with these doors on. I put seat covers on to keep those as nice and clean as possible, I might put another seat cover over the ones on there as well. Where I live here in Nevada, It was legal to run without any doors at all. I called the DMV and asked they said I could run without doors or anything. It varies from state to state, cause when I went up to WCSS7 in Washington, they have rules saying that I HAD to have to have doors, so that's why I got these tube doors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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