Doors off for the first time yesterday. Some questions.

[dcmdon]

Yesterday in the Northeast it was 90+ degrees. We had to do a bunch of in town driving so I put the top on and was planning on windows up with the AC.

My wife suggested I take the doors off. Fantastic, you don't have to tell me twice. It was great. The top was on and shaded us from the sun. We got great breeze and it was totally comfortable on a day when top off would have just been too hot.

This might be my favorite way to drive the Jeep in warm weather.

So I've got a bunch of questions.

1) I realized I need mirrors. Does anyone have suggestions. Primary goal would tool free installation. After that price. I dont' care how big it is because I don't need them, this is just for legality.

I see a bunch that go through the top hinge, but require you to tighten a nut and even then it looks like they ill be blown back by the wind as there's nothing to keep them from rotating. If that's as good as it gets, then so be it.

I've seen some tool free mirrors that require you to install and leave on some kind of bracket. I'm not interested in that.

If my expectations are unreasonable, well I understand. I'm letting you all know pie in the sky. If it doesn't exist, I'll live.

2) Hinge pins - does it matter what ones I get? They all seem the same and I can get them in a day for $15 from Amazon

3) How likely am I to damage the electrical connector if I put them on and off regularly. I'm mechanically inclined and used to being delicate with things that require you to be delicate. Do I need to buy the upgraded connector that a member makes and sells for $175?? I realize this is important because screwing up the connector can literally disable the vehicle. (Computer thinks the door is open and won't let you shift into Drive)

Thanks!!

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[EddyArnold]

1) I realized I need mirrors. Does anyone have suggestions. Primary goal would tool free installation. After that price. I dont' care how big it is because I don't need them, this is just for legality.

These are not 100% toolless but super cheap and really easy, just remove 1 start bolt in the cowl... they are threaded the same

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082F44JW3/

(btw this was someone else's idea on the fourm, but I can't remember who it was or I would link them)

 

[ShrimpHappens]

3) How likely am I to damage the electrical connector if I put them on and off regularly. I'm mechanically inclined and used to being delicate with things that require you to be delicate. Do I need to buy the upgraded connector that a member makes and sells for $175?? I realize this is important because screwing up the connector can literally disable the vehicle. (Computer thinks the door is open and won't let you shift into Drive)

This is a relatively new thing to me. And it's a little baffling.

I take my doors off a lot. There's not enough space in my garage for my Jeep, so there are weeks when I'm taking the doors off every morning and putting them back on every evening, and my electrical connectors seem to be the same as they ever were.

So how are people messing theirs up? Are they impatient and going hulk-mode on them?

I don't get it lined up perfectly every time. Sometimes it's in a bind, so I pull it out, change position, and if it's right it clicks itself into place. As with anything else, if you're having to force or jam it in, you're going to break something.

 

[ALVagabond]

1) I have these: https://www.quadratec.com/products/13111_0401_14.htm I use a socket wrench to install them. If I tighten them down good, they don't fold in even on the highway. I've had a pair of "toolless" mirrors before and they folded at 35mph. I don't have experience with other mirrors.

2) I use hinge pin guides from Amazon. You don't need expensive ones.

3) Just be careful with it and don't force it. Most of the pin problems I've read about seem to be with the blindspot sensors and safety features. I put mine on and take them off for the last couple summers and haven't had any problems.

 

[Trauma PA]

I have my doors off all the time. I have tried several cheap mirrors that all sucked because once Jeep up to speed, the mirrors move no matter how tight you think you have them installed. Plus, as you mentioned, they are not quick to install and remove.
With all this being said, I bought Lange Coyote mirrors and they have exceeded all my expectations. They are easy to put on and remove. They don’t move when driving highway speeds. I can’t recommend them enough.
Regarding your other questions, I bought my door pins off of Amazon. And I haven’t thought about the harness issue so can’t answer specifically to that question.

 

[Hipbilly]

These probably cost more than you WANT to pay, but I absolutely love mine. It was the 3rd or 4th attempt at a decent solution, and they're the first ones that don't flex in the wind or vibrate really bad.
They go on instantly, and also have the foot peg as a bonus.

Jeep JL/JLU/JT Foot Pegs W/Mirrors JL JL Unlimited and JT KikBax Offroad | Kikbax Offroad

Regarding the connectors? just don't bend a pin and you won't bend a pin. I know they're thin and fragile, but it seems like that takes a special kind of clumsy to screw up....

 

[ShrimpHappens]

Most of the pin problems I've read about seem to be with the blindspot sensors and safety features.

Good to know. As I said in my post, I'm on and off a lot and have had no problems. But, I don't have blind spot monitoring.

 

[COmtnbiker]

Hinge pins? What are they for?

 

[ShawnwFL]

I’ve disconnected my door electrical connector 50+ times, no issues. Only “issue” is that if I leave them off for more than a few days my dealer calls asking if I’m having issues with my blindspot monitoring, every time, lol.

As for mirrors, hers a good resource

https://www.jeepgladiatorforum.com/forum/threads/4-mirrors-couldnt-be-happier-dont-pay-more.57981/

 

[MPMB]

I will tell you DON'T get these, or any like it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08TBR5Z3L/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They shake horribly, the plastic absorbs all the tension so the bolt basically sinks and doesn't get tight, and they fold in and down at any speed above 45mph.

 

[Little_Feller]

Hinge pins? What are they for?

I wondered the same thing!

 

[dcmdon]

This is a relatively new thing to me. And it's a little baffling.

I take my doors off a lot. There's not enough space in my garage for my Jeep, so there are weeks when I'm taking the doors off every morning and putting them back on every evening, and my electrical connectors seem to be the same as they ever were.

So how are people messing theirs up? Are they impatient and going hulk-mode on them?

I don't get it lined up perfectly every time. Sometimes it's in a bind, so I pull it out, change position, and if it's right it clicks itself into place. As with anything else, if you're having to force or jam it in, you're going to break something.

Thank you. I imagined this was the case, but the JLWranglerForum is littered with people who screwed these up. I imaging non-mechanical young guys who don't know how to be careful.

There is a guy who sells a bullet proof connector upgrade that really does make it idiot proof. But my question was if I'm enough of an idiot to need them.

You answered my question. Thanks.

 

[Rahkmalla]

Lange Coyotes. Intial install takes tools. Every time after that it's thumbscrews only (which hold up at 90mph... i heard from "a friend")

Door hinges pins? who needs em

For the connector damage... i have no idea. read plenty of accounts from people who swear they were being gentle when they bent... but i'd had my doors off at least two dozen times in the last 6 months and nothing about the process seems like i would be likely to bend a pin. But maybe my pins are just straight to begin with and the some of the people bending theirs were already crooked to begin with? No way to know for sure.

 

[wchevron]

I bent my pins last summer. Was late one night, tired. Put the connector in pulled the lever and closed it. Next morning half the electronics connected to it weren't working. Pulled it apart and a couple of the pins had bent up so they were going in the wrong slot. Totally my fault. I think I hadn't lined it up exactly straight so the connector went in at a slight angle. Doesn't take much for the pins to bend. Luckily I was able to bend them back down and get them in the correct hole so everything worked again, but it took a few times. Will see how they work out this summer

 

[Higher_Ground]

This is a relatively new thing to me. And it's a little baffling ... my electrical connectors seem to be the same as they ever were.

So how are people messing theirs up? Are they impatient and going hulk-mode on them?

I don't get it lined up perfectly every time. Sometimes it's in a bind, so I pull it out, change position, and if it's right it clicks itself into place. As with anything else, if you're having to force or jam it in, you're going to break something.

Regarding the connectors? just don't bend a pin and you won't bend a pin. I know they're thin and fragile, but it seems like that takes a special kind of clumsy to screw up....

There are several threads on this, and not a single one of them starts "I was having trouble with the electrical connector so I forced it into place." Sure, I doubt someone would mention intentionally breaking it, but given the desire to have it fixed honesty is a good starting point. It's not a matter of being an idiot or applying brute force when you should be finessing it.

EDIT: Well that was fast, glad someone owns up to their mistakes!

From what I can tell - I had my pins bent, but I never had problems - the connectors were probably damaged in the initial assembly. I checked the pins the first time I took the doors off, before I ever attempted to put them back on an a few were bent (a little, and easily bent back in place) They have never bent again. That being said, the female side of the connector is "chewed up" and I am extremely careful to make sure it's aligned so they don't bend back out of place.

You won't see someone say "I had no issues for the first 20 times and then they bent". From my perspective, it seems most people have the issue from day 1 if they have it at all.

Thank you. I imagined this was the case, but the JLWranglerForum is littered with people who screwed these up. I imaging non-mechanical young guys who don't know how to be careful.

There is a guy who sells a bullet proof connector upgrade that really does make it idiot proof. But my question was if I'm enough of an idiot to need them.

You answered my question. Thanks.

I hope to never need one, but since I've been trying to follow this closely do you have a link to that thread?

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