I'm in the same boat.You can't usually find nice ones local or cheap.I'm considering the Bestop fabric ones myself.Unless you have access to tubing benders,etc.,I doubt you could execute home-made half doors that don't look like they were made with tin snips and beer cans.

 

Look closely when you order. One model of the Best tops do accept uppers and the other model doesn't. I have the ones that don't and I really like them. Lightweight, functional, easy to store and they do the job they are intended to do. The paddle latches are very nice.

 

Elwood makes a good point: some of our half doors are designed to be used without uppers, so check the web site before making a purchase.

Making your own: The handles are tough to make. Bestop sells a LOT of paddle handles to people and small companies making their own doors. They're usually the tube/safari style doors. If you're set on making your own, you should check out (and steal ideas from) the Element Doors from Bestop. The idea was a tube style door with an optional metal plate cover. With the plate on, it makes a solid half door. This has been really popular with JK owners who couldn't find factory half doors at any price. I, of course, think you should just buy them from us. But it will exceed the budget you've set for this project.

Good luck!

 

Thanks all for your ideas. I have done a little more searching online and I found two nice home made ones that people made. One guy had a CJ and used 1/4" plywood, but then put another layer of something else on the outside so it didn't look like wood. (I still don't want to use wood.) Another guy bent his own tube and made a nice set of tube doors. I like the look of those, but I'm not sure whether I have access to a tube bender or not. It seems it may be hard to beat the $180 BestTop half doors from JC Whitney. When the time comes (i.e. money), maybe I will make a check of the local junk yards and go with the BestTop doors if I don't have any luck at the junkyards. But if anyone else has any good ideas, bring 'em on!

 

Doing a quick search I found a used set for $175 at http://www.wranglertj.com/shop/doors (scroll down - they're red).

Otherwise, diamond plate half doors are around $390 (plus another $75 or so for brackets to allow you to mount your upper door halves).

 

Say what you want about Smittybilt, but I like these doors:
http://www.quadratec.com/products/12057_1400_07.htm
They don't accept a window nor are super inexpensive, but are tough, look good, and have threaded pins to help prevent theft. The besttop ones are just a pin w/out threads.

 

Fab with wood, cover outside to inside with a sheet of tin. It wont look cookie cutter from the inside but wont look to terrible on the outside.

My friend has a wrangler, hes getting tube doors ordered online. If I can get the places name I'll post it up for you.

 

Fab with wood, cover with fiberglass.

Fab with foam, cover with fiberglass.
etc
Easy project.

Either way by the time you buy the materials and hinges and handles, you're gonna spend some money.

 

Yeah I know. When you can buy a new pair of fabric doors for $180, it doesn't seem like you would save all that much money by building your own. Plus, all of the time involved.

Those Smitty Built ones are cool looking, but they are $70 more than the Best Top fabric half doors. But they do look very nice.

 

Go with used bestop half doors....search craigslist....I got mine for $170 with uppers......
It'll save you some extra cash for other mods

 

Actually, Lol! you can fab them with 1/2 sanded plywood. Cut shape a needed/desired. Cover all sides with sand/seal. (This will allow you to paint the exterior and have a solid smooth look and finish. Upholster the interior and all edges with a heavy duty duct canvas with UV stable coating. The hinges can be purchased used/new and the door latch can be a simple gate latch.

The total cost for these doors (minus the hinges) should be well under $100 dollars if all the items are sourced local and on sale.


C.

 

If you skip the fabric and just cover the door with primer/sealer and then paint and clear coat...even cheaper.
Make your own hinges...even cheaper still.

C.

 

The cheapest route would be to take them off, its a Jeep!! lol

Honestly, I have the Bestop half doors and they're great on the trail. Not sure about DIY something like this. The chances that they line up and fit the very first time might not be worth...the time.

 

i got mine for free YJ Half doors. I had to buy the paint to paint them and the TJ latches.

 

Tube Doors

I've ran across half door tube kits on ebay....Basicly all tubes are bent and cut you just have to weld the pieces together......Not sure if paddle latches were provided or not but price was reasonable....I might buy a set and have the local high school shop kids weld em up.....free for me and a good project for some kids

 

Yeah, I like just having the doors off. I had a '97 Wrangler one other time before, and I made some foot pegs for it out of some pipe, it was nice. But my wife usually likes to have some kind of doors on. But half doors in the summer are better than full doors!

Thanks all : )

 

My buddy made some out of 1/8" steel for pretty cheap. They turned out pretty good.

 

My step-father is a farmer, and I just found out he has the ability to bend steel tube, and he has welding equipment. I'd like to make something like this, maybe:

http://www.wranglerforum.com/f118/own-style-tube-doors-29964.html

Scroll down to the side view photo.

 

Just ordered Bestop fabric half doors from JC Whitney. Got free shipping. Problem solved for $180!

 

I know this is an old post but did the doors come with uppers? How hard would it be to add the bent arm uppers to the soft lowers they don't accept the bent arm uppers for steel doors? Thanks!

 

Wtf u nd doors for