Jeep question

[Wackodrumr]

I'm a member on a couple of Jeeps sites and a certain question gets brought up from time to time. I know certain states have different laws... But this question applies in almost every state that there are "Jeepers"

My question is specifically about the doors... What makes this vehical "street legal":
http://members.aol.com/shinnok64/images/spring%20break100.jpg

As opposed to this vehical being street legal:
http://www.myxj.net/trail/GLJT_Newbie_Run_5-23-04/photos/DSC00036.JPG

Neither of these vehicals are mine. I would just like to pass along the "straight scoop" on to some of my friends on the Jeep Forums why they keep getting pulled over in their doorless Cherokee and guys in Wranglers don't.

[1sgkelly]

"why they keep getting pulled over in their doorless Cherokee and guys in Wranglers don't."

The legal answer is: because (we can).
:rolleyes:

[Wackodrumr]

That doesn't help.http://jeepin.net/forum/images/smilies/thumbsdown.gif

[backinblue]

Neither is street legal. I would stop both vehicles if I saw them on the street.

[CarCop]

In response to your Q: No! Doors are not required to be street legal. Now as far as other things on those vehicles in the pics, mudguards come to mind. I take it you all get stopped a bit. It is easy to find things "wrong" with vehicles modified like those pictured. Sorry, thems the breaks! :(

[irishlad2nv]

Neither is street legal. I would stop both vehicles if I saw them on the street.

How is a wrangler riding around with no doors on not street legal? As far as I know, nothing is wrong with them riding around with now doors. Now if its lifted too high and the tires stick out beyond the fender, then thats illegal.

[Wackodrumr]

We already know about the fender laws, as well as the mud flap things. I'm specifically asking about the doors being off and driving on the street.

For instance UPS trucks, how many times have you seen a UPS truck driving down the street with their sliding doors open?

I'm not trying to start a heated thread. I'm just wondering what makes it "street legal" for certain vehicals to drive with their doors off and not ok for others? Specifically like the ones in the pics.

So far I'm getting that doors are not required to be legal. Anyone else?

[backinblue]

How is a wrangler riding around with no doors on not street legal? As far as I know, nothing is wrong with them riding around with now doors. Now if its lifted too high and the tires stick out beyond the fender, then thats illegal.
Its not the doors that matter, on this picture the wrangler does not have a drivers side mirror, which is required equiptment. I was reffering to the vehicles pictured.

[YJ95]

Hey fellow Jeeper..can't believe I haven't seen this thread yet. ok here it goes.

I'm not LEO first of all, but this is all I've been told...

The reason that Wranglers are legal with no doors is because they can be lifted off straight from the factory. A XJ (cherokee) cannot. To anyone that says a Wrangler w/o doors is illegal, how come it passes inspection anywhere you take it (I'm referencing VA at least)? Also I've been beside, in front, behind, etc many police units for the past 8-9 months that the doors have been off and I don't even get a second glance.

Now you must have mirrors, whether it be the ones that stick in the door hinge or brackets off the windshield. As far as mud flaps, I'd fight that one if ticketed also. I don't know of any Wranglers that come with mud flaps from the factory. Therefore shouldn't be illegal.

States all have different laws regarding amount of tires sticking out past the fender. Here we have some allowed, as mine is legal. Mine stick out about 1-1.5" on each side. When I up the size however, I'll be doing some fab work to cover them alittle more.

[SO535]

The reason that Wranglers are legal with no doors is because they can be lifted off straight from the factory. A XJ (cherokee) cannot.

Now you must have mirrors, whether it be the ones that stick in the door hinge or brackets off the windshield. As far as mud flaps, I'd fight that one if ticketed also. I don't know of any Wranglers that come with mud flaps from the factory. Therefore shouldn't be illegal.

The comment about the doors is correct. However I disagree with the second comment. I myself am a Jeep guy and have never seen TJs or YJs come from the facory with 6 inches of lift and tires bigger than 32 inches. :cool:

[Wackodrumr]

:confused: It just doesn't seem right though. Just because they come from the factory like that means they bend the law? Obviously Vehical Manufacturers take special precaution before they produce a vehical with options such as a Wrangler. The only thing is... It's not exactly "Street Legal" straight from the factory.

If it's illegal to drive without sideview mirrors then why wouldn't they come with a factory installed bracket that makes the doorless option "text book legal".

I don't really know where I'm going with this now but I have a feeling I gave a bunch of LEO's a reason to pull over some Jeeps, which sucks now.

[gotthblues]

hummm, i had a friend in high school that had a piece of crap nissan 4x4 pickup, we took the doors off and called it the no door nissan,, ran it for 2 yrs, never got messed with, of course that was a long freggin time ago,,

as far as tires and lifts, thats a very broad area, you have to have bumpers at a certain height, as well as headlights, tail lights, side markers, so on, and then there are things like braking abillity and so on, we had problems with two guys with chevy pu's, that i could almost walk under, i am 6-2, the troopers got hold of them and put them throught braking tests, they failed and got hammered, i never found anything about it in the vehicle statutes, but i know they received several tickets and there rides got towed,

[YJ95]

The comment about the doors is correct. However I disagree with the second comment. I myself am a Jeep guy and have never seen TJs or YJs come from the facory with 6 inches of lift and tires bigger than 32 inches. :cool:

??? I didn't say anything relating to lift or tires.

[t150vsuptpr]

I am in Va., I know of no requirement that a vehicle be equipped with doors. If they are, and there is glass in the door, there is a requirement as to what type of glass. If they are not, then the point is mute.

Virginia Motor Vehicle Code (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC4602000) , it's searchable.

As to mirrors, I offer this link.
[URL=http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1082][B][COLOR=Blue]

[Wackodrumr]

[QUOTE=t150vsuptpr]I am in Va., I know of no requirement that a vehicle be equipped with doors. If they are, and there is glass in the door, there is a requirement as to what type of glass. If they are not, then the point is mute.

Virginia Motor Vehicle Code (http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+TOC4602000) , it's searchable.

As to mirrors, I offer this link.
[URL=http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+46.2-1082][B][COLOR=Blue]

[SO535]

??? I didn't say anything relating to lift or tires.

Your line of thinking appears to be "if it didn't come from the factory with certain equipment then I must not need it." If I am wrong I apologize. People modify their vehicles all the time. Most modifications are either absolutely not legal or needing extra equipment to make it legal. Jeeps are probably one of the MOST MODIFIED vehicles today.

Very seldom do I see a Jeep without bigger tires than what it came from the factory with. You said the jeep did not come from the factory with mudflaps and therefore does not need them. This is true until the jeep sits high enough off of the ground. For most Jeeps is not long after their purchase.

[YJ95]

Your line of thinking appears to be "if it didn't come from the factory with certain equipment then I must not need it." If I am wrong I apologize. People modify their vehicles all the time. Most modifications are either absolutely not legal or needing extra equipment to make it legal. Jeeps are probably one of the MOST MODIFIED vehicles today.

Very seldom do I see a Jeep without bigger tires than what it came from the factory with. You said the jeep did not come from the factory with mudflaps and therefore does not need them. This is true until the jeep sits high enough off of the ground. For most Jeeps is not long after their purchase.

:D apology accepted. My factory comments were strickly from the point of the doors. And the mudflaps, I was just commenting how I couldn't see if they didn't come from the lot with them, that they would be required to purchase or you'd get a ticket. That's all.

Here I believe any suspension alteration is illegal. However a body lift is allowed according to a few people around here. But that's no fun :D . I'll admit, my Jeep has a lift, has bigger tires, and all that aftermarket lighting, bumpers, etc for trail riding. But I pass inspection every year, and I don't see where I'm a hazard to other motorists.

I could go on and on about Jeep stuff but I won't...haha, already done so too long. I'm bored and don't have work for another 5 hours.

[Dudley DoRight]

Where I work the regs say this about doors..

Door, body, hood
11 The vehicle shall comply with section 19.02 of the regulations with regard to size and dimension.

Doors

[Bodie]

The vehicle was made with doors that are not removable.
The Wrangler is made with removable doors.
Two different type of vehicles even though both say "JEEP"

One will get a equipment violation & one won't
Care to guess which one will ????????????????

[slopegrrrl]

as with all traffic regulations.....it depends entirely on where you are. each state in the us governs it's traffic laws separately....you must find out the rules of your particular area