by Matt Konkle
Torque Editor-in-Chief
And let the half door frenzy begin.
Jeep recently added half doors as an option to its website vehicle configurator for both two-door and four-door Wrangler editions at all trim levels. The option does feature a pretty significant price tag though that may not agree with everyone. Still, the ability to plug in new half doors on Jeep’s latest Wrangler may spark a sense of nostalgia that overcomes any pricing concerns.
Half door availability on the Wrangler JL really wasn’t so much a question of ‘if’ as it was ‘when’. Over the past several months, spy shots showed off several half door vehicles going through extensive testing, and the brand has put half doors on several concept vehicles over the last few years. They even rolled out the first JL during a press launch event that featured half doors with cut out holes.
While those cut out versions never made it into production, Jeep’s newest half door option will come in two editions designed to compliment whichever soft top — base or premium twill — that buyers choose for their Wrangler.
The Dual Door Group with Base Uppers is constructed with plastic-like vinyl upper doors designed to match those whose Jeep will arrive with the standard zipperless Sunrider soft top. The Premium Door Group with Premium Uppers utilize heavier fabric twill in the upper doors which conform well with the premium Sunrider twill fabric soft top.
On two-door Wranglers, those options equate to a $2,350 pricing bump for the base edition, or a $2,550 increase on those premium uppers. For Unlimited buyers, that price jumps to $3,995 on the base and $4,395 for premium.
Unfortunately, the Dual Door Group option is not available for Jeep Gladiator owners at this time.
For some, that price may seem high to simply swap half doors in place of the normal full door. But Jeep doesn’t make you choose one or the other. Those who choose this option do receive both full doors and half doors — so you can swap whatever door you want on the vehicle depending on weather conditions.
Additionally, for those who opt to purchase entry level Wrangler models that do not offer power heated mirrors or locks, the Dual Group Premium option does get you those features. Even the Dual Group Base setup gets you power locks on the entry level Sport.
So why choose a half door option?
Well, Jeep may be appealing to your sentimentality. Many out there probably remember a simpler time when Wrangler did not have as many creature comforts as it does today. When half doors ruled the YJ and TJ landscape — with full doors either not an option, or a rare find.
The JK model, and its super popular four-door version, pushed buyers away from that landscape as full doors became the norm and not the exception.
By providing those half doors as a possibility, it gives buyers a chance to have all those creature comforts a new Wrangler offers, while still provoking fun memories of the past.
For those new to the Jeep environment, and wondering what half doors are exactly, and how are they beneficial? Well, there isn’t much mystery behind them. Instead of a full metal door with glass roll down windows, half doors utilize an upper door metal framework that is wrapped with fabric consistent with the soft top — then finished off with plastic zip down windows. Those upper doors have metal prongs in their base that then fit into the lower metal door.
Those upper fabric doors are easy to pull off and store in the back seat when the weather cooperates; opening up the door area somewhat better than just rolling down a glass window. However, the zip down plastic windows can be more difficult to navigate when, for instance, you are going through a drive-in, or tollbooth, and just need to open the window for a few moments. They also scratch easier than their glass counterparts and need more frequent attention.
