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What's with all the doors!?!?

BellyRat

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So...I've never owned a Jeep (but always loved them!). And I've never been a huge off-road guy (but always admired them!). Owned plenty of 4×4 trucks and spent a little time on the beach, in the snow and on some muddy back roads...but nothing serious.

The new Bronco has finally inspired me to take it to the next level....mountain switchbacks, rock-crawling and some serious sand!

This lead me to watching a ton of YouTube videos on serious off-roading and in pretty much every video I've watched the top and doors are are on! What gives...

My idea of off-roading is a wide-ass open, bad ass "dune buggy" lookin vehicle getting it done...

What am I missing here?
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kodiakisland

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The novelty gives way to practicality.
 

Dads_bronze_bronco

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It turns out trails can be dusty and sometimes it rains ...

My top down experience is more on road than off.
 
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BellyRat

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The novelty gives way to practicality.
Ok...fair enough...but what's not practical about wheeling in an open off-roader? I thought that's what they were designed for?
 

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kodiakisland

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Ok...fair enough...but what's not practical about wheeling in an open off-roader? I thought that's what they were designed for?

I guess once you start doing it, you'll understand. Unless you planned ahead and have a place to store that stuff, you ain't wheeling with the doors in the back. Just not always practical to take stuff off once you get to the trail. Where you going to leave it? Then there's the outdoor elements. Rain, heat, mud, dust, etc. Some folks like keeping that out sometimes.

Sure, wheeling with doors and top off is fun, just not always practical. After the first few months, most doors and tops will stay put.
 

Megawatt

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I live in Las Vegas that’s Mojave desert area. The Mojave is a dirt desert, it is not sand like the Sahara. Desert off roading in the windy dirt is a good time to have doors and roof.

It is nicer to wheel without that stuff but driving down the highway anything in the Jeep is gonna get blown out so you have to prevent that. And if you stop for food or gas after the wheeling then the vehicle is wide open and insecure. So no leaving valuables in plain sight.
The Bronco will be awesome to be able to drive there and easily remove doors and bring them. And they are much lighter than Jeep doors.
 

Dads_bronze_bronco

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So do you think the vinyl cash-out interior is the answer?
I’ve said all along the vinyl isn’t a necessity based on my experience. Jeep owners going topless and think they’re going to see water and mud pull the carpets out for the weekend and run on painted floor pans. Pull the plugs and wash them out when they get back, and put the carpets back in. If the carpets get wet - pull them out to dry and put them back in.

That way when you want sound dampened-ish / civilized-ish Daily driving - you have it.

I do think the frameless door windows and a drop top make driving to the trail and back more civilized (and safe) and then doors in the back / top down on the trail more likely.

But if you’re overlanding for several days you’re likely running with top and doors on.
 

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Mattwings

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I mostly drove my Jeep off road in the rain, snow or after a long road trip somewhere. I drove it around my house no doors and bikini top all summer. We have a cottage now and I expect the top and doors to be off for the 2 months it’s warm enough in Northern MI. Probably not when we go on weekend trips to the dunes or one of the ORV destinations we have planned. It’s just not practical......maybe I do need the dual tops.....
 
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BellyRat

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So...what I'm hearing is the "top-down", "doors-off" wide open off-roading experience is just a mirage? Well that's a little disappointing! Lol!!
 

Mattwings

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It is totally doable, just not always what you will decide is the best experience. In addition, wind eventually gets tiring. 4 hrs at moderate to high speed in an open rig can start to be irritating ? make sure you listen to your spouse so they keep enjoying the Bronco with you as well. If my wife doesn’t like it, I don’t get to drive it as much!
 

wolfpackinva

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I've never been an off roader. But there are places I want to go that will require an appropriate toy. I need a Bronco.
 

iamchewby

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There are a lot of places that are fantastic for off roading, but the rain can sneak up fast and hard. Shoot, not 3 weeks ago I was fishing in Colorado, where half the state is on fire and it went from "oh, we got some clouds rolling in" to "holy crap get to the truck" in about 10 minutes.
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