Rancho Jeep JK Wrangler Rock Gear
Tube Doors Installation Write-Up

May 5, 2010 Cindy Interior/Exterior Mods, Jeep JK Write-Ups 5



In my opinion, what’s a Jeep JK Wrangler good for if you aren’t taking the top and doors off the minute it’s warm enough to do so. I mean, it’s a Jeep and they need to breath right? Now, I know there are some of you out there that feel a little uncomfortable riding around town or the highway without anything present to help keep you in or, maybe it’s your significant other who feels this way. Whatever the case might be, what I would recommend is that you pick up a set of Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors.

Designed to fit in the factory door mounts without any modifications, the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors are very affordable, super easy to install in minutes and do a great job of offering the comfort of enclosure you’re looking for while maintaining the true, free and open air feel that can only be experienced with your top AND doors off.

This write-up will show you just how easy it is to install a set of Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors on your Jeep JK Wrangler.

What you will need

• Torx T-40, T-50 Bit
• Ratchet
• 3/8,11/16" Wrenches
• Phillips Screwdriver
• Hand Drill
• Small Metal Drilling Bits
• Center Punch

 
   

Instructions

This is a shot of one front and one rear Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door and hardware to show you what all you should getting in the box.
1. To begin the installtion of your Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors, you will need to first remove your factory mirrors off your Jeep JK Wrangler as they will be reused. The 2 bolts are located on the inside panel of your doors and you will need a Torx T-40 bit to remove them.
2. With the 2 bolts removed, the factory mirror should pull out of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s door with ease.
3. Using a Torx T-50 bit, remove the nuts located on the base of each of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s door hinges as shown in this pic.
4. The plug of your Jeep JK Wrangler’s front door wiring is located under your dash and is locked in place. In order to remove this plug, you will need to first slide the red locking tab over to the side as shown in this pic. (Photo shows the plug already removed so that you can get a better look at what everything looks like)
5. Press the release tab on the end of the wiring harness plug and then wiggle it side to side while pulling down until it comes free.
6. Pull the door strap up off the door strap hook and then, carefully lift your door up and off your Jeep JK Wrangler’s hinges. The front doors can be quite heavy especially if you have automatic windows and locks. Carefully set your door aside and repeat process on the opposite side.
7. If you have a 4-door, slide your front seats all the way forward so that you can open up the access panel located on your Jeep JK Wrangler’s B-Pillar. 8. As before, the wiring harness plug will be locked in place and in order to remove it, you will need to first slide the red locking tab over to the side as shown in this pic. 9. Press the release tab on the end of the wiring harness plug and then wiggle it side to side while pulling down until it comes free.
10. Once the wiring harness has been disconnected, simply pull the door strap up off the door strap hook and then carefully lift your door up and off your Jeep JK Wrangler’s hinges. Carefully set your door aside and repeat process on the opposite side.
11. Slip the provided latches through the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors as shown in this pic. 12. Secure the latch to the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door using the hardware provided. A 3/8" wrench and phillips screwdriver will be needed for this job. 13. Starting with the rear Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door, carefully install them onto the hinges on your Jeep JK Wrangler.
14. Do a test fit of the rubber isolator to find the best location to mount it on the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door. 15. Use the rubber isolator as a guide and mark the location of where you will need to drill with a center punch. 16. Drill a small hole into the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door with a metal drilling bit.
17. Secure the rubber isolator onto the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door using the scew provided. A phillips screwdriver will be needed for this job.
18. Reinstall your Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door onto your Jeep JK Wrangler’s rear door hinges and secure it in place using the nut provided. An 11/16" wrench will be needed for this job.
19. Onto the front Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors, use the rubber isolator as a guide and mark the location of where you will need to drill with a center punch. 20. Drill a small hole into the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door with a metal drilling bit. 21. Secure the rubber isolator onto the Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door using the scew provided. A phillips screwdriver will be needed for this job.
22. Carefully install your front Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors onto the hinges on your Jeep JK Wrangler. 23. Install your factory mirrors through the mounting plates and then slip on the crush sleeves as shown in this pic. 24. Secure your mirrors in place using the factory hardware. You will need a Torx T-40 bit for this job.

And that’s it, you’re done. You now have a Jeep JK Wrangler with it’s doors off and with a sense of security. Check out some of the shots of what these Rancho Rock Gear Tube Doors look like installed and please let me know if you have any questions.
Rancho Rock Gear Tube Door Photo Gallery

5 Comments

  1. What are the odds. I’ve just been looking at getting me a set of these 🙂 Thanks for the write up!

  2. Thanks for the great article. I couldn’t envision how the rubber bumper would be placed without getting the doors in my hands. I’m also considering the Element door and they don’t mention installing a bumper. Is their fit better so they don’t require it or can the Rancho be run without a bumper without much trouble?

    I can drill the hole and install the bumper if necessary but if the Element doesn’t require it, I would probably run with the Element. Please let me know your thoughts on this.

    I don’t work for Rancho or Bestop… just bought a new Jeep and want some doors!

    Thanks,

    Mark

  3. I just installed these on my JK. The only reason I decided to go with these instead of just taking the doors off, is because our local state law states that you need at least on external mirror.

    The intalation was easy, I haven’t intalled the bumpers yet; the rear doors fit tight enough that I didn’t need them. The front doors have a little chatter while on the road but nothing that prevents them from operating.

    Not to mention the feel that you get as though you have your doors off, but you’ll also get alot of comments from people that they weren’t aware that you could do that to a jeep.

    I give many Kudos to Rancho for coming up with these.

    Thanks,

    Chuck

  4. I have these also, and love them! One question I had though is this. If I’m getting a bit of rattling when hitting some bigger bumps, is the only way to remedy it to move the bumper to a different location?

    Thanks,
    Dan

  5. Where do the crush sleeves come from? I ordered a set of OEM replacement mirrors for my Rancho doors, but I don’t have crush sleeves.

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