Exterior door handles: Why have tree & branch collectors?

[jonboy1919]

I have always wondered why 1980 and older Jeeps' exterior door handles came installed with the handle facing forward? Up here in the Pacific Northwest most USFS roads and private logging roads are under-maintained at best, and foliage growth tightens up most all to mere trails.

I have plenty of deep scars in the paint all the way down the sides of my CJ from these "paths." If I had not reversed the direction of the exterior door handles, I'm pretty sure they would have collected enough vine maples and alder trees to completely be RIPPED OFF the doors.

What was Jeep thinking and has anybody else reversed their handles?

 

[bondo258]

I have an 85 with rotary doors on it, I prefer the look.

I think it's a lousy design overall, not just the exterior handle "stock" orientation. Stress cracks from lack of reinforcement, tiny awkward interior handle. Poor interior "lock" design. That said, I still prefer them to the paddle style.

Went to a local jeep event, with 50+ CJ's and nobody ran with the rotary doors. One summer-only Jeep had the striker plates, and no doors.

Back on topic, I used to have mine oriented with the handle pointing down. I tried them backwards, kept snagging my jacket on it, while getting in/out.

Went back to forward, and haven't looked back.

 

[jonboy1919]

I have an 85 with rotary doors on it, I prefer the look.

I think it's a lousy design overall, not just the exterior handle "stock" orientation. Stress cracks from lack of reinforcement, tiny awkward interior handle. Poor interior "lock" design. That said, I still prefer them to the paddle style.

Went to a local jeep event, with 50+ CJ's and nobody ran with the rotary doors. One summer-only Jeep had the striker plates, and no doors.

Back on topic, I used to have mine oriented with the handle pointing down. I tried them backwards, kept snagging my jacket on it, while getting in/out.

Went back to forward, and haven't looked back.

I hear ya on the stress cracks. In fact, this weekend I am gonna weld a piece of steel over the interior crack, should be an adventure.

 

[bondo258]

Try re-squaring the door before you weld it. May need to make a jig out of some scrap lumber to accomplish this. pretty much a rectangle box with no flex. top to bottom (shortest measurement you can get) and front to back, minus hinge plate. Tweak it till it fits the box snug, then weld it. roll window down before tweaking.

Some some detailed write ups some years back on gusseting the door interior for strength. It involved rivets since it's fairly inaccessible in there. Couldn't find them when it came time for the door fix.

If you have found yourself adjusting the door/fiberglass top/windshield angle more than a few times, or even grinding stuff down to have the door continue to close correctly, your door is out of square.

Good luck.