4WD Auto Sahara Unlimited Altitude - Wish I knew

[OffroadCalling77]

Bought my wife a 2021 Sahara Unlimited Altitude as she always wanted a jeep. I more a Mercedes guy myself, but we both snowboard and having a 4x4 vehicle made sense for our local mountains here in SoCal and the Sierras. I really have taken a liking to the car and see why people enjoy their Jeeps so much. Now to my point.

Initially doing research, I had no idea there was a 4Hi Auto option available in Jeeps. I know this is newer feature and for most of their operating life, Jeeps have only had a 4Hi and 4Lo options for 4x4. Because roads in my local SoCal mountains aren't always deep snow, but a mix of pavement and snow, 4Hi Auto would have been a perfect choice for us. Looking at the option online, it's only $700 and I would have easily opted for it since we bought the car new.

Just wondering if there's a way to swap this out with the 4Hi Auto option or I am stuck with what I have? I am guessing the latter and that's okay, but just wanted to confirm with people who have been around these boards for some time. Happy New Year!

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[Deleted member 59098]

Pretty much stuck with what you have. It’s the whole transfer case that has the full time 4WD option. I’m always going to and from Tahoe and just stay in 2WD until the roads are completely snow covered. I don’t think it hurts to put it in 4HI when it’s a mix of snow and wet.

 

[OffroadCalling77]

Pretty much stuck with what you have....

I figured as much. It's funny we you think you've done enough research before buying only to find out you have not. It's all good. I will know what to get if we ever sell it and buy another one. It just sounds like the 4Hi Auto works better for the driving conditions we would see.

What are your thoughts at R2 chain control check points? Still keep in 2Hi until slippage occurs or move to 4Hi at the check point even if it means driving through winding mountain roads.

 

[X99104]

Pretty much stuck with what you have. It’s the whole transfer case that has the full time 4WD option. I’m always going to and from Tahoe and just stay in 2WD until the roads are completely snow covered. I don’t think it hurts to put it in 4HI when it’s a mix of snow and wet.

As long as the conditions allow for some tire slippage you should be good in 4 HI

 

[X99104]

I figured as much. It's funny we you think you've done enough research before buying only to find out you have not. It's all good. I will know what to get if we ever sell it and buy another one. It just sounds like the 4Hi Auto works better for the driving conditions we would see.

What are your thoughts at R2 chain control check points? Still keep in 2Hi until slippage occurs or move to 4Hi at the check point even if it means driving through winding mountain roads.

You can shift from 2 HI to 4 Hi while moving at slow speeds. The key thing is in 4wd your front end will bind up if the tires can't slip while turning.

 

[Black Jeep Convertible]

Bought my wife a 2021 Sahara Unlimited Altitude as she always wanted a jeep. I more a Mercedes guy myself, but we both snowboard and having a 4x4 vehicle made sense for our local mountains here in SoCal and the Sierras. I really have taken a liking to the car and see why people enjoy their Jeeps so much. Now to my point.

Initially doing research, I had no idea there was a 4Hi Auto option available in Jeeps. I know this is newer feature and for most of their operating life, Jeeps have only had a 4Hi and 4Lo options for 4x4. Because roads in my local SoCal mountains aren't always deep snow, but a mix of pavement and snow, 4Hi Auto would have been a perfect choice for us. Looking at the option online, it's only $700 and I would have easily opted for it since we bought the car new.

Just wondering if there's a way to swap this out with the 4Hi Auto option or I am stuck with what I have? I am guessing the latter and that's okay, but just wanted to confirm with people who have been around these boards for some time. Happy New Year!

I feel your pain, I completely forgot about selec trac when shopping. Would have been perfect for my city streets where it’s plowed every other block and you’re making tight turns on hardball half the time

 

[X99104]

2H To 4H Or 4H To 2H
Shifting between 2H and 4H can be made with the vehicle
stopped or in motion. The preferred shifting speed would
be 0 to 45 mph (72 km/h). With the vehicle in motion, the
transfer case will engage/disengage faster if you momentarily
release the accelerator pedal after completing the
shift. Do not accelerate while shifting the transfer case.
Apply a constant force when shifting the transfer case
lever.
NOTE:
• Do not attempt to make a shift while only the front or
rear wheels are spinning. The front and rear driveshaft
speeds must be equal for the shift to take place. Shifting
while only the front or rear wheels are spinning can
cause damage to the transfer case.
• Delayed shifts out of four-wheel drive may be experienced
due to uneven tire wear, low or uneven tire
pressures, excessive vehicle loading, or cold temperatures.
• Shifting effort will increase with speed, this is normal.
During cold weather, you may experience increased effort
in shifting until the transfer case fluid warms up. This is
normal.
6
STARTING AND OPERATING 329

 

[OffroadCalling77]

You can shift from 2 HI to 4 Hi while moving at slow speeds. The key thing is in 4wd your front end will bind up if the tires can't slip while turning.

So essentially even if the roads are quite windy through the mountains, if slippage can occur then 4Hi should not be an issue and binding will not occur? Would an R2 checkpoint be a good place to swap over to 4Hi if previously cruising at the standard 2Hi up the mountain?

 

[OffroadCalling77]

I feel your pain, I completely forgot about selec trac when shopping. Would have been perfect for my city streets where it’s plowed every other block and you’re making tight turns on hardball half the time

Yeah it's not buyers remorse, but if I would have known it would have been an easy decision.

 

[X99104]

So essentially even if the roads are quite windy through the mountains, if slippage can occur then 4Hi should not be an issue and binding will not occur? Would an R2 checkpoint be a good place to swap over to 4Hi if previously cruising at the standard 2Hi up the mountain?

You will feel it when the fronts/transfer case is binding. I tend to drive 2wd until I abosolutely need 4wd. Keeps me driving within my limits and gives me an option if things get worse. YMMV

20 years in the foothills of the Rockies taught me that bit of humility.

 

[OffroadCalling77]

You will feel it when the fronts/transfer case is binding. I tend to drive 2wd until I abosolutely need 4wd. Keeps me driving within my limits and gives me an option if things get worse. YMMV

20 years in the foothills of the Rockies taught me that bit of humility.

Interesting. Thank you for your insight and advice. I will probably follow your instruction at first and just leave it in 2WD until I absolutely feel it's dangerous or I get stuck. Something I will probably get better at over time in snowy conditions.

I use to take up our 2013 Passat which was our roadtrip car in R2 chain control. It was fine with chains in FWD, but I was always slowing down the 4x4s behind me that did not have chains on and felt bad. Didn't even think that a lot of them may have still been cruising in 2WD the whole time. Looking to plan a mammoth trip soon and hopefully it can coincide with a nice storm to test things out.

On a side note, that lever is a bitch to get into 4Hi, but looking through this forum that seems common in the beginning and naturally get's easier over time.

I told my wife that while her Jeep may remain a mall crawler most of it's life, for the little off-roading we do and a decent amount of snow driving, I least want to be informed and gain some knowledge of the vehicle rather than looking stupid when the time comes to use it's intended purpose.

Looks like a great community here! Thank you all.

Extra side note. Did a lot research on these forums about snow chains and found some cable style chains for the rear that I think I will purchase and bring just in case CHP/CalTrans was having a bad day and did not let pass because I wasn't carrying any in the vehicle. While this is rare, I have seen it happen and would not want to spoil a pow day on the mountain because of it.

 

[aldo98229]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

If it is any consolation, you are not alone. FCA has done a terrible job marketing Selec-Trac.

The only reason I knew of Selec-Trac was because I had it on my 1995 and 2001 Grand Cherokees, and absolutely loved it. When I read that Jeep was adding Selec-Trac to JL, it was a must-have for me.

Hang in there; these things hold their value amazingly. You may find out in a couple of years that you can trade in your Sahara for a new one with Selec-Trac with hardly any monetary loss.
Good luck.

 

[OffroadCalling77]

Firstly, welcome to the forum.

If it is any consolation, you are not alone. FCA has done a terrible job marketing Selec-Trac.

The only reason I knew of Selec-Trac was because I had it on my 1995 and 2001 Grand Cherokees, and absolutely loved it. When I read that Jeep was adding Selec-Trac to JL, it was a must-have for me.

Hang in there; these things hold their value amazingly. You may find out in a couple of years that you can trade in your Sahara for a new one with Selec-Trac with hardly any monetary loss.

Good luck.

Thank you! It seems obvious now, but isn't that why hindsight is always 20/20? You are absolutely correct on that resell value. If it becomes an issue then we will sell it and get a different one with Selec-Trac. Maybe a 392 because they have it on the rubicons now? Haha

 

[aldo98229]

With regards to CHP/CalTrans: chances are they’d let you through if you got tires with more tread. Consider swapping those Bridgestones for a set of KO2s, ATXs or DuraTracs; your Jeep will look better, too. 275/70R18 looks perfect on Saharas.

Speaking of which, for frequent driving in snow, Sahara’s setup with a rear LSD is better than Rubicon’s selectable lockers; Rubicon’s setup works best for rock crawling and more technical off-roading.

My Sahara with Selec-Trac, rear LSD and snow-rated ATs drives predictably and is virtually unstoppable in snow.

 

[OffroadCalling77]

With regards to CHP/CalTrans: chances are they’d let you through if you got tires with more tread. Consider swapping those Bridgestones for a set of KO2s, ATXs or DuraTracs; your Jeep will look better, too. 275/70R18 looks perfect on Saharas.

Speaking of which, for frequent driving in snow, Sahara’s setup with a rear LSD is better than Rubicon’s selectable lockers; Rubicon’s setup works best for rock crawling and more technical off-roading.

My Sahara with Selec-Trac, rear LSD and snow-rated ATs drives predictably and is virtually unstoppable in snow.

Interesting. More tread? Even though they are stamped M+S?

Yeah I looked at the KO2s but also looked at lift kits and probably wouldn't swap tires until the car was lifted and also go up in tire size. Do you know how much bigger the KO2s are than my Bridgestones?

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