4 Door Selec-Trac vs 2 Door Rubi for snow busting and road stability

[sirnumbskull]

Im trying to decide between the 2 door Rubicon and the 4 door Sahara with Selec-Trac. My main goal for this vehicle is for it to be a winter warrior with as much immunity as possible to deep snow and slick roads, but also have some off-road chops. Can anyone provide some guidance?

I'm particularly curious about the selec Trac performance is something like a Subaru. Is it a true 4 wheels all the time system, or something closer to a haldex system?

Also, in deep snow, do the crawl ratio and locking diffs trump the 4 door's wider wheelbase, or is it more of a wash?

Thanks in advance, and sorry, I'm kind of new to all of this stuff .

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[angrynewyorker]

Im trying to decide between the 2 door Rubicon and the 4 door Sahara with Selec-Trac. My main goal for this vehicle is for it to be a winter warrior with as much immunity as possible to deep snow and slick roads, but also have some off-road chops. Can anyone provide some guidance?

I'm particularly curious about the selec Trac performance is something like a Subaru. Is it a true 4 wheels all the time system, or something closer to a haldex system?

Also, in deep snow, do the crawl ratio and locking diffs trump the 4 door's wider wheelbase, or is it more of a wash?

Thanks in advance, and sorry, I'm kind of new to all of this stuff .

Tires are the key to your question. If you got the Sahara with the lsd and put some good tires on it that would be your best combo for snow and some mild off-roading.

 

[mdallas]

For every day winter driving in the north Selec-trac is the way to go. I realize there are thousands of wranglers out there in the snow without it doing just fine, but why not if it's now available? If you are going to get a Sahara anyway, it's a cheap upgrade.

I ordered a loaded Sahara just for this.

 

[Karl_in_Chicago]

Tires. More than which end of the car houses the primary drive or if it's both, having the right tires is the single most important thing. After that it's going to be personal preference. "Some off-road chops" leaves a lot of leeway - to some that's tooling along a firebreak to others it's rock crawling with "only" adding a 2" lift and 37" tires. Need to establish where you want to be there. And if you are looking at what the crawl ratio is to get through deep snow that's some serious snow indeed. In any of that, though, it's the rubber that connects the vehicle to the surface that trumps everything.

 

[$uicide$hift]

Before you think about the Select-a-Track determine what the front axle is. You mentioned going off road and I believe I read somewhere the front axle is different with that option. If this is true and going off road go for the LSD with Dana 44 rear axle over Select-a-Track. If it will only see pavement Select-a-Track is fine.

 

[sirnumbskull]

Before you think about the Select-a-Track determine what the front axle is. You mentioned going off road and I believe I read somewhere the front axle is different with that option. If this is true and going off road go for the LSD with Dana 44 rear axle over Select-a-Track. If it will only see pavement Select-a-Track is fine.

Selec-Trac actually requires the LSD 44 axle, so that works

 

[$uicide$hift]

Selec-Trac actually requires the LSD 44 axle, so that works

Yes but what about the front axle? I thought I read there is something different about the front axle that would not be as robust as the standard axle for off road. I recall people talking about this feature in the EU released Rubicons and people wanting it but concerned about the front axle design changes needed to offer this if you were going off road.

 

[sirnumbskull]

Yes but what about the front axle? I thought I read there is something different about the front axle that would not be as robust as the standard axle for off road. I recall people talking about this feature in the EU released Rubicons and people wanting it but concerned about the front axle design changes needed to offer this if you were going off road.

Huh, that I don't know about. Not sure why they'd mess with the stock front axle...

 

[mdallas]

Huh, that I don't know about. Not sure why they'd mess with the stock front axle...

Front axle on Selec-Trac has CV joints, and so does my father's Hummer H1.

 

[sirnumbskull]

Front axle on Selec-Trac has CV joints, and so does my father's Hummer H1.

At the risk of revealing my naieveté, I don't know what CV joints are. Structural weak points, maybe?

 

[$uicide$hift]

Front axle on Selec-Trac has CV joints, and so does my father's Hummer H1.

That was it, thank you!

At the risk of revealing my naieveté, I don't know what CV joints are. Structural weak points, maybe?

Basically not easy to repair on the trail if they fail compared to the U joints used in the standard axles and the rubber boots are more prone to tear from what I have read. I am not sure if they are considered to be weaker or not over the standard U joints.

**Edit:

Found a video for you

 

[mdallas]

At the risk of revealing my naieveté, I don't know what CV joints are. Structural weak points, maybe?

CV joints are supposedly weaker than U-joints. Probably not an issue unless you are rock crawling, at which point you would update to a Dana 44 minimum any way. I understand that the CVs can be switched out with U-joints. Again the Hummer H1 has CV joints so.... I think all is good.

 

[sirnumbskull]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. I may have overstated my need originally for offroad capability. I'm basically looking for a surefooted jeep in crappy weather that can get through as much snow accumulation as possible but still act as a GTFO vehicle if things ever go sideways up here. I figure the LSD and Selec-Trac allow me to be more surefooted while still being able to turn and operate at highway speeds, for the tradeoff of a little robustness and capability for rock crawling, which is not the primary purpose of this vehicle. I mean, even sans lockers and swaybar disconnects, I assume I should have no problem with taking the back way, as long as I'm not trying the deliberately tough stuff like Moab... right?

Also, 4 door for stability in crap weather over 2 door, I assume?

Thanks again for all the replies.

 

[mdallas]

I mean, even sans lockers and swaybar disconnects, I assume I should have no problem with taking the back way, as long as I'm not trying the deliberately tough stuff like Moab... right?

Also, 4 door for stability in crap weather over 2 door, I assume?

Thanks again for all the replies.

Correct on the long wheelbase, way better in the snow. I would say any non serious rock climbing will be fine, at least I'm counting on it!

 

[$uicide$hift]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. I may have overstated my need originally for offroad capability. I'm basically looking for a surefooted jeep in crappy weather that can get through as much snow accumulation as possible but still act as a GTFO vehicle if things ever go sideways up here. I figure the LSD and Selec-Trac allow me to be more surefooted while still being able to turn and operate at highway speeds, for the tradeoff of a little robustness and capability for rock crawling, which is not the primary purpose of this vehicle. I mean, even sans lockers and swaybar disconnects, I assume I should have no problem with taking the back way, as long as I'm not trying the deliberately tough stuff like Moab... right?

Also, 4 door for stability in crap weather over 2 door, I assume?

Thanks again for all the replies.

Yes correct. I just wanted to make sure you and anyone else that may read this thread in the future knew about the difference in the front axle in case that is important to them.

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