Question for Experienced Off-Roaders on Options

[GATORB8]

Rut-Roh, I may be in the wrong place…..I already spend $10k a year maintaining and upgrading the two cars I cherish now. Just a few weeks ago I spent $1,000 on 8 Titanium bolts for a 2WD conversion.

In that case, I’d look hard at a Rubicon if you want off road performance, the upgrades are mostly drivetrain, and may keep you from having to spend real cash down the line.

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[aldo98229]

Ever heard of an LJ Rubicon?

LJ Rubicon is a one-off, made in very limited numbers. JL Rubicons are a dime a dozen.

 

[Shark01]

But now that I say that. Does the HA come with front and rear d44 anyway? I think I read that somewhere.

Yes

 

[Shark01]

In that case, I’d look hard at a Rubicon if you want off road performance, the upgrades are mostly drivetrain, and may keep you from having to spend real cash down the line.

But since it wouldn't be the intended usage virtually 100% of the time, I don't see myself doing that at this point.

 

[jaysmooth24]

I own a 2021 HA and have lived in Florida, Virginia, and now Kuwait. I have taken mine mudding, off-roading through sand, snow, etc. and have never had any issues. I did opt for all the bells and whistles and do no regret it; it looks good down the road, but it can also hang on the dirt roads.

 

[2nd 392]

But since it wouldn't be the intended usage virtually 100% of the time, I don't see myself doing that at this point.

“Intended” and “at this point” are subject to change as mentioned, and upgrades cost a lot of “Change” as mentioned. I just ordered $1090 gears and install kit plus $270 for isotropic finish to change 3.73’s to 4.56 . installation? but won’t be cheap. Next is Tires ~ $400 x 5. And so much for the warranty on them because I didn’t get the XR pkg. For a few more bucks a Rubi has your possible future intentions covered for all the also already mentioned reasons. See all the threads on upgrading gears, Axles, lockers, high fenders, tires, etc. What were their “intentions” at the “point” of purchase? My 2c ?

 

[Shark01]

Ok, assuming the knock issue on the LSD is real and it requires maintenance anyway, leaning towards not picking that up.

Same with the rails and front camera.

On the auto-switching AWD, I’m still confused on the usage. Assuming I don’t have it, and I run into a flooded area, can I not pull the shifter from 2H to 4H on the fly? Would I have to come to a complete stop?

Thanks for all your responses on this thread.

 

[stumblinhorse]

Ok, assuming the knock issue on the LSD is real and it requires maintenance anyway, leaning towards not picking that up.

Same with the rails and front camera.

On the auto-switching AWD, I’m still confused on the usage. Assuming I don’t have it, and I run into a flooded area, can I not pull the shifter from 2H to 4H on the fly? Would I have to come to a complete stop?

Thanks for all your responses on this thread.

Yes, pull shift lever and you are good to go. It will work like 99% of jeeps on the road since that option is relatively new. Shift on the fly, no stop, no hubs, easy-peezy. Simple is better these days.

 

[GATORB8]

Ok, assuming the knock issue on the LSD is real and it requires maintenance anyway, leaning towards not picking that up.

Same with the rails and front camera.

On the auto-switching AWD, I’m still confused on the usage. Assuming I don’t have it, and I run into a flooded area, can I not pull the shifter from 2H to 4H on the fly? Would I have to come to a complete stop?

Thanks for all your responses on this thread.

It's a little more complicated, but you can basically think of the full time case as the computer being able to shift from 2hi to 4hi for you when it senses slipping in the rear.

As @stumblinhorse confirmed, the part time case will shift on the fly in high.

 

[2nd 392]

Ok, assuming the knock issue on the LSD is real and it requires maintenance anyway, leaning towards not picking that up.

Same with the rails and front camera.

On the auto-switching AWD, I’m still confused on the usage. Assuming I don’t have it, and I run into a flooded area, can I not pull the shifter from 2H to 4H on the fly? Would I have to come to a complete stop?

Thanks for all your responses on this thread.

Yes-IF you see the flooded area in time. At 4am on a country road at ~75mph I hit an unseen low spot deeply flooded by an irrigation fail. Instantly coming to an abrupt stop, rear end immediately coming around to the left , thrown forward and windshield obscured. Mashed throttle and the front wheels pulled me straight and through flooded spot. Rare but happens.

 

[Flatties 4ever]

• Selec-Trac full time AWD – I assume this one is not needed --- (useful only if you see snow/ice or run dunes)
• Anti-spin diff --- (factory clutch based LSD wears out fast - go aftermarket torsen type LSD)
• Front off-road camera --- (fun toy if you have the extra bucks)
• Rock slider with step assist --- (even if you don't use the sliders they help keep mud and rock chips off your paint)

 

[Shark01]

So I’ve been watching some videos on Select Trac (4H Auto) and all of them say that you can’t use 4H Part on dry pavement. So it looks like in a place like Houston where you could be in a torrential rain one moment and a mile or two down the road on a patch of pavement that hasn’t seen rain at all that 4H Auto looks to be very useful.

 

[stumblinhorse]

So I’ve been watching some videos on Select Trac (4H Auto) and all of them say that you can’t use 4H Part on dry pavement. So it looks like in a place like Houston where you could be in a torrential rain one moment and a mile or two down the road on a patch of pavement that hasn’t seen rain at all that 4H Auto looks to be very useful.

The dry pavement thing would be true for any 4WD vehicle. understand there is a difference between AWD and 4WD. If you think that you want to drive around town in full time 4WD then that option is for you. It is very easy to swift into part time 4WD and can be done when you think you need extra traction and shifted out when it is dry again without any issue. But it is a manual thing to do. With 4H auto is does it when it needs to and you have no idea if you are in 4WD or not…. Good thing? Bad thing? Up to you.

 

[five9dak]

Agree with @AZJeepGuy you don’t need any of them if you are going to order. People seem to think LSD is a magical thing that makes everything work in bad weather. My rubicons never have had LSD. People will say that is because they have lockers…. Well I don’t use lockers driving around on the road in the rain, which is what you are talking about For Houston. And part time 4WD will suit you fine anywhere off road you are going to go. Everywhere open diff with BLD(standard on all wranglers) works great. I never get LSD on anything and don’t ever want it. Save your money for other upgrades.

The reason the LSD option is so highly recommended is because it gets you the larger d44 rear end assembly for less than what just the carrier swap would cost you aftermarket.

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