How has your JL saved your a**?

[Montanabound]

Does this count? My son and I walked away without a scratch.

How’d that happen?

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[joegrasse]

Oh wow! I can see it was a 4xe. Since you and your son turned out ok, how did the jeep fair? Any concern with the battery? I too have a 4xe

Insurance totaled it out.

 

[joegrasse]

How’d that happen?

I essentially got T-boned.

 

[Headbarcode]

This isn't the Jeep's fault, but I felt more secure in my 2013 VW Tiguan than I do my 2021 JLU.

The VW had AWD which turned on automatically when needed and winter tires.

The Jeep is the base without the Auto mode, so I'm normally driving in RWD with the Goodyear all terrains that come from the factory

I'm still unsure of the limits, so I don't test it the way I tested the VW.

Winter tires are that good.

Most, if not all, awd cars and suvs will drive better in the snow than any Wrangler models. They could literally run circles around us on packed or shallow snow. Jeeps shine when it starts getting deep and the awds are starting to drag parts.

My previous vehicle was a 2016 Nissan Juke with a 1.6 i4 turbo and selectable 2wd/awd/torque vectoring awd. I forget the model name, but I had a great set of snow and wet rated Continentals. That car could comfortably fly around as if it was a regular dry day, but would start becoming swamped in about 6" of snow and up. At that point, the front bumper air dam and front suspension would be plowing snow and it was over soon after.

The Jeep can't run as fast on any snow covered ground, regardless of it being packed or fresh. But so far, it's been able to tractor through about 2' of wet snow. Front axle was plowing, but as long as I kept moving it wouldn't stop. I also had one instance where the snow was dryer and windswept into a several hundred yard long driveway. The snow was about 4' deep for most of it, but the Jeep just kept marching through. I had to stop a couple times because I was concerned about the grill, as the whole front face was acting like a snow plow. It seemed to not even be phased and the Jeep just continued plowing forward without any struggle.

 

[Bmeister]

Most, if not all, awd cars and suvs will drive better in the snow than any Wrangler models. They could literally run circles around us on packed or shallow snow. Jeeps shine when it starts getting deep and the awds are starting to drag parts...

True, EXCEPT for the 4xe and 392 Wrangler models which have the 4HI-Auto transfer case. Our 4xe Rubis drive like our Grand Cherokees in winter.

 

[joegrasse]

True, EXCEPT for the 4xe and 392 Wrangler models which have the 4HI-Auto transfer case. Our 4xe Rubis drive like our Grand Cherokees in winter.

You beat me to it. ? I was going to say the same thing. My 4xe drives better on the snow than my wife’s AWD SUV. Although part of that is probably because of the different tires.

 

[Headbarcode]

True, EXCEPT for the 4xe and 392 Wrangler models which have the 4HI-Auto transfer case. Our 4xe Rubis drive like our Grand Cherokees in winter.

You beat me to it. ? I was going to say the same thing. My 4xe drives better on the snow than my wife’s AWD SUV. Although part of that is probably because of the different tires.

The only thing that differentiates 4hi and 4hi auto is the amount of driver interaction. Otherwise, they accomplish the same function of engaging and disengaging 4wd.

The beauty of a quality selectable (not auto engaging that only kicks in after already slipping) awd system is its ability to constantly vary power distribution both front and rear and left to right. I had a 2001 Astro van with auto awd, and it was great, but didn't perform quite as well as the full time awd in the Juke. This is because the Juke prevented slip from happening in the first place vs the Astro having to first lose grip before the system kicked in and had to reestablish control.

And yes, a good snow tire is what really makes or breaks drive ability in those conditions. I've personally driven 2wd pickups with good tires around 4wd pickups that were stuck due to their summer performance tires.

The hybrid AT/MT tread patterns of the Milestar Patagonias have proven to be pretty damn good in the snow for me. The Jeep actually feels more planted and confident in 2hi vs 4hi, only needing the latter to help pull the front end around fluffy corners. Still, I can't go nearly as fast as the awd vehicles that seem to easily remain composed.

Just my observations and experiences. Not claiming it to be unequivocal law. Some awd systems are better than others, and the same goes for 4wd. But they are still different approaches to powering multiple wheel ends.

 

[entropy]

Good that your Sport has the rear LSD.

I think you just need to get used to how your Jeep drives.

I have a Sahara with the Selec-Trac now, but for years I drove Wranglers with part-time 4WD without issues. The ESC is brilliant IMO; it saved my neck a few times in 2WD —and in 4WD.

Also, your Tiguan was FWD based, which makes it understeer in corners, even with AWD. Ninety-percent of the time, understeer feels more predictable. The issue is there are situations when understeering cannot get you out of, which a RWD setup might be able to. You just need to get used to having that rear end come around.

This.

I've been saying that wranglers suck in winter conditions for a long time on these forums.

I lived in Vermont for 10 years and commute to work on rural works even during the worst storms (I was younger and stupid). I got pretty good at driving on the snow. My vehicles? toyota corolla and jeep patriot. Both with winter tires, and both FWD. With the patriot having 4WD auto and 4WD part-time as well.

Then I moved to California. Sold the patriot and bought a 2 door JL with rear LSD. I went to mammoth on a ski trip and hated driving the wrangler with the tail all over the place, on conditions I wouldve easily drove the corolla. I would turn 4WD on the wrangler and all was good.

I went skiing the other day and to my surprise driving on snowy/icy roads wasn't as bad, I was a bit more in control of the Jeep. I came to realize the Jeep didn't outright suck, it was me. I was experienced driving in snow with a FWD vehicle and driving the Jeep was like driving on icy roads for the first time.

The LSD does help, quite a bit actually. When that rear kicks to the side, the LSD helps to get you going the direction you want to travel.

I still hold that wranglers are not the best option for winter conditions due to them being more unstable than other vehicles. Specially 2 doors. You gotta drive slower with these beasts. And FWD vehicles are just easier for most people.

The Wrangler is built to get you through gnarly terrain. Be it rocks, mud, steep hills, snow, etc... BUT at low speeds. They don't use wranglers for rallying do they?

 

[joegrasse]

The only thing that differentiates 4hi and 4hi auto is the amount of driver interaction. Otherwise, they accomplish the same function of engaging and disengaging 4wd.

Just for those curious, while both engage 4 wheels actually spinning, there is a real difference between the two.

 

[Headbarcode]

Just for those curious, while both engage 4 wheels actually spinning, there is a real difference between the two.

Yeah, he even throws up the quote fingers when he says it's sorta like an awd system. It's still an open front diff, so power will go to the wheel with less resistance.

I'm watching on a smaller phone screen, but it looks like the front wheels are spinning faster in both auto and part time 4hi. He says they're spinning at the same rate, but the front looks quicker. I previously thought the rear driveshaft was gear driven and the front was engaged through a clutch pack, but that demo makes it look like both driveshafts are clutch driven, which is why the front is outrunning the rear.

Eta. I just watched again on the big screen, and yes, the front is definitely spinning faster in part time 4hi. The rear just seems to catch up a bit quicker than in auto.

 

[the_jeepeo]

I want to hear some stories as too how your Wrangler has saved your butt.

As a Wrangler, it saves space.
As a Wrangler ED, it hauls a$$!

 

[cripton805]

Jeep saved me from a toxic relationship.

She said it was her or the Jeep.
I have some new parts on order as we speak and a quieter home. ??

 

[Integron]

"The LAST Exit": I had just passed the last exit on the highway as my GPS showed no exit for miles and I really had to pee. So I dropped to 4LO and drove through the median to turn around; only when I turned around there was a huge traffic jam I didnt notice going the opposite direction. So I exited the highway into a corn field only to run over an inground hive of bees that quickly swarmed out around the jeep, Since I had just attached my new red stickers to my black jeep and I was listening to The Rolling Stones at a level boosted for highway driving the bee swarm headed right for the Jeep. Quickly I turned into a swollen creek that was atleast up to the hood and as the jeep started floating downstream I thought well this is it I am going to have to abandon the jeep; so I unlatched the freedom panels and climbed out onto the roof. But as I climbed out onto the roof I noticed the engine was still running amazing! and I decided to try and get back into the jeep and steer it out of the current. Sure enough one of the front plastic fenders caught a branch and turned the jeep so I could see the water rushing at me. The current pushed the jeep closer to the bank where the tires on the right side of the jeep grabbed some mudd. At that point, I stepped on the gas and the jeep lunged forward on to the bank of the raging river. Still in 4Lo I was able to crawl the jeep out onto what appeared to be an embankment of rocks and silt with a few dead branches. There were deer in the field and they looked on twitching their ears with that "Wow havent seen that before look" that deer get on their faces. But the amazing thing the Jeep did was kick on the heat as if I remote started the machine, I guess it somehow sensed I had been in the water and needed some heat. Finding my way back to the road was a nightmare because I was now deep along an unchartered river bank in some field and it was getting dark, so I turned on my fog lights and the hay caught fire around the jeep and again the jeep saved me because the front bumper acted like a hay-damper as I shifted back into 4Hi and did donuts around the fire and as a result it kicked up some dirt and put the fire out. I was muddy, wet, cold, confused and still had to pee so I decided to pull over and find a spot but as fate had it I stopped in the right spot where a campsite had been and someone had left a bag beside a trash can. At that time i was getting hungry too, so grabbed the bag and looked inside and you know what was inside that bag?...Baloney, just like this story! AS I pulled into a gas station however, I grabbed a snickers bar and that sure did help.

 

[Bzinsky]

The only thing that differentiates 4hi and 4hi auto is the amount of driver interaction. Otherwise, they accomplish the same function of engaging and disengaging 4wd.

The beauty of a quality selectable (not auto engaging that only kicks in after already slipping) awd system is its ability to constantly vary power distribution both front and rear and left to right. I had a 2001 Astro van with auto awd, and it was great, but didn't perform quite as well as the full time awd in the Juke. This is because the Juke prevented slip from happening in the first place vs the Astro having to first lose grip before the system kicked in and had to reestablish control..

this is complete baloney, all of it. It bothers me a little more than usual because you are so confident about your misinformation, and because my wife just got done a complaint rant.

your description of 4uto vs awd is way off, as is your understanding of what awd and 4wd is.

When you boil down the systems at the fundamental level, the primary difference between awd and 4wd is…
AWD = center differential
4wd = instead if a center differential you have a transfer case that locks and unlocks

auto4wd is AWD that also gives you the ability to lock the transfer case when you put it into 4hi or 4lo.

Lol at AWD having full control of all the tires and being able to alter the power between left and right. There is secret sourcery to these systems other than marketing. Most of them use open diffs front and rear and use the brakes to torque vector. Most of them can’t even 50/50 power split between front and rear. My wife’s fwd bias AWD RDX, 10% power max to the rear diff!

Meanwhile nearly every auto4wd system out there, can range from 0/100 to a full 50/50 power split and anywhere in between. It is also not just based on losing traction as you claim, it is also based on throttle position. The response time is instant.

I’m fairly certain the only reason they call it 4wdauto instead of awd, is because most people think of awd systems not being cable to handle abuse or having a low range transfer case.

In reality, next time you see a 4wd vehicle with a auto4wd feature, which is offered on many vehicles, what it means is that vehicle has selectable 2wd, AWD, 4wd hi, and 4wd low. It’s a damn fine awd system at that. It is the best of all worlds (unless you have a 392 which deletes the 2wd feature)

 

[GrayWolf.Overland]

I felt safer in my JL when snowing/raining a year back than today.. what changed?

I had rear LSD, and buy just flicking to 4Hi i felt sure footed back then. Even on the questionable Goodyear adventure kevlar AT

I've regeared and now on dual lockers. Although it helps on the trail in some specific situations, I miss the LSD in 4hi

If they ever make a rear locking diff that doubles as torsion LSD when unlocked.. I'll be standing first in line to install one

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