Having 2nd thoughts on the Rock-Trac HD Full Time 4wd

[summer4x]

The dealer just placed my Rubicon order 3 days ago. This seemed like a good feature so I ordered it. After sleeping on it 3 days, I'm starting to get uncomfortable with the idea of CV boots on the axles and clutches in the transfer case, so much so that I'm considering contacting the dealer to see if I can change the order. Interested in opinions on this system. I don't want to end up with something that is weaker and less desirable.

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[Dkretden]

I have no idea if I am in the minority or majority but.....

1) had this option been available in 2020, I would have purchased it.
2) I am told that this System has been offered overseas For a while now. I have not heard of reliability issues.
3) I am kinda bummed that it wasn’t available in 2020 For me to buy.

 

[TIPOVR]

I don't think you can go wrong either way however for me personally I'm probably not going to option it for my 2021.

 

[Punjabi New Yorker]

I dont have it in my 2020 JLUR as it was not offered. Even if it was offered I probably would not have gotten it. But as @Dkretden mentioned, it has been offered for years overseas and we never heard of any issues. It’s not worth losing sleep over. Call your dealer and see if you can get it removed. If he or she can then good. But if they cannot I wouldn’t worry about it either. Just enjoy your rig! This isn't worth sweating or losing sleep over IMHO.

 

[INCRHULK]

Do they offer both versions still?

 

[Punjabi New Yorker]

Do they offer both versions still?

Yepp....you can now choose the 4WD Auto across all trims for 2021 for a little bit of $$$

 

[Dkretden]

Do they offer both versions still?

Yes.

i am not a hard-core off-roader. I take trails for pusses.
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...a-“trails-for-pusses”-—-list-them-here.56846/

the added flexibility for me to drive in the snow in full time 4WD would have been great.

oh well..... in 14 years when I sell this wrangler (assuming that this bucket of bolts lasts that long), maybe I’ll get fulltime 4WD ....

 

[aldo98229]

Ford, GM, RAM and Jeep have been offering full-time 4WD systems for years.

Ford's

Ram's

GM has been offering full-time 4WD since the 1970s

Jeep first introduced Selec-Trac in the 1980s

 

[Dkretden]

Ford, GM, RAM and Jeep have been offering full-time 4WD systems for years.

Ford's

Ram's

GM has been offering full-time 4WD since the 1970s

Jeep first introduced Selec-Trac in the 1980s

Wait? A knob? A button? You mean that there isn’t a big shift lever near my right leg? Oh, the horror.

 

[Tank the Jeep]

I would have got AWD on my 2020 JLURD if it was available. Living in the NC mountains we get some snow, one day later and the snow is only in the shadows. AWD works great when going in and out of different traction surfaces. Years ago we had a 2002 Grand Cherokee with 4hi part time and 4hi full time as well as 2hi and 4 low. Hardly ever went past full time. I like the AWD option.

 

[aldo98229]

For the record, full-time 4WD is not the same as AWD.

AWD doesn’t give you any options; it does its own thing and doesn’t offer part-time modes.

Full-time 4WD is selectable between 2WD and Auto 4WD, and has part-time 4H and 4L for severe off-road use.

Selec-Trac/Full-Time 4WD adds a 4H AUTO mode right next to 4H PART-TIME.

 

[mgroeger]

Follow your gut and cancel. IMO... more parts to wear out, CV joints... yuk. Are you going to be doing serious wheeling? Plenty of times I've popped it in 4H while in heavy rains and snow so you have that if you need it. Not my cup of tea but then again I like to keep things simple.

 

[SecondTJ]

Other FCA vehicles (Grand Cherokee, Durango and Ram) have all had on-going long-term issues with their clutch pack based transfer cases for years... I don’t expect Wrangler will be any different

 

[Tank the Jeep]

For the record, full-time 4WD is not the same as AWD.

AWD doesn’t give you any options; it does its own thing and doesn’t offer part-time modes.

Full-time 4WD is selectable between 2WD and Auto 4WD, and has part-time 4H and 4L for severe off-road use.

Selec-Trac/Full-Time 4WD adds a 4H AUTO mode right next to 4H PART-TIME.

Mechanically, full time 4WD and AWD are the same. A differential is added in between the axles. The transfer case diff prevents binding on high traction surfaces. Lock that diff by putting the t case In part time 4WD. AWD and full time 4WD is just marketing nomenclature for the same thing and different companies apply the same technology, a center diff. Jeep just gives us other choices.

 

[aldo98229]

Mechanically, full time 4WD and AWD are the same. A differential is added in between the axles. The transfer case diff prevents binding on high traction surfaces. Lock that diff by putting the t case In part time 4WD. AWD and part time 4WD is just marketing nomenclature for the same thing.

HECK NO!

While AWD and 4WD may work similarly in Auto mode, having the ability to manually select 4H and 4L is a distinguishing characteristic of a 4WD system. In fact, even the ability to select between 2WD and 4A doesn’t exist on a “AWD” system.

Good luck taking an AWD vehicle off-road and reaching for a lever to engage into 4-Lo. Further, Jeep 4WD systems lock front and rear axles together in part-time modes, something AWD don’t do.

These are more than mere “marketing nomenclature” distinctions.

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