How Important is Torque for Off-Roading

[txj2go]

Torque is actual applied force irrespective of velocity. IOW you could 1000 ft-lbs of torque at 1000 rpm, it would pull the vehicle well at slow speeds but wouldn't go very fast. Add different gearing to make the vehicle go faster and you water down the torque.

Horsepower is torque combined with velocity, actually multiplied by velocity. Take that engine with 1000 ft-lbs of torque at 1000 rpm and compare it with a normal gasoline engine that might have only 300 ft-lbs of torque at 5000 rpm, it will translate to more pull on the vehicle because you would add gears to reduce the engine speed through the drivetrain. That gasoline engine might only have 100 ft-lb at 1000 rpm so obviously would not pull the vehicle as well at low rpm. If both engines were in a vehicle with manual transmission and you are on a trail- maybe you slow down to go over an obstacle and when you push on the accelerator pedal the first engine pulls the vehicle very well, the second engine has no power at low rpm so you have to shift to a lower gear. This is the advantage of a broad torque band and good torque at low rpm. My car has a big engine with a lot of horsepower, but doesn't pull well below 1500rpm. Get it above 3000rpm and it takes off.

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[Humvee4us]

Pickups compared to jeeps.....Weight distribution my friend....apples to oranges...can't compare...totally different vehicles and behaviors on any surfaces. I know, cause I have a pre-runner Mazda on 35's and used to have a TJ on 33's...can't compare...at all...sorry.

what your trying to compare is like trying to compare a motorcycle acceleration on quarter mile based on torque to the acceleration of a car on the same track. I see comparisons like these all the times made by Trolls on forums to see people's reactions....

Not trolling, I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Wabujitsu]

I can see where this thread might torque-off someone...

 

[Humvee4us]

I had a Ford Explorer for a work vehicle many years ago and I can tell you when you are pipelining and going up a steep access trail on the side of a mountain, nothing is more scary than powering out and having to back (slide) down the hill.

Your engine's torque isn't enough sometimes?

 

[Sean L]

Your engine's torque isn't enough sometimes?

Depending on the year a Ford Explorer might not have had a low range transfer case. The newer crossover version of the Explorer has an all wheel drive system that is more for inclement weather than off road use. Its capable for some light off road conditions but I'm pretty sure it isn't up to the level of a Grand Cherokee Trailhawk or even an older explorer with a more traditional transfer case with low gears.

 

[Toycrusher]

Just restating what's been posted here. With a manual transmission, more low end torque is makes for more controlled slow starts and slow speed putting/crawling.

A light weight flywheel requires less engine torque to accelerate. Stock, the JL is unimpressive at low rpm, and creates a desire for a larger/stronger engine to get moving. A heavy flywheel takes more torque to get spinning, however, it stores that torque and is ready to deliver it to the transmission when the clutch is released.

By upgrading to a heavier Centerforce flywheel, you get the sensation of a more powerful (torquey) engine even though you do in fact lose some actual engine power. but in the end, the sensation is all we care about, and you can be very happy with the output of the stock engine with just a flywheel upgrade.

With an auto, all that goes out the window. Wear earplugs so you don't hear the engine wail at redline and your 3.6 makes great power and torque at any vehicle speed.

 

[fat_head]

Your tires are going to lose traction before your motor runs out of torque to turn them.

Depend. Not necessarily if your vehicle is heavily loaded and your gearing isn't so good.

 

[Humvee4us]

Depend. Not necessarily if your vehicle is heavily loaded and your gearing isn't so good.

How about in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon?

 

[roaniecowpony]

Everyone has a concept of torque and horsepower.

But to break down the engineering terms, torque and horsepower:

• torque is a STATIC force measurement and
• horsepower defines quantitative amount of work (actual movement of a mass) in a defined time.

Torque is you leaning on a long wrench on the head of a bolt that is not moving.
Horsepower is moving a certain weight vehicle up a hill of a certain distance in a certain time or moving a certain weight vehicle down a drag strip in a certain time.

As others have pointed out, you can take a given torque engine and multiply its torque by gear reduction. But, while gear reduction may optimize the use of available horsepower, it will never change the horsepower.

 

[fat_head]

How about in a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon?

Not sure as I have a Sport. I have experienced a couple times "running out of torque" when climbing a steep hill while fully loaded with overlanding gear.

 

[roaniecowpony]

In Watt environment?

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