Question for experts about full time transfer case availability

[Yawnie'sPapa]

The model comparison tool on the Jeep site says you should be able to get a loaded out auto on a Sahara that includes the power seats. Power seats are not available on the Rubicon, only the Rubicon X.

Then there’s always the Gladiator where you can get the X without the 35” tire package.

Seriously - the power seats aren't available in a Rubicon??
jeep is really trimming the audience down to only the very hardcore people, or the "it's on the streets only" group, and nothing in between.

Even on the JT side it sucks that the only way for the power seats is the most expensive X package- and maybe people only want or NEED the power seats, and don't want all of the other fluff, like the BT speaker and other junk they come with.

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[JamesWyatt]

Seriously - the power seats aren't available in a Rubicon??
jeep is really trimming the audience down to only the very hardcore people, or the "it's on the streets only" group, and nothing in between.

Even on the JT side it sucks that the only way for the power seats is the most expensive X package- and maybe people only want or NEED the power seats, and don't want all of the other fluff, like the BT speaker and other junk they come with.

I can only guess that the 2024 Rubicon X units without the XR package didn’t sell very well.

We’ve been screaming into the void for years to be able to order a la carte versus the trim level restricted system we have now.

 

[Jebiruph]

Looks like he's correct - the X package includes the 35s/recon package.
Well, looks like we'll have to order a different one to make really sure she gets a standard height JLU with 33s and ALL BODY color, if that's even possible. She wants it reign, but the catch is it must ALL be reign - no black roof, no black fender flares - all purple, 100%
Guess we'll have to skip the full time transfer case. She doesn't do winter driving like I do anyway.

As a fellow central Iowan, I think if you don't get the full time transfer case you will regret it despite infrequent winter driving as I'm frequently needing to shift the transfer case, especially for slick/icey intersections.

And I'm no expert on Wrangler options, but does this window sticker show power seats as an option on a regular Rubicon?
https://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4RJXFN2TW186397

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

As a fellow central Iowan, I think if you don't get the full time transfer case you will regret it despite infrequent winter driving as I'm frequently needing to shift the transfer case, especially for slick/icey intersections.

And I'm no expert on Wrangler options, but does this window sticker show power seats as an option on a regular Rubicon?
https://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4RJXFN2TW186397

Yes that shows the power seats - but the standard transfer case.

Sadly, that transfer case is included only with a "package" (P) and that package is the recon package with the big tires and lift.
That's the one and only way to get it - the recon package -which lifts the thing about 2.5"and adds to the difficulty getting in and out for people like us.

The power seats come with a package as well, but what's really bad is even the options PDF posted here DOES NOT SHOW HOW you get them!

Power seats are part of a package in the Rubicon and Sahara - but, what package?

I can only guess that the 2024 Rubicon X units without the XR package didn’t sell very well.

I get that, but let us ORDER the Rubicon without that package.

 

[JamesWyatt]

Yes that shows the power seats - but the standard transfer case.

Sadly, that transfer case is included only with a "package" (P) and that package is the recon package with the big tires and lift.
That's the one and only way to get it - the recon package -which lifts the thing about 2.5"and adds to the difficulty getting in and out for people like us.

The power seats come with a package as well, but what's really bad is even the options PDF posted here DOES NOT SHOW HOW you get them!

Power seats are part of a package in the Rubicon and Sahara - but, what package?

I get that, but let us ORDER the Rubicon without that package.

I think the 4xe Rubicon comes in the X without the 35" tires. Don't all the 4xe have the full-time 4WD transfer case? Not sure that would be something you'd want, though.

For what it's worth, I get 15-16 in town and 20+ on the highway with the 2025 X with the bigger tires with the 2.0T engine. Height will be your only problem there, not the weight and mpg. You couldn't pay me to own another 3.6L.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I get that, but let us ORDER the Rubicon without that package.

Can I ask why you are stuck on the Rubicon?
Can't you get everything you want in a Sahara?

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

Can I ask why you are stuck on the Rubicon?
Can't you get everything you want in a Sahara?

She's got a Rubicon 4xe now - a 2023
Sahara would work, but can't get the full time transfer case in that either.
Thought it would come with the Rubicon (does come with the Rubicon X in the JT side) but apparently they hide the fact it's bundled only with the recon package.

For what it's worth, I get 15-16 in town and 20+ on the highway with the 2025 X with the bigger tires with the 2.0T engine. Height will be your only problem there, not the weight and mpg. You couldn't pay me to own another 3.6L.

The goofy thing is, I believed the stupid web site that you couldn't get the 2.0 with the things we wanted and automatically said 3.6 when ordering.
If I had known we could get the 2.0 I'd have gone that route. It's a good, strong little engine.

 

[WXman]

Two things:

- The power seats are not an option. What you're looking for is "Nappa leather seats" which then comes with power adjustment and lumbar included. My Rubicon has it, so yes it is available on Rubicon.

- I purposefully avoid full-time transfer cases from Stellantis. They are a nightmare. The clutches inside will overheat at the drop of a hat and leave you with NO four wheel drive in deep snow or in mud. Heck, I lost four wheel drive on a 2022 Ram 1500 with the full time transfer case once after spending 30 seconds (no exaggeration) in loose gravel trying to pull another vehicle out of the mud! I did some research and discovered that even in low range, the clutches are used. Never again! I will stay with part time, chain-driven transfer cases from now on.

 

[JamesWyatt]

Two things:

- The power seats are not an option. What you're looking for is "Nappa leather seats" which then comes with power adjustment and lumbar included. My Rubicon has it, so yes it is available on Rubicon.

- I purposefully avoid full-time transfer cases from Stellantis. They are a nightmare. The clutches inside will overheat at the drop of a hat and leave you with NO four wheel drive in deep snow or in mud. Heck, I lost four wheel drive on a 2022 Ram 1500 with the full time transfer case once after spending 30 seconds (no exaggeration) in loose gravel trying to pull another vehicle out of the mud! I did some research and discovered that even in low range, the clutches are used. Never again! I will stay with part time, chain-driven transfer cases from now on.

You're right, but I swear yesterday they didn't show those seats as an option on the regular Rubicon.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

- The power seats are not an option. What you're looking for is "Nappa leather seats" which then comes with power adjustment and lumbar included. My Rubicon has it, so yes it is available on Rubicon.

Yeah it's a "package" with those leather seats, but that "package" is an option and not tied to other major packages like the recon package.
You can get the leather seats and get the heated seats without the recon or X package

- I purposefully avoid full-time transfer cases from Stellantis. They are a nightmare. The clutches inside will overheat at the drop of a hat and leave you with NO four wheel drive in deep snow or in mud. Heck, I lost four wheel drive on a 2022 Ram 1500 with the full time transfer case once after spending 30 seconds (no exaggeration) in loose gravel trying to pull another vehicle out of the mud! I did some research and discovered that even in low range, the clutches are used. Never again! I will stay with part time, chain-driven transfer cases from now on.

Sorry, I've had the opposite experience.
Connect up your JSCAN and watch the clutch application - they are basically locked in with the low range. The trouble is that people assume they are locked in with 4H auto and they are not - watch JSCAN for how they operate.
Part of the problem is the way they get used, and the lack of understanding on when the clutches are applied a little, or fully.
Living here in Iowa, I'd never NOT have the auto transfer case. It's a real bitch shifting a standard clutchless t-case on our hills with off and on patches of black ice, snow pack and so on.
Unless you drive here in our hills and curving rural highways, curves, ice/no ice/ice/no ice, snow drift/clear pavement/snow pack/clear pavement - no thanks.
I've had my "fun" with constant shifting back and forth.
Plus - this is for my wife - she's got a handicap, birth defect, she's NOT ABLE to shift the transfer case constantly.
She'd literally have to stop and pull over and lean over and use her left hand to help her shift the thing. Hell, if I have problems with sticking shifters and such, it would be impossible for her.
I dropped those antique transfer cases in favor of full time, and for her, it's almost a must!

I plow with my JT and full time transfer case. No problems.
I won't go backwards and for her - it's a big deal.

 

[JamesWyatt]

Did Jeep drop the full-time 4WD transfer case for 2026 X?

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

You're right, but I swear yesterday they didn't show those seats as an option on the regular Rubicon.

I've not ever seen them in a Rubicon that didn't have the recon package.

 

[JamesWyatt]

I've not ever seen them in a Rubicon that didn't have the recon package.

On the Jeep Build & Price tool, you can add Nappa Leather seats to the non-X. It will automatically add the Convenience Group, but it works. If you switch transmissions, it makes you reselect it, but it's there for either. But that's irrelevant for you since the non-X has no full-time 4WD.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

Did Jeep drop the full-time 4WD transfer case for 2026 X? I know I've been seeing new JTs in the X package without it. From their compare tool:

For the JT it will not show up on the window sticker or comparisons
The comparison tool sucks.
The only way to get that transfer case is with the recon package, and the X automatically has the recon package - but it doesn't show up anywhere on the build or comparison site.

Frankly, you can't rely on anything Jeep has posted on their web site. It's horrible, worse than that, even - worthless.

 

[JamesWyatt]

For the JT it will not show up on the window sticker or comparisons
The comparison tool sucks.
The only way to get that transfer case is with the recon package, and the X automatically has the recon package - but it doesn't show up anywhere on the build or comparison site.

Frankly, you can't rely on anything Jeep has posted on their web site. It's horrible, worse than that, even - worthless.

Gotcha. It's starting to sound like your only real option is another 4xe.

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