Rock-Trac : Yes or no?

[CO_Jeep]

I had a '21 Rubicon without it and now have it again with my '22 392XR. I personally wouldn't get another Jeep without this option as it provides piece of mind and removes the guesswork of knowing when to switch into and out of 4H. Keep in mind you still have to use proper judgement and drive safe in more treacherous conditions.

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[Old Jeeper]

I passed on it, seemed like a waste for $900. I can just pull the lever to 4Hi for snow/dirt roads and 4Lo for crawling. But I'm experienced in driving through bad conditions so maybe a good idea to get it if you're not.

Concur x 2

I have had both systems. I will tell the 4wd Auto works GREAT, one of the best systems in market., I put a 136,XXX mi on full time auto system NEVER a problem.

If you are a novice or part time OR and play NOT on the rocks I say go for it, worth the coin in mud/sand.

Like a lot of thing you grow and go I am a rock guy and would rather do my own shifting and calling my shots.

For 80% of the Jeepers you will benefit from the Auto full-time system and especially so if you live N of the Mason-Dixon line with adverse weather and conditions.,

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

I passed on it, seemed like a waste for $900. I can just pull the lever to 4Hi for snow/dirt roads and 4Lo for crawling. But I'm experienced in driving through bad conditions so maybe a good idea to get it if you're not.

That's not really the point for many of us who are also experienced driving in blizzards and deep snow.
I've been driving through unplowed roads and deep drifts for decades, so it's not that.

The point for me is this is the land of freezing rain, black ice, freezing fog, rain turning to snow, wind blowing drifts across country roads and more. You hit a stretch of drive pavement for maybe 1/4 mile, then you get into an icy patch, then clear pavement, then a 50 yard wide snow drift across the road, wind blowing snow across the road that gets packed into black ice.
I found myself shifting into and out of 4H almost a dozen times getting from home to a business just 30 minutes from me. I80 was clear and then all of a sudden people ahead of me were losing it on the hill and I felt the Jeep start to waver - I hit 4H and slowed down and made it - then the thing was binding badly so I had to pop it back out, then I hit the exit ramp and it was bad so bad with drifting snow, back into 4H.
So you do a lot of shifting, which takes attention away from other traffic and bad conditions, or, you leave it in 4H auto and just drive.

It's also nice on rain slick roads - when it hasn't rained for weeks, then you get a rain and the oils from traffic float on the water making the roads slick. You can take off while others sit and spin their tires.
It's very sure-footed.

I learned to drive in the 70s from truck drivers and then a boss I had who was a tow truck operator who NEVER had an accident. The blizzard of those years left our town paralyzed but my then boss said we're open, if you like your job you WILL show up....

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

It’s a nice to have and definitely not a must have. After your transfer case breaks in, it will be super easy to shift to 4hi on the fly and you will get used to it.

I have the option and have only really found use for it in Michigan when the weather goes from 10 degrees one day to 40 the next and there’s tons of slush, snow, and ice on the roads. In all out snowstorms I use part time 4wd so I don’t have to worry about the clutch plates overheating and causing issues down the line.

People typically love it or hate it, but I am indifferent and would have been just as happy with out it. Definitely a luxury feature.

Also, one thing I do like is that it includes CV axles up front which allows for slightly smoother power delivery in part time 4wd while the wheel is turned sharply. If you don’t like CV’s then this will be a con for you, but I have become a fan. They are more prone to damage from debris, though.

This system more resembles the Eagles I've owned over the years, and the one I still have. CV front axle joints, full time transfer case with viscous coupling. Sure-footed as heck. I have only ever had one stuck and they was my own horsing around. I high-centered it on a huge snow drift that had enough of a crust I got up onto it, then felt this "uh-oh" feeling as it settled into the floor pan. I shoveled a bit and drove out.
I could drive that car through snow that was over the bumpers and it never faltered.

 

[ColoradoMike]

That's not really the point for many of us who are also experienced driving in blizzards and deep snow.
I've been driving through unplowed roads and deep drifts for decades, so it's not that.

The point for me is this is the land of freezing rain, black ice, freezing fog, rain turning to snow, wind blowing drifts across country roads and more. You hit a stretch of drive pavement for maybe 1/4 mile, then you get into an icy patch, then clear pavement, then a 50 yard wide snow drift across the road, wind blowing snow across the road that gets packed into black ice.
I found myself shifting into and out of 4H almost a dozen times getting from home to a business just 30 minutes from me. I80 was clear and then all of a sudden people ahead of me were losing it on the hill and I felt the Jeep start to waver - I hit 4H and slowed down and made it - then the thing was binding badly so I had to pop it back out, then I hit the exit ramp and it was bad so bad with drifting snow, back into 4H.
So you do a lot of shifting, which takes attention away from other traffic and bad conditions, or, you leave it in 4H auto and just drive.

It's also nice on rain slick roads - when it hasn't rained for weeks, then you get a rain and the oils from traffic float on the water making the roads slick. You can take off while others sit and spin their tires.
It's very sure-footed.

I learned to drive in the 70s from truck drivers and then a boss I had who was a tow truck operator who NEVER had an accident. The blizzard of those years left our town paralyzed but my then boss said we're open, if you like your job you WILL show up....

This.
This is what it's about.
Good on ya for putting in the effort to really explain it.

 

[tk1700]

The full time system definitely has an advantage driving on roads that have patchy snow or ice.

The traction control does a decent job preventing traction loss in the both systems. I opted for part time because I don't like CV joints, especially in cold weather. The boots are a failure point and can get brittle in cold temperatures. They are also susceptible to damage from debris on the trail. Just 1 guys opinion....

 

[Steph1]

4H auto is something one has to experience to understand. Like when I was making fun of people I knew with heated steering…. Until I experienced it for mysel… wow!

I and other family members have had it on XJs and ZJs in the 90s and early 2000s and when Jeep announced the JL would be available with the Selec-trac 4H auto, I was ecstatic and immediately traded my JKUR 10A for it.

I know you said you don’t have such conditions, but it is by very far the best wrangler I’ve ever driven on winter roads, right up there with my LR Discovery.

Just know however, that the Rock-trac with 4H auto is not quite the same as the one available on other models. 4H auto was designed to work hand in hand with the rear trac-lok LSD which isn’t present on the Rock-trac do to the locker. Still much better than without, but not quite as good as with it.

So if you want the very best for road driving get one of the models available with Selec-trac t-case with Trac-lok LSD. I chose to keep and modify my Jeep rather than trade for a Rubi, exactly because of that reason. I didn’t know they weren’t the same until my friend and sales manager of my dealership was freshly back from a Jeep training week and shared that info.

 

[ArcadeTracks]

Thank you for all the great info and opinions!
One more question: If I get FullTime (vs. PartTime) will there be an indicator light on the panel to show it's active? (I'm 99% sure there's a way to deactivate it.)

 

[ColoradoMike]

Thank you for all the great info and opinions!
One more question: If I get FullTime (vs. PartTime) will there be an indicator light on the panel to show it's active? (I'm 99% sure there's a way to deactivate it.)

It's a lever. You use the lever to choose 2H, 4Hauto, 4H, N, or 4L. There is an indicator in the odometer panel that tells you which position you're in.
Now if you mean, does something tell you whether the front axle is engaged or not while you are in 4Hauto, I don't think so.

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