Shakedown run for new 2024 Wrangler Rubicon X

[ParadigmDawg]

Yesterday was our shakedown run for the new Jeep. We had a blast and had a few observations. The trip was a 1 day drive that consisted of 350 miles of road driving and 20 miles of off road.

Our goals were getting familiar with the Jeep and making sure everything works on road, offroad and testing parts I installed. We wanted to make sure the Jeep and we were ready for our vacation next week.

Observations-

1. On road - Did we buy a toaster? It was a windy day and boy does the wind push this thing around. Driving a TRX as a daily, MPG isn't something that I have ever concerned myself with. After too many stops to fill the Jeep up, I did confirm that it has the aerodynamics of a toaster.

2. On road- Am I going to drive this thing into the ditch? The first time I got it up to 65 mph and felt like I didn't have much control. Was this the wind pushing me around or is this just how a straight axle front feels? Mind you, the wind was blow 20+ mph on the entire trip and the TRX is almost a perfect road trip vehicle. Before the truck, I have always had AMGs so I am used to cars that handle great. Maybe I just have to get used to it?

3. On road- the layout- the fit, comfort and dash are all pretty good. Actually better than I predicted so it was a nice surprise.The ACC was one of the better I have used. Yep there is a lot of wind noise but I had accepted that before we purchased the Jeep.

4. On road- Are Jeep people awesome? I quickly noticed how Jeep people look out for each other. On the way to the trail and back, another Jeep always found us and either lead or followed us and didn't really allow other cars in between us. We also got stuck behind 2 wrecks and while most people wouldn't let us over to the open lanes, 3 different Jeeps made room for us and waved us over. I felt like a little moral fabric had been added back to society. Could this be what the Jeep community is like?

5. Off road- Where is the owner's manual, I have never looked at one before. Being pretty new to offroading, should I have read the manual, probably. As we headed down the trail and the time came for the 4x4 stuff, I found it was a little difficult to get it into 4L. I followed the sequence as I do in the TRX and put the trans in "N" but it was a pretty hard slam to get it in L and it wanted to pop back into "N" on the TC. I did notice it was easier if I did it way before I needed it. I was uncertain of the sequence of the swaybar disconnect so I also put trans in "N" and it the button and after a little bit, it disconnected. The lockers were pretty straight forward so no issues there.

6. Off road- I don't think this thing is a toaster. It is handling obstacles like they aren't even there. This thing just crawls up anything in front of it, and I was shocked at the articulation as compared to my TRX. iIt was almost a dream on the trail and the turning radius is awesome, you can really maneuver between and through everything.

7. Off road- Am I a Jeep mechanic? My OBA and winch worked perfectly. Our storage was good and everything was easy to get to. Spooling the winch and airing up and down was a very simple process.

8. On road- The way back home- Did this thing become better on the road just 6 hours later? I highly doubt the tires broke in and the suspension settled during the short trip but the wind was still blowing and I hit most of the trip home at 83mph. A fellow Jeep member caught up to me and followed us almost the entire 175 miles back home. What happened on this trip? Did the Jeep handle off road so well that I excused it's on road manners or am I slowly becoming a Jeep person?

9. Final thoughts- Wait a minute, I don't own a Jeep. This is my wife's jeep, I drive a TRX. As much as I love the TRX, it is big and I have fallen in love with offroading over the past year. Can I live with just a Jeep in the family, one that I will never be able to mod the way I want? What happens next.......

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[Heimkehr]

@ParadigmDawg
It was good to see that by #6, you were finally starting to come around.

Pro Tip: The Jeep ownership experience will be enhanced when you stop comparing it to your oft-mentioned TRX. That's a wholly different vehicle with a different mission brief and different operating characteristics. Give the Wrangler a fair chance to impress you on it's own.

Good looking pics, too.

 

[Reinen]

#1 & #2: What's your tire PSI? Jeep tires are overinflated at the factory to prevent flat spotting in storage & transit. Most find that lower 30s is the best. They come from the factory at 40 PSI and it makes the Jeep do exactly what you describe.

And you didn't buy a toaster. You bought a Garden Shed on Wheels™.
That goes over everything. Slowly.

 

[Flip]

Nice Jeep Brah! Don't worry, you'll get used to it, give it some time and just enjoy it.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

#1 & #2: What's your tire PSI? Jeep tires are overinflated at the factory to prevent flat spotting in storage & transit. Most find that lower 30s is the best. They come from the factory at 40 PSI and it makes the Jeep do exactly what you describe.

And you didn't buy a toaster. You bought a Garden Shed on Wheels™.
That goes over everything. Slowly.

I have run 32 and 29 so far. It had 40 when I got it. I haven't chalked it yet but 30 is probably close.

If my truck psi goes over 35, I can't even control the torque stee.r

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Nice Jeep Brah! Don't worry, you'll get used to it, give it some time and just enjoy it.

If I sounded disappointed, I am not, I loved it.

 

[Flip]

If I sounded disappointed, I am not, I loved it.

Yeah, I guess #9 sounded somewhat remised. I'm glad you're enjoying it.

Happy trails bro!

 

[Reinen]

I have run 32 and 29 so far. It had 40 when I got it. I haven't chalked it yet but 30 is probably close.

If my truck psi goes over 35, I can't even control the torque stee.r

That sounds right. Then it's the Jeep's live front axle vs the TRX's independent front suspension. It just takes some getting used to. A classic "It's a Jeep thing". To get that good off-road you need to make some compromises on-road.

Remember, the Jeep is designed to be the king of off-road. Highway performance has always been a secondary priority. I think you're seeing the compromises made to accomplish that.

Oh, and for #5. It's a new Jeep. Let the drivetrain break in. Shifting the transfer case becomes much easier with use.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Yesterday was our shakedown run for the new Jeep. We had a blast and had a few observations. The trip was a 1 day drive that consisted of 350 miles of road driving and 20 miles of off road.

Our goals were getting familiar with the Jeep and making sure everything works on road, offroad and testing parts I installed. We wanted to make sure the Jeep and we were ready for our vacation next week.

Observations-

1. On road - Did we buy a toaster? It was a windy day and boy does the wind push this thing around. Driving a TRX as a daily, MPG isn't something that I have ever concerned myself with. After too many stops to fill the Jeep up, I did confirm that it has the aerodynamics of a toaster.

2. On road- Am I going to drive this thing into the ditch? The first time I got it up to 65 mph and felt like I didn't have much control. Was this the wind pushing me around or is this just how a straight axle front feels? Mind you, the wind was blow 20+ mph on the entire trip and the TRX is almost a perfect road trip vehicle. Before the truck, I have always had AMGs so I am used to cars that handle great. Maybe I just have to get used to it?

3. On road- the layout- the fit, comfort and dash are all pretty good. Actually better than I predicted so it was a nice surprise.The ACC was one of the better I have used. Yep there is a lot of wind noise but I had accepted that before we purchased the Jeep.

4. On road- Are Jeep people awesome? I quickly noticed how Jeep people look out for each other. On the way to the trail and back, another Jeep always found us and either lead or followed us and didn't really allow other cars in between us. We also got stuck behind 2 wrecks and while most people wouldn't let us over to the open lanes, 3 different Jeeps made room for us and waved us over. I felt like a little moral fabric had been added back to society. Could this be what the Jeep community is like?

5. Off road- Where is the owner's manual, I have never looked at one before. Being pretty new to offroading, should I have read the manual, probably. As we headed down the trail and the time came for the 4x4 stuff, I found it was a little difficult to get it into 4L. I followed the sequence as I do in the TRX and put the trans in "N" but it was a pretty hard slam to get it in L and it wanted to pop back into "N" on the TC. I did notice it was easier if I did it way before I needed it. I was uncertain of the sequence of the swaybar disconnect so I also put trans in "N" and it the button and after a little bit, it disconnected. The lockers were pretty straight forward so no issues there.

6. Off road- I don't think this thing is a toaster. It is handling obstacles like they aren't even there. This thing just crawls up anything in front of it, and I was shocked at the articulation as compared to my TRX. iIt was almost a dream on the trail and the turning radius is awesome, you can really maneuver between and through everything.

7. Off road- Am I a Jeep mechanic? My OBA and winch worked perfectly. Our storage was good and everything was easy to get to. Spooling the winch and airing up and down was a very simple process.

8. On road- The way back home- Did this thing become better on the road just 6 hours later? I highly doubt the tires broke in and the suspension settled during the short trip but the wind was still blowing and I hit most of the trip home at 83mph. A fellow Jeep member caught up to me and followed us almost the entire 175 miles back home. What happened on this trip? Did the Jeep handle off road so well that I excused it's on road manners or am I slowly becoming a Jeep person?

9. Final thoughts- Wait a minute, I don't own a Jeep. This is my wife's jeep, I drive a TRX. As much as I love the TRX, it is big and I have fallen in love with offroading over the past year. Can I live with just a Jeep in the family, one that I will never be able to mod the way I want? What happens next.......

Sraight axle is a different world and a world you want to stay in I assure you. Independent Suspension was sold to the Army by NON OFF ROADERS, it was called the M151 A/C 1. C was the HD version.

It was a disaster so bad that the Army literally chopped them into pieces when then they adopted the Hummer. Turn out Independed suspension does keep all the wheel firmly planted on terra firmer and suddenly you fin yourself driving on 3 wheels and if cannot manage you flip and you die and I can assure MANY died under a M151 Jeep. The Army covered it up!!! As me how I know!

Glad you like you Jeep.

I thought you were driving a JLR-X, but you are not, you are driving a JLUR-X. U = LWB 4 door

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Sraight axle is a different world and a world you want to stay in I assure you. Independent Suspension was sold to the Army by NON OFF ROADERS, it was called the M151 A/C 1. C was the HD version.

It was a disaster so bad that the Army literally chopped them into pieces when then they adopted the Hummer. Turn out Independed suspension does keep all the wheel firmly planted on terra firmer and suddenly you fin yourself driving on 3 wheels and if cannot manage you flip and you die and I can assure MANY died under a M151 Jeep. The Army covered it up!!! As me how I know!

Glad you like you Jeep.

I thought you were driving a JLR-X, but you are not, you are driving a JLUR-X. U = LWB 4 door

Very interesting as always.

How does manufacturers such as Ford get away with independent suspension?

Yes sir, I didn't realize there was a "U" in the model until a couple weeks ago. Luckily everything I purchased for the JLR, fit the JLUR X.

 

[Old Jeeper]

Very interesting as always.

How does manufacturers such as Ford get away with independent suspension?

Yes sir, I didn't realize there was a "U" in the model until a couple weeks ago. Luckily everything I purchased for the JLR, fit the JLUR X.

In the case of the M151 Jeep it was meant to carry up to 6 people x 175 ls each +. rucksacks etc. The C model was could have a M 60 Tank Search light mounted in the rear, up front was a GIANT 90,000 Volt genes it took to light the Arch on the Xeon search light. Then there is 105 MM Recoiless Rifle that was mounted along with a 2 man crew and a whole lot of ammo. Then you had the M 10 Ammo trailer and the M 416 trailer and I have seen those trailers loaded down till the leaf springs were bent down not up.

So if the above it the criteria then what kind of springs do you have at each corner? Coil, what weight limits? You can image the springs needed to haul 1000s of lbs cross country while towing 1000s of lbs. The springs had to have enough energy to support all this. But when not in war you don't have all this weight and as a result in a situation where the spring can unload it flip the Jeep over.

Clearly NO ONE took that into consideration.

How does Ford do it? Well for starters All Superduty trucks DF 250/350/450 run solid axles. The axles on my F 450 are rated Front 6000 lbs, Rear 16,000 lbs.

So Ford has done on the Bronco has developed a front long travel suspension, something the M151 DID NOT have! They also developed a "High-Performance Off-Road Stability System (HOSS). Combined with very wide 35 tires and wide track and springs TUNED to the weight of the Bronco and not 1000 of lbs of Infantry soldiers and ammo being carried on the battlefield.

The rear is is a solid axle.

Ford does like that Wide tires, wide stance all in to stabilize it with is what the solid axle does on a Jeep. Until the GOTA LIFT HIGH crowd jumps in send the Jeep into Nosebleed space where only a Jump qualified Airborne Ranger would go.

Here is the rule I follow when I build a Jeep: For every INCH I lift, I go out from OEM 1 ½ inches per side on order to maintain the OEM stability.

I see folks putting on 5 in lifts. To maintain OEM stability you need to go out on each side 7 ½ inches.

BUT WAIT: I just don't build Jeeps I engineer them and that is the difference, I don't need a 5 in lift to get 5 in of lift, I can do it on far less than that...the trick is not in how high you lift it, but how you lift it high!!

 

[Steph1]

Longer lower front control arms are a game changer when it comes to highway steering and stability. Check the Mopar ones which are under $100 for the set, or even better, get adjusteable ones to push your caster on the high degree side.

 

[mikem20]

Your tire pressure is where it should be. The mopar control arms will help out on the highway. Unfortunately, we’re pretty much at the mercy of physics on windy days.
shifting to 4 low is easiest if you’re slightly rolling, shift to neutral and it should go into low much easier.
great looking jeep!

 

[jaystifel]

I’ve always drove trucks and last year we ordered a rubicon for my wife, after a month of receiving hers my truck was sold and a second rubicon was ordered. Love being a part of the jeep community.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I’ve always drove trucks and last year we ordered a rubicon for my wife, after a month of receiving hers my truck was sold and a second rubicon was ordered. Love being a part of the jeep community.

I did drive the 392 to see if it could replace the TRX but at this time, it's a no.

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