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Are 3.73 gears standard with auto on 2012?

11K views 59 replies 26 participants last post by  Johnny6 
#1 ·
#7 ·
Only if optioned ... 2012 Rubicon autos come standard with 3.73s.

T
 
#4 ·
You are not paying attention. LOOK AT THE WINDOW STICKERS! Tell me what you see. I see 3.73 gears listed with the automatic transmission option. Don't you see it? Thanks.
 
#5 ·
I have been looking at some JK's with automatics and have noticed 3.73 gears listed. They are not listed as an option. Just listed as part of the auto package. Are they now standard with the autos? Listed is some examples.

http://www.jeep.com/hostc/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4AJWAG5CL151113

http://www.jeep.com/hostc/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4AJWAG6CL161245
I've seen that as well and started to wonder if 3.73's were starting to become a "no cost" option as of late.

Usually 3.21's are standard on all 2012 Sports and Sahara's regardless of trannies unless you order "max tow".
2012 Rubi autos get 3.73's and Rubi sticks get 4.10's as standards.
 
#8 ·
It's been my understanding that 3.73 is optional with a manual transmission, but standard with the automatic, as listed on your window stickers. The build sheet indicates the same on my 2010 as well.
 
#24 ·
I have been looking at some JK's with automatics and have noticed 3.73 gears listed. They are not listed as an option. Just listed as part of the auto package. Are they now standard with the autos? Listed is some examples.

http://www.jeep.com/hostc/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4AJWAG5CL151113

http://www.jeep.com/hostc/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4AJWAG6CL161245
Prior to ordering my Sahara I found that if you add tow package the gears go from 3.21 to 3.73. So as mine will be a daily driver I did not want tall gears and did not add the tow pack.
 
#26 ·
I picked up a 2012 Jeep brochure ("Buyer's Guide") today, on the way home, and here's what it says:

Axle ratio 3.21:1 standard for all except Rubicon and RHD
Axle ratio 3.73:1 is standard on Rubi A5, optional on all others, and packaged with Max Tow Pkg on 4DR
Rubicon axle ratio of 4.10:1 is std on M6, and optional for A5.

Confusing?
I had to re-read it, slowly, a couple of times. But that's just me.
 
#27 ·
I figured that out fairly early. It seems to vary here by dealer for some reason, or maybe it's a coincidence, but some dealers seem to have mostly new Rubis with the 4.10 and some mostly with the 3.73 (like mine). I just wasn't sure that the max tow somehow wouldn't change things.
 
#28 ·
Mine is a 2010 sport with 3.73:1. It is auto and has the tow package (not max tow) and I'm thinking that the auto or the tow pack gets you the 3.73.
Are we saying just JK, or that there are JKU auto's running around with 3.21 gears?
As for brochures and owner's manuals, they are having a hard time keeping up with engineering changes, it seems and especially with how they instruct for being towed behind a motor home and the like, as it is definitely incorrect for the 2010 and up auto 4WD.
 
#31 ·
What it does, is give you more power. Also a higher RPM with the same speed, but with not much sacrifice in fuel mileage, I wouldn't think. A lot of it depends on your driving habits and if you remain stock and do a lot of interstate driving above 70mph, you might have been happier with the 3.21. On the other hand, if you ever go with oversize tires (this changes the overall ratio as well), and/or go off road, you'll probably be glad you have 3.73. Maybe not as apparent like with the pre 2012 JK's with less HP, but still some difference.
 
#32 ·
tropical36 said:
What it does, is give you more power. Also a higher RPM with the same speed, but with not much sacrifice in fuel mileage, I wouldn't think. A lot of it depends on your driving habits and if you remain stock and do a lot of interstate driving above 70mph, you might have been happier with the 3.21. On the other hand, if you ever go with oversize tires (this changes the overall ratio as well), and/or go off road, you'll probably be glad you have 3.73. Maybe not as apparent like with the pre 2012 JK's with less HP, but still some difference.
A higher or lower gear ratio does not give or take away power. It does change the overall rpm the engine would be at given the same speed, say 60mph. Now a higher rpm would most likely be attributed to being higher in the power band-or useable engine tq and horsepower.
It gives you the feeling of more power-like a sprint booster for drive by wire.
 
#33 ·
Yes, if we're going to elaborate and get really technical about it and we could say to the OP to try and take off in 5th gear to get a real feel of what we're saying here. Shifting back to 1st gear would certainly give one the feeling of a lot more power on take off.
 
#35 ·
For 2012:
Sport and Sahara auto = 3.21 standard
Sport and Sahara manual - 3.21 standard
Rubicon auto = 3.73
Rubicon manual = 4.10

Where it got consfusing for 2012 is offereing both "trailer tow" and "max tow", but what you get depends on if you have a 2 door or 4 door, if you have a Sport/Sahara or Rubi, and if you DO have a Rubi, if you have a manual or a stick.


"Trailer Tow" does not give you the lower (numerically higher) gear ratio. But you can buy that next gear ratio for $50. However (to again address the OP's question), as of late, I have been seeing several Non Rubi Wranglers with that numercially higher (3.73) gear ratio at no cost. Another twist to this is that Trailer Tow is NOT available for 4 Door Rubi's.

"Max tow" is ONLY offered on the 4 doors, and it DOES give you a (numerically) higher gear ratio on all version except the Rubi. Max Tow is NOT available on any 2 door models.

You can purchase "Trailer Tow" for $270 and numerically higher gears for $50.....or.....if you are getting a 4 door, you can purcahse max tow for $320...which is a rip-off for 4 door Rubi owners, and was the cause of a lot of confusion early on. Those with auto JKUR's had to pay $320 for max tow (because Trailer Tow isn't offered) and still had to pay $50 for the gear upgrade. Thsoe with manual Rubi's have to pay $320 for max tow, yet already have 4.10's.

Why offer both "trailer tow" and "max tow" with different rules depending on which vehicle you purchase?

Ask Jeep....

It would be FAR easier to simply dump "max tow" and offer the choice of "trailer tow" and "axle ratio". But I suspect there are "marketing reasons" behind the concept of "max tow".
 
#36 ·
FWIW, I ordered my '12 JKUS with 3.73's rather than the standard 3.21's and I wasn't charged the extra $50. So that's nice. All the older auto sport and saharas came with 3.73. 1st gear of the four speed auto was a little taller than that of the five speed I think.

My window sticker, like most, shows 3.21 gears on the left column. Then in the right column under options. 3.73 axle ratio is listed.

I am most curious what difference in MPG there is between 3.73 and 3.21, all else being equal.

Best,

SW
 
#40 ·
Not sure what is going on with Jeep and the tow packages, but when I bought my 12 JKUR automatic (ordered in Oct. arrived late Nov) I got the max tow and 4.1 gears and there was no $50 charge applied for the gears. However, I don't know if this is because the max tow provided the 4.1 gears in this situation or if it just makes the 4.1 gears available at no cost.
 
#43 · (Edited)
Are you sure you have 4.10s? Barring some mid-year change (and I haven't been keeping up with the info since mine arrived in August), Max Tow on the automatics DID NOT include 4.10s. 4.10s were a $50 option. If it's not listed on the window sticker under Optional Equipment, I'd be surprised if you have 4.10s.

Better still, contact Chrysler and get the actual build sheet - the build sheet is the final 'word', not the window sticker.

edit: to add to that, maybe someone can confirm, the 4.10s show up under "Standard Equipment" on the window sticker of Rubicons. However, if you an auto is optioned (i.e. is under Optional Equipment), that negates the 'standard' 4.10s. The 4.10s then have to be optioned back in with the auto.

T
 
#42 ·
As I understand it, all JK Rubicons pre-2012 came standard with 4.10s.

T
 
#45 ·
#46 ·
Showed 4.10 on both window sticker as optional equipment (with no charge associated to it) and also on build sheet.

Bought mine at GO West in Golden, CO (good place to get one by the way) and my dealer told me just about every auto rubicon they order with 4.10 out here - probably because there is more rock crawling available here as also for the mountain driving.
 
#47 ·
Anyone notice in the 2012 owners manual there is NO listing for a 3.21 axle combo with 3.6l Auto in the towing section shows all trims with auto shows 3.73 except the 4dr rubi that list 4.10 ? my 2012 sport s auto 2dr without tow package listed a 3.21 on my window sticker....
 
#49 ·
Anyone notice in the 2012 owners manual there is NO listing for a 3.21 axle combo with 3.6l Auto in the towing section shows all trims with auto shows 3.73 except the 4dr rubi that list 4.10 ? my 2012 sport s auto 2dr without tow package listed a 3.21 on my window sticker....
I actually noticed it too. I got the "tow package" not the "max tow package" on my JKU and have f'ing 3.21's in it supposedly. I've been looking through the owner manual and saw the same thing you did so now I'm totally confused..
 
#52 ·
so to check if you have 3.21 or 3.73 you can use this calculator
Gear Ratio Calc
from a mustang forum... I entered from top to bottom 2150, 65, ?(left this as is to find rear end gear ratio), 1.00 for 4th gear trans ratio(2012 auto) and then my tire size 285 70 17 which gave me 3.2186#####! I kept playin with the rpm till i got close to a 3.21 and then did the same to get close to 3.73 which was 2495 rpm...so after work I got on the highway put the auto stick in 4th gear and got up to 65 and looked at the rpms and I was at around 2250, so looks as though Ill go by my window sticker and not manual that I DO have a 3.21...I know its not exact but its close enough if you figure in, tire wear, my speedo might be off a little and wind resistance.etc....try it for yourself and see how it works...
 
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