Just trying to under stand my jeep.

Salamander · Jun 1, 2016

Hey all,

I'm on a mission to under stand my jeep a little better so I had some questions I was wondering if you all could answer or at least give me your opinions on the matters at hand.

Firstly I'm curious I tried to drive over a curb today (with one tire) in two wheel drive and was rejected like an idiot. I know the 4l has the power to go over it but does the 4spd auto lack luster when new tires are put on it? it hasn't been re geared but the tires on it are 305's which I think translate to about 32 or 33's

secondly can bad control arms limit your articulation or how you go over obstacles? I don't see why but

Jerry Bransford · Jun 1, 2016

Yep the gearing in 2Hi doesn't work well for climbing up curbs without a lot of drama. Shift into 4Lo which will make that easy.

Really bad control arms can limit flex but they're just part of what makes a suspension flexible with good articulation abilities. The factory OE control arms are actually pretty good for offroading for small lifts like up to 3". They look cheesy but they twist & flex better than some aftermarket control arms do.

info4tim · Jun 1, 2016

Salamander said:
Hey all,

I'm on a mission to under stand my jeep a little better so I had some questions I was wondering if you all could answer or at least give me your opinions on the matters at hand.

Firstly I'm curious I tried to drive over a curb today (with one tire) in two wheel drive and was rejected like an idiot. I know the 4l has the power to go over it but does the 4spd auto lack luster when new tires are put on it? it hasn't been re geared but the tires on it are 305's which I think translate to about 32 or 33's

secondly can bad control arms limit your articulation or how you go over obstacles? I don't see why but

Wow ok. First off, none of the items you mention would preclude you from crawling up a curb. I'll assume you have enough clearance to make it up to the curb level. Now, go up against curb gently n give it enough gas to get up there. May feel like too much, but you should make it with no problems. Don't spin wheels! If you do, reposition jeep n try again. Never, Ever engage 4wd on dry/hard pavement.

Jerry Bransford · Jun 1, 2016

info4tim said:
Never, Ever engage 4wd on dry/hard pavement.

While the TJ's part-time 4x4 system was not designed for use on pavement. the advice to "never, ever" engage 4x4 is well-intentioned but not really anything to be worried about. No it should not be engaged on pavement and it wasn't designed for use on pavement but there's no risk of breaking anything.

The Wrangler's 4x4 is system is more than strong enough to laugh at such use, not to mention some offroad trails like Moab have has much traction as paved streets do. There's a lot of jerking/tire chirping, shuddering, etc. when driving in 4x4 on the street but it's sure not going to break anything. Probably 90% of the Wrangler owners never visit Jeep forums and most, I'm sure, don't know their 4x4 systems weren't designed to be driven on the street. I sure didn't know that when I had my 4x4 Blazer which also had a part-time 4x4 system and I drove it in 4x4 on pavement quite a bit just for the heck of it.

Salamander · Jun 1, 2016

sorry about the post guys i was at work and in a hurry when i wrote it for fear of being seen by "the man". i guess i should have clarified. i did give it gas. probably to about 3k, which i felt was a little high to get over the curb. i guess i was more curious as to why it seemed like the jeep had such a hard time. did i not give it enough gas? and would i have destroyed my trans just sitting there trying to get over this stupid curb. that's all, like i said just trying to learn about my jeep. its my first but certainly not my last.

Salamander · Jun 1, 2016

also when i say curb i'm talkin like 5-6 inches.

billiebob · Jun 1, 2016

info4tim said:
Wow ok. Never, Ever engage 4wd on dry/hard pavement.

Bull Shiit !!!!!

Thats like saying Never, ever engage 4wd on dry/hard slick rock.

40 years of driving 4WD and I'd bet I have several thousand miles of driving on dry/hard pavement in 4WD. Never, ever had an issue. As soon as I turned a corner I was reminded to disengage 4WD.

billiebob · Jun 1, 2016

Salamander said:
i did give it gas. probably to about 3k, which i felt was a little high to get over the curb. i guess i was more curious as to why it seemed like the jeep had such a hard time. did i not give it enough gas? and would i have destroyed my trans just sitting there trying to get over this stupid curb.

A bit of momentum would help. Even just 1 or 2 mph and a bit of gas, let out the clutch as the tire contacts the curb. To STOP at the curb is harder on everything than to contact the curb with a bit of momentum.

pvansch1 · Jun 1, 2016

In 2WD you are only pushing the front tires against the curb expecting them to roll over it.
In 4WD the tires with power to them will rotate and climb the curb making it easy to get over it.

billiebob · Jun 1, 2016

and this too ^^^

hockeyfamily · Jun 1, 2016

You say your 'trying to understand your Jeep'.... Yes, your Jeep is more than capable to drive up and over a curb. With or Without momentum. In 4wd or 2wd. On wet or dry pavement.

But yes, a curb can be a bit more trouble than it looks. I drive up my curb to park my Jeep and sometimes my F150 with 35" tires and 5.7L power. And I might spin a tire here and there. A little bump up works but I useally just roll up to the curb and then ease up it.

Your Jeep is capable. You need to learn how to utilize it.

Salamander · Jun 1, 2016

All of you make great points and as I read your comments and actually think about it, it makes more and more sense. a question about my trans then. if im giving it power but not moving am I hurting my trans or any other of the related components or does the trans take the power until it can move the jeep? like if I had kept fiving it power would it eventually go to red line or would it destroy my trans. I just want to know how far is to far to push it?

Pmryall · Jun 1, 2016

Salamander said:
All of you make great points and as I read your comments and actually think about it, it makes more and more sense. a question about my trans then. if im giving it power but not moving am I hurting my trans or any other of the related components or does the trans take the power until it can move the jeep? like if I had kept fiving it power would it eventually go to red line or would it destroy my trans. I just want to know how far is to far to push it?

well don't get carried away I wouldn't put the front end against a tree and gun it. But generally no your not hurting anything. Between your engine and your transmission is a torque converter. It's kinda like a fluid (automatic transmission fluid) filled impeller. The engine spins the fluid, the fluid spins the transmission it's why you can sit at a light with the brakes on and not stall because with an auto your not directly attached between the engine and transmission. But here's the thing when they're not all spinning at approximately the same speed it creates excess heat. Heat is the number 1 enemy of the automatic transmission. So although what your talking about....giving it extra gas to get up over an obstacle...in this case the curb won't hurt it. Leaning up against that obstacle at idle won't hurt it. (No different than sitting at a red light). Gunning it for extended periods without moving will eventually hurt it if your trans creates more heat than your transmission cooler can dissipate.

Dchiefransom · Jun 1, 2016

Depending on the circumference of your tire, at some point of curb height the tire will be pushing more against the curb like a wall than having enough of a slant to get over it. This is why putting it in 4wd will allow the tire to rotate and climb over it.
If you're worried about having it in 4wd for a short time on the pavement at work (because someone blocked you in), go over the curb and across the sidewalk onto the grass and cut through the mounds they usually have in the landscaping. Just remember to put it back into 2wd before dropping back into the parking lot.

MarkinOhio · Jun 1, 2016

There's a lot of jerking/tire chirping, shuddering, etc. when driving in 4x4 on the street but it's sure not going to break anything

Are the TJ's really that bad in 4wd on the street?

I drive a lot in 4wd HI in winter and rarely experience any of that. Only when it is snowing or icy, of course. Dry roads there is no need for 4wd.

Generally, in bad weather in the winter, I'd rather have to replace something due to a bit of wear and tear than end up in a ditch or hitting someone else than drive without 4wd and wish I had been in 4wd later. In bad weather, you aren't going to have time to engage it if you start spinning out or sliding.

I don't think you are going to hurt the Jeep going to 4wd for a short time on dry pavement, either. Or, in this case, to climb a curb.

billiebob · Jun 1, 2016

Salamander said:
if im giving it power but not moving am I hurting my trans or any other of the related components or does the trans take the power until it can move the jeep?

Thats the perfect senario to shift into 4LO. As explained above revving without moving generates heat which is never good. Use the tools Jeep gave you. In 4LO there will be no noise, no drama, no heat. You will look like a pro not a schoolkid with Daddys Jeep. AND learn how to go slow without actually stopping. Use some momentum to help. Never a need to start tight to the curb from a stop. Even if you just backup 6 inches.

ChuffHugginLoognat · Jun 1, 2016

Just be careful when you are up agains the curb and you give it a ton of gas, it may do a backflip!

billiebob · Jun 1, 2016

like this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JwzuTS8kEE

inoahnoah · Jun 1, 2016

I have 33" pizza cutters on my automatic 2016 JK and I hop over curbs all the time in 2WD. Never even thought to switch it to 4WD but that couldn't hurt. However your jeep should be more than capable of jumping 6" curbs without switching gears. Go at it from a bit of an angle so one tire makes contact before the second tire as opposed to just trying to hit it straight on with both tires.

Salamander · Jun 8, 2016

thanks guys that video made my day.

Just trying to under stand my jeep.

Salamander

Jerry Bransford

info4tim

Jerry Bransford

Salamander

Salamander

billiebob

billiebob

pvansch1

billiebob

hockeyfamily

Salamander

Pmryall

Dchiefransom

MarkinOhio

billiebob

ChuffHugginLoognat

billiebob

inoahnoah

Salamander

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