Did I screw up and buy the wrong truck?

[Gvsukids]

I would recommend some nice add on lighting to the A-piler something that lights up the side of the road a little better at night. That will make Night adventures on service roads nice. I got mine on amazon. I think maybe $50 all in for brackets, lights and harness. The lights are small there are brighter ones but these really help light up the sides of the trail nicely. I used them at night to help spot Elk on the roadsides too. Just adds a wider field of view than just high beams.
https://www.amazon.com/MWNYO-Brackets-Wrangler-Gladiator-Install/dp/B09FT4Z8WB/ref=sr_1_16?crid=1GHGBCRG22GT3&keywords=Jeep+light+mount&qid=1667328367&qu=eyJxc2MiOiI0Ljc4IiwicXNhIjoiMy41MyIsInFzcCI6IjIuNzEifQ==&sprefix=jeep+light+mount,aps,142&sr=8-16
https://www.amazon.com/Nilight-Driving-Waterproof-Off-road-Warranty/dp/B07D5S1SF5/ref=sr_1_4?crid=12DTR6GWQIT19&keywords=nilight'&qid=1667328441&sprefix=nilight,aps,137&sr=8-4
https://www.amazon.com/RUN-D-Universal-Wiring-Harness-Connector/dp/B01B5UXWY4/ref=sxin_16_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?content-id=amzn1.sym.b5b80b36-fed9-4412-8be2-fe5bba09d25a:amzn1.sym.b5b80b36-fed9-4412-8be2-fe5bba09d25a&crid=RV59BSCYV0L6&cv_ct_cx=jeep+light+wiring&keywords=jeep+light+wiring&pd_rd_i=B01B5UXWY4&pd_rd_r=11ec6559-d423-451e-ae56-d14447324e7d&pd_rd_w=J5pz8&pd_rd_wg=6rLnh&pf_rd_p=b5b80b36-fed9-4412-8be2-fe5bba09d25a&pf_rd_r=3QR5WJX8DRC2AAX05G1A&qid=1667328476&sprefix=jeep+light+wiring,aps,139&sr=1-2-a73d1c8c-2fd2-4f19-aa41-2df022bcb241-spons&psc=1

How do hook them up?

Sponsored

 

[BearFootSam]

It does? On which wheel?

Both rears have a drum in disk parking brake. If you get underneath and look inside the rear wheels you will see a steel cable that enters the inboard side of the disc backing plate. The cable engages the drum. It is a relatively common design, subaru uses the same setup. I like it because conceptually there is a redundant system if say your brake hydraulics failed or overheated.

 

[Vanishing Point]

You are overthinking this.

Go out and 4 wheel until you get stuck.
Figure out why you got stuck.
Fix whatever it was that got you stuck.

You'll probably surprise yourself at how seldom it is you get stuck and/or how things like traction boards are an easy way to get unstuck.

 

[AstroZombie]

How do hook them up?

I have the accessory kit from the factory. Easy peasy!!

 

[AstroZombie]

Thank you @Raven65 this is a great thread!! Love your truck!!

 

[Sespe]

*True - don't do much offroading - never have (except on 2 wheels where I have done PLENTY)
*Truck most definitely IS expensive - thus my expectation that limited slip (not lockers) would be standard equipment.
*DID pay attention to trim levels - decided I didn't need the hardcore offroad equipment of the Rubicon/Mojave (true lockers, disconnecting front swaybar, etc) Didn't need all the "luxury equipment of the Overland, considered a Willys, but ultimately came down to availability. My local dealer had this Sport S with a couple of nice options packages (Popular equipment and Technology packages). Again... assumed (incorrectly) that at least "limited slip diffs were included.
*DON'T need true lockers
*Disappointed that a JEEP 4x4 that stickered for $46k has open diffs, but is sounds like the BLD will be all I need (along with better tires and recovery equipment/winch).

This is quite possibly the best and politest response to a troll I have ever seen. I salute you, sir.

 

[PyrPatriot]

I have open diffs and have yet to get stuck. I go on pretty moderate trails. See profile pic/threads

 

[Gvsukids]

I have the accessory kit from the factory. Easy peasy!!

Aux switches?

 

[Raven65]

You are overthinking this.

Go out and 4 wheel until you get stuck.
Figure out why you got stuck.
Fix whatever it was that got you stuck.

You'll probably surprise yourself at how seldom it is you get stuck and/or how things like traction boards are an easy way to get unstuck.

Well, that’s par for the course for me… I am a computer programmer and tend to overthink everything. ? I appreciate all of the great responses in this thread! Clearly I have nothing to worry about for the way I plan to use the truck - and if I get bitten by the wheelin’ bug and start going to more challenging places, I can always upgrade as needed. The aftermarket for these things is incredible!

 

[Raven65]

Thank you @Raven65 this is a great thread!! Love your truck!!

Thanks! I love the truck! Also very impressed with the great responses I got to my overreaction about the open diffs. I didn’t even know what BLD was before reading about it in this thread - and now that I do, it sounds like it works great! I’m sure it will be all I’ll need.

 

[ShrimpHappens]

I have open diffs and have yet to get stuck. I go on pretty moderate trails. See profile pic/threads

Unless you've changed it, if you have a Max Tow, you have a limited slip rear end.

 

[JTBurns]

Unless you've changed it, if you have a Max Tow, you have a limited slip rear end.

He's got a 2020 and the LSD was actually not standard with max tow for that MY

 

[22_Sarge_Sport]

So, I’m 57 years old and just bought my first Jeep… and in fact, my first 4x4.

I didn’t do enough homework before buying and bought a “Sport S” trim and just realized that the thing has open diffs front and rear. I pulled my build sheet and it says “conventional differentials” on both ends. I don’t plan to do any serious off-roading… no rock climbing or deep mudding, and I live in SC, so no deep snow… but I DO plan to do SOME… like forest service roads in the NC mountains and some mild “Jeep trails”, so I will encounter some steep/slippery hills and some water crossings and mud. I plan to upgrade the tires to something a little more aggressive that the basically street tires that came on the thing.

I don’t think I need lockers, but I would have expected any 4x4 that costs this much - especially a JEEP - to have at least “limited slip” diffs as standard equipment! Even my last truck - a base model 2009 2WD Toyota Tacoma that cost less than $14k brand new had a limited slip rear diff. Now, it was an automatic brake-actuated limited slip rather than a mechanical/clutch pack unit, but still… better than just an open diff! Do I even have that in this Jeep? I guess I can get the same effect by giving it some brake myself while also giving it some throttle and trying to move forward if (when) I get stuck.

Loving this truck otherwise, but the open diffs are a pretty big disappointment. Am I going to get stuck in even just a little bit of mud? Is it possible/easy/practical to upgrade my diffs to limited slip? Did I totally screw up and buy the wrong truck - or will it be ok?

You bought a beautiful and capable truck and you will be just fine, as others have noted. Better tires will help much more than lockers for most circumstances and happily Rubi take-offs are abundant and inexpensive. Get takeoff Rubi shocks and springs while you're at it, and you'll improve stance and travel a little too.

 

[22_Sarge_Sport]

Better for donuts.

Cheaper too. E

Maybe you'll get that lucky with the Jeep.


You can, it's clunky.

I was completely unaware of this donuts mode from the Tazer. I wonder if it would work with my MT?

 

[dcmdon]

Let me start by saying that I haven't read all 74 posts, but am replying to the OP.

Ordering a limited slip would have been a no brainer. But the brake lock differential system (BLD) is so good that it's probably not a big deal. It will pretty well compensate as long as you don't need to maintain momentum or do anything crazy.

In the case of my Gladiator, the BLD got me out of something that locking my rear diff could not get me out of.

I was making a 3 point turn in the middle of a snow storm on a back road and drove into what I thought was the shoulder. My front end went down into a depression that ran along the road that was filled in by plowed snow.

I locked the rear diff and tried to get out but could not. One thing to remember is that when you lock the rear diff, it disables traction control and the BLD. So if one front wheel has great traction, you aren't going to be able to use it because the front diff is now totally open.

I thought about this for a minute and decided to see if the computerized magic could help me. I put the truck in 4H Auto and re-enabled all the traction control stuff. I put it in reverse and gradually applied throttle and could feel the loose front wheel start to spin and then it stopped and the truck started to move backwards as the brakes stopped that wheel which applied torque to the wheel with traction and I drove out.

So . . . in summary. If you don't have both front and rear lockers, in a get un-stuck situation your best resource is often going to be the BLD. It's not sexy, but it will get you out.

I like limited slips in trucks because if I decide to drive them like a car on the road , and get on it while going around a turn it doesn't spin the inside wheel, trigger the traction control, pull throttle and leave me dead in the water for a second or so. I got something better with SelecTrac that allows me to apply power to all 4 wheels while on the road.

Sponsored