That's what I figured was allowing the 2L mod to work, but I figured someone actually tested this theory with a front locker and would chime in. Good to know there's people willing to try and post their findings.
With a chain driven transfer case you can't use the biggest advantage of twin sticks, a front dig. If you could twin stick the gladiator I'd be all over that as it needs help in the right turns far more than it does on the gearing department. I've never encountered a situation with this 8 speed auto where I need more gearing in 1st gear when there's enough traction to not need 4wd. The manual I could see it, especially since you can't trust the factory clutch if you need to slip it more than just a little.
Traction control and BLD are not the same thing. Traction control turns off automatically in 4LO. The BLD still works, trying to brake the slipping wheel. It can't be turned off. I don't even want the Traction control on in 2wd on the road just in case I want to drift an onramp in the rain. The Traction control that kills power is for street drivers who can't drive and thanks to the tazer it stays off always.
yes. TC comes off as soon as i am in dirt, I don't really care if the BLD (brake locked differential) activates or not when i am wheeling. If i need traction then i go to 4wd or more traction then lock a axle.
The tazer is about the only push button option out there, and has worked flawlessly for us. Mapped to the res cruise button is as quick and easy to turn on and off as the factory button but will stay off at any speed. Being able to use the rear locker in 2wd or the front only is a win too. Personally wouldn't own a Rubicon without one as there are just too many limits from the factory that can be easily overcome. ESS stays off, traction control stays off, tpms light stays off even though we run the 39s at 25psi on the street and they'll be down to 21psi on a cold morning.
Well you can, all you have to do is swap in an Atlas 2 speed transfer case.
Seems a little bit pricey to gain that capability, but if you do it, please let us know how it turns out.
With the 4.7-1 1st gear and the factory rubicon crawl ratio in our JLUR of 21.4-1 in high range and a ridiculous 86-1 in low range plus the torque converter multiplication I've never felt a need for more gears or 2Lo. Those seem to be exclusively manual transmission problems in the modern Jeep platform in my opinion.Well you can, all you have to do is swap in an Atlas 2 speed transfer case.
TC Shifters
2SP TC Configurator
I was pointing out that you _could_ get a transfer case that supported twin stick operation, to let you leave the rear driveshaft in N while having the front in H or L, letting you attempt a front dig.
When you're given a 4 speed with double OD, yeah we need better options. Also most of the rubicons in my area are pavement princesses, they just have them for the status and will tell you they've never used the lockers since they first bought it.
I know it's available, and would be more of a benefit to me especially with the long wheelbase of the JT. 2lo rwd doesn't do anything for me that 2 hi doesn't. 2Lo fwd and you could actually turn this trail bus around obstacles. Still not worth the time, money, and effort to me personally.
Where on earth did you find a 4spd? Is your transmission broken? Even if you think the overdrives are useless, stupid deep axle gears solve that. 2lo doesn't. I'm trying to envision the automatic trying to kill you but I'm not seeing it? The clutches in these things are known to explode and/or catch fire for you manual guys but I've never had an issue with the 8 speed auto. Haven't really had issues with any auto come to think of it. Did one pull a gun on you? Fall of a transmission jack?
The manual in these trucks, especially with the 3.73s, drives like a 4 speed double OD. Maybe you live in flat CA, but here in the hills where it's 55mph everywhere, stop and go, yeah good luck using 5/6 gears EVER! Even on the highways that are 55-65mph, we have large rolling hills and often wind. Can you shift into 5/6? Yeah. Can you maintain speed in those gears? Sometimes in 5th, unless there's a hill and it's below 65mph or any wind. 6th? Forget it, you'll lug the shit out of the engine and can watch your avg mpg and rpms drop before you get up the hill. So yes, the manual ratios, especially with 3.73s, you will not use 5/6 gears, making it a 4 speed double OD. But you wouldn't know this challenge because you don't have a manual. And for people who daily their trucks, maybe we don't need to be turning 2800rpms at 70mph, or simply don't need to drive 70+mph.
So no auto has ever tried to kill you but maybe ABS/traction control has? Yes I live in flat CA where we have the highest point in the lower 48 and the lowest point as well. 14,494 feet to -282 feet. Nice flat state with an elevation gain of 14,776 feet as opposed to your hill country of at most 6,800' in NC down to -8'? There's not a legitimate mountain east of the Mississippi. Those are foothill elevations out west. Last I checked every up hill has a downhill. Are you telling me it won't maintain speed downhill or you just don't want to shift that often? Seems more driver error than design error. It's always the manual guys that complain about shifting... if only there was a way for the Jeep to do it automatically so you don't have to.
