Driving your gladiator off the paved road

[BAT]

I have a Rubicon JT and noticed if I drive on a dirt road in 4H it’s EXTREMELY bouncy and everything rattles. I know airing down will help, yet sometimes I can’t.
Let’s say your driving for a few mins on a dirt road but are back to pavement, how would you guys drive on the dirt road, and what settings would you use if you can’t air down? I was seeing Mini vans and Prius take the same road and they had no issues. What am I doing wrong?

Were the roads that bad that you could not have stayed in the normal drive mode without having to go to 4Hi or Low. I have no experience so not giving advice I am just as curious.

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[93civej1]

Won't really need select speed on forest roads, just use the manual mode to limit speed.

thats why i was using M1 on a trail ride with a bunch of others.

 

[93civej1]

I have a Rubicon JT and noticed if I drive on a dirt road in 4H it’s EXTREMELY bouncy and everything rattles. I know airing down will help, yet sometimes I can’t.
Let’s say your driving for a few mins on a dirt road but are back to pavement, how would you guys drive on the dirt road, and what settings would you use if you can’t air down? I was seeing Mini vans and Prius take the same road and they had no issues. What am I doing wrong?

what would 4H have to do with how bouncy?

 

[sharpsicle]

I have a Rubicon JT and noticed if I drive on a dirt road in 4H it’s EXTREMELY bouncy and everything rattles. I know airing down will help, yet sometimes I can’t.
Let’s say your driving for a few mins on a dirt road but are back to pavement, how would you guys drive on the dirt road, and what settings would you use if you can’t air down? I was seeing Mini vans and Prius take the same road and they had no issues. What am I doing wrong?

Airing down your tires will help, just like you said. Don't discount that. Don't compare yourself to a Prius either, you're a truck not a tiny car, your physics are much different. Other than air pressure, it's a function of speed and spring rates when going over the changes in terrain that "bounces". You may need to go slower on fully-aired tires. 2WD vs 4WD won't change that.

 

[ecidiego]

Prius is a unibody with independent suspension. You're on a box frame with a solid axle. Air down.

 

[Rockabillyroy]

I have a Rubicon JT and noticed if I drive on a dirt road in 4H it’s EXTREMELY bouncy and everything rattles. I know airing down will help, yet sometimes I can’t.
Let’s say your driving for a few mins on a dirt road but are back to pavement, how would you guys drive on the dirt road, and what settings would you use if you can’t air down? I was seeing Mini vans and Prius take the same road and they had no issues. What am I doing wrong?

Airing down and disconnecting is the magic combo. If you don't air down, at least disco.

 

[calicorks]

Prius is a unibody with independent suspension. You're on a box frame with a solid axle. Air down.

So your solution is to air down to only air up less than 5 mins later? That’s not very helpful.

 

[calicorks]

Sounds like I should stay in 4H as I have been, and just drive super duper slow. Otherwise, I’ll air down when I’m going to be longer than a few minutes.

 

[rharr]

just drive on the dirt road in 2wd, if it's bumpy go faster, you won't notice them as bad. Just dodge the pot holes and shoe size rocks. I did a bunch of back road death valley stuff, race track, echo canyon, hole in the wall, ect and only needed 4x4 once for a waterfall climb on echo canyon.

Like my dad told me long ago, 4wd doesn't make the car drive any better, it just helps you get started, and it won't help defeat physics.

If i had a dollar for every time i saw a 4x4 truck blasting down snow covered highways 30mph faster then everyone else only to see them in a ditch 2 miles down the road i could have bought a 2nd jeep.

 

[CerOf]

Advantage of 4:1 include less wheel spin, less “bucking/hopping”, thus less breakage. More control going up or down obstacles. Better traction.

going down icy/snowy hill, 4:1 is NOT your friend.

 

[JoseQ_80]

Slow is good.

 

[foo.c]

For those who have the rubicon, what does the 4:1 give you on the trails that the others do not?

A stupid low top speed and lots of frustration going back and forth between hi and lo trying to keep up with everyone else.

 

[JoseQ_80]

That's a feature not a bug.
You want to go slow over rocky terrain. 4 to 1 gives you that.

Switching between 4L and 4H/2H takes practice. I still have to get better at it.

 

[calicorks]

When we are in snow, should we be in 4H auto on a stock Rubicon?

 

[foo.c]

That's a feature not a bug.
You want to go slow over rocky terrain. 4 to 1 gives you that.

Switching between 4L and 4H/2H takes practice. I still have to get better at it.

It's definitely working as designed. It's just not a great "all around" ratio. I'd love a 3 speed tcase or a doubler.

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