Dumb question...full-time 4WD

[Jeep24MA]

So I’m reading about the 2021 having full-time 4WD. Can someone break this down in idiot terms for me? Are all 4 wheels spinning at the same power now all the time like an AWD as opposed to just the rear 2 like the 2020 or what? Pardon my dumbness. Is dumbness a word? Thanks!

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[ShadowsPapa]

It simply means you can leave it in 4 wheel drive mode more like the older Grand Cherokees, or even my Eagle. There's a limited slip differential in the transfer case. Can't do that with the 2020 Gladiator. Frankly, I wish mine had that. You can still have 4L lock in some transfer cases for a locked 4 wheel drive mode.

 

[Jeep24MA]

It simply means you can leave it in 4 wheel drive mode more like the older Grand Cherokees, or even my Eagle. There's a limited slip differential in the transfer case. Can't do that with the 2020 Gladiator. Frankly, I wish mine had that. You can still have 4L lock in some transfer cases for a locked 4 wheel drive mode.

Thanks. Sorry for more dumb questions here, but when you’re just driving on a normal nice day and you don’t touch any of those 4WD buttons at all are you still driving in 2 wheel drive (rear wheel drive)?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Thanks. Sorry for more dumb questions here, but when you’re just driving on a normal nice day and you don’t touch any of those 4WD buttons at all are you still driving in 2 wheel drive (rear wheel drive)?

I'm not up on this SPECIFIC transfer case, but if it's like my older Jeeps, you are in 2 wheel drive until or unless you put it in 4 wheel drive, then you can leave it in 4 mode even when you hit dry pavement. The original transfer case like I have is part time meaning when you hit dry road you need to shift back to 2. Around here that's inconvenient as we get a lot of alternating dry, ice, dry, snow drift, dry, snow, dry and so on. A single 10 mile trip can mean switching that transfer case a half dozen or more times.
My other Jeep or my Eagle, if it's iffy, I switch to 4 and leave it until things are clear.
I've not read up on the specific transfer case offered in the 2021.
In most cases, 4L is still a locked mode meaning that the front and rear driveshafts are locked together.

 

[Jeep24MA]

I'm not up on this SPECIFIC transfer case, but if it's like my older Jeeps, you are in 2 wheel drive until or unless you put it in 4 wheel drive, then you can leave it in 4 mode even when you hit dry pavement. The original transfer case like I have is part time meaning when you hit dry road you need to shift back to 2. Around here that's inconvenient as we get a lot of alternating dry, ice, dry, snow drift, dry, snow, dry and so on. A single 10 mile trip can mean switching that transfer case a half dozen or more times.
My other Jeep or my Eagle, if it's iffy, I switch to 4 and leave it until things are clear.
I've not read up on the specific transfer case offered in the 2021.
In most cases, 4L is still a locked mode meaning that the front and rear driveshafts are locked together.

Thank you for the explanation!

 

[jimbom]

Thanks. Sorry for more dumb questions here, but when you’re just driving on a normal nice day and you don’t touch any of those 4WD buttons at all are you still driving in 2 wheel drive (rear wheel drive)?

2WD, yes, but they're not buttons (like a Ram.) It looks like a traditional transfer case shifter, (but I believe it uses cables instead of linkages.) You can select either 2H, 4H, 4H Auto (Full Time aka AWD) or 4L

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