I got a Jeep!

[YooperCracker]

My first Jeep (bought yesterday) and it's a bit more complicated than I'm used to.

My previous 4-wheel drive vehicles, an International Scout and a GEO Tracker were kind of simple. You put it in 4-wheel drive then got out and manually locked the hubs. That was it.

This 2022 Gladiator Rubicon (12K miles), manual transmission, I just bought has Rock-Trak, Tru-Loc and a disconnecting sway bar, according to the window sticker that was in the glove box.

Question 1: Is Rock-Trak just a limited slip differential (always active)? I can't see any way to engage it and the owner's manual doesn't seem to mention it as far as I can tell.

Question 2: Do you engage the locking differential (what I'm guessing Tru-Loc is) when you get stuck or in anticipation of getting stuck?

Question 3: Disconnecting the sway bar is just for rock crawling, right?

Question 4: There's a whistle at highway speeds that I think is coming from the front passenger hard top panel. Any tips? I took the panel off and reseated it when I got home from the dealer, but haven't gone out again. Waiting for my insurance cards.

Thanks and I apologize for my noobishness.

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[Great Offender]

Congratulations and I hope you truly enjoy it the way most of us do!

Pulled this video link from YouTube. I don't have these options but from the reading I've done here you seem to have the basics w/ Rock-Trak being part time 4wd and Tru-Loc is your locking differentials. As far as your disconnecting sway bar, yes and ... It will allow more flex and articulation of the front end I use it mostly off-road to take a lot of those hard bumps out.

Good Luck!

Rock-Trac

 

[Scott L]

Congratulations on your new Jeep. Welcome. Pretty sure you'll find it's a lot easier to use the 4 wheel drive than the past vehicles.

 

[Lunentucker]

You can use your VIN to access your full build sheet here.
Much more detailed than the Window Sticker.

Build Sheet by VIN

 

[GWolgamott]

Congrats and welcome.

As answered above, I don't have many of those features on my version. So that video and other Rubi owners can comment on that.

But will comment on the sway bars being disconnected does come in useful other then rock crawling. This is a good run down of why you may want to disconnect.
https://www.quadratec.com/c/reference/why-should-i-disconnect-my-sway-bar-when-roading

 

[cranbiz]

The Rock Trac is the transfer case. It's a 4:1 ratio and it's a part time transfer case. Very different than the Select trac transfer case which is a full time transfer case and can be used on dry pavement at highway speeds. Part time transfer cases should not be used on dry pavement, either in 4 hi or 4 lo.

True loc is real elockers. I use mine in situations where I might experience traction issues when off road. I will engage them before I get into a situation where I might lose traction but yes, you can engage them when you get into that situation.

Sway bar disconnect is for off road use. Anytime you feel you need a bit more flex. The Rubicon will attempt to reengage the sway bar over 15 MPH You can change that with a Tazer.

 

[LouisvEarlleJT]

Question 1: Is Rock-Trak just a limited slip differential (always active)? I can't see any way to engage it and the owner's manual doesn't seem to mention it as far as I can tell.

Question 2: Do you engage the locking differential (what I'm guessing Tru-Loc is) when you get stuck or in anticipation of getting stuck?

Question 3: Disconnecting the sway bar is just for rock crawling, right?

Question 4: There's a whistle at highway speeds that I think is coming from the front passenger hard top panel. Any tips? I took the panel off and reseated it when I got home from the dealer, but haven't gone out again. Waiting for my insurance cards.

1) Rock-Trak is the name of the rubicon transfer case. 2H, 4H, N, 4L, just like any other transfer case you've experienced. Engaged via the small shifter next to the transmission shifter.

2) Either or. The point is for situations where you need both wheels to spin (like if one wheel is in the air, or mired in the muck). Engaged via the red switch next to the sway bar disconnect button.

3) Pretty much, or very similar off-rock activities (holler crawling? lol)

4) Probably just the panel, though wind noise is expected.

 

[GWolgamott]

I will also note on the panel that I had a loose bolt for the hard top once that made it sound like the front panel was whistling louder then normal. Must have had just enough rock in the motion to not keep the panel air tight. Anyways...they do make quite a bit of noise when seated properly. But can check the rear hard top section to be sure none of the bolts are loose and that there isn't any debris in the area the panel sits on.

 

[YooperCracker]

Thanks all! The links and explanations were very helpful.

I get it now. Rock-Trac is the overall system/transfer case. So things aren't really that complicated

 

[KevinC]

As we are on the subject of when to engage the transfer case into 4H or 4L, or when to engage the front/rear lockers.

I'm not going to tell you this is the only way. But, I would much rather engage and drive/roll a few tire revolutions before the obstacle is encountered. That way everything has time to sync together and mech properly.

Can you engage 4WD/Lockers once stuck? Yes. I've done it and it didn't sound good.
Anticipate - engage - negotiate - disengage - move out.

KevinC

 

[Jefe1018]

It is best to engage lockers before an obstacle, but I’ve driven onto ice and had the lockers bail me out before. It’ll depend and it is nice to have.

Disconnecting the sway bar makes for a more comfortable ride off road. Make sure you drop tire pressures for maximum results.

 

[Alan SOBX]

Question 1: Is Rock-Trak just a limited slip differential (always active)? I can't see any way to engage it and the owner's manual doesn't seem to mention it as far as I can tell.

Question 2: Do you engage the locking differential (what I'm guessing Tru-Loc is) when you get stuck or in anticipation of getting stuck?

Question 3: Disconnecting the sway bar is just for rock crawling, right?

Question 4: There's a whistle at highway speeds that I think is coming from the front passenger hard top panel. Any tips? I took the panel off and reseated it when I got home from the dealer, but haven't gone out again. Waiting for my insurance cards.

First of all, NICE RIDE!! The machined wheels look great with the black.

Thank you for the question because I am learning a lot from the replies too. I don’t have a Rubicon so I haven’t looked into feature specific to that trim before.

For #2, you will like going into four wheel with the Jeep. Just shift and you are good to go. As someone mentioned before, it is best to be rolling. Here is another tip that I didn’t see above: how to lock your diffs in 4H. My Mojave only has locking back diff but wouldn’t go into it in 4H and I need that on sand (well, "need" may be too strong of a word but I like to do it). Someone on the forum said, to override the lockers in 4H, shift to 4H, engage OffRoad+, hold down traction control for five seconds, when it beeps your ESC is off, engage the locking diff. A bit of a PITA. I think the 2024s will be able to just go straight to it. Taser may help here too—I don’t know. Also, that trick is easier when stopped. It doesnt work over 5 mph and a lot of button pushing distracting from actual driving. It will also turn off if you cut off the car like when I am fishing. When you get back to pavement, simply shift back to 2H and all that goes away so that is very easy.

For #4, I just turn my music up louder. Problem solved. If you want a serious solution, there are liners you can buy to attach to the panels that reduce noise and heat. HotHeads, IIRC.

You didn’t buy a truck, you bought a hobby. Like most hobbies, you can spend as much or as little as you want to. J.E.E.P. = Just Empty Every Pocket

P.S. I hope you love your Jeep as much as I love mine.

 

[Captain803]

Anticipate - engage - negotiate - disengage - move out.

KevinC

This... is my whole life and every challenge in it.

 

[Warped]

COngrats on that new rig of yours. Since the questions have been answered, I'll just say enjoy it. I love my Mojave.

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