Is an EcoDiesel with 4-Auto a Pipe Dream?

[869 KPH]

I'm at a crossroads on the EcoDiesel with regards to 4A. Are there any indications this could ever happen? I think the current restriction is that there's just too much torque for the transfer case to handle?

4A isn't something that I need, but I would have an opportunity to use it a lot. I feel like road conditions around here rise to the level of 4A pretty often, but 4Hi maybe only once or twice a year. So it kind of feels foolish to get a Gladiator without 4A. Which puts me back in the pentastar camp. There are other reasons I'm on the fence for the EcoD (emissions/repair costs, unexpected limp mode, unexpected regen, ...), but I think 4A may be the final nail in the coffin.

Unlesssss someone can convince me that occasionally engaging 4Hi in winter conditions on pavement where traction can change a lot in a short amount of space isn't a bad idea.

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[TheSolarWizard]

I'm at a crossroads on the EcoDiesel with regards to 4A. Are there any indications this could ever happen? I think the current restriction is that there's just too much torque for the transfer case to handle?

4A isn't something that I need, but I would have an opportunity to use it a lot. I feel like road conditions around here rise to the level of 4A pretty often, but 4Hi maybe only once or twice a year. So it kind of feels foolish to get a Gladiator without 4A. Which puts me back in the pentastar camp. There are other reasons I'm on the fence for the EcoD (emissions/repair costs, unexpected limp mode, unexpected regen, ...), but I think 4A may be the final nail in the coffin.

Unlesssss someone can convince me that occasionally engaging 4Hi in winter conditions on pavement where traction can change a lot in a short amount of space isn't a bad idea.

Good winter tires can turn a Toyota Prius into a beast on garbage roads.

While 4A seems like a super awesome addition, real jeeps have never had it till this year and yet every Jeep clubs where the roads turn bad routinely shuttle essential personal to their jobs.

I’ve used 4HI hundreds of times on slushly roads at reasonable speeds to no ill effects

 

[CerOf]

I used the part time 4wd the other week for a good number of miles. Approx. from beaver creek to the east side of Loveland pass. The roads varied from snow pack, slush, icy, to wet. I followed the few subarus in front of me and ran 55+.

No issues and I wouldnt hesitate to do it again.


PS “real” Jeep’s have had the full time 4wd since, well, a really long time. (40 years) NP/NV 249, 242, just to name a couple of popular ones.

PSS I quantify “real” Jeep has having solid axles.

 

[TheSolarWizard]

I used the part time 4wd the other week for a good number of miles. Approx. from beaver creek to the east side of Loveland pass. The roads varied from snow pack, slush, icy, to wet. I followed the few subarus in front of me and ran 55+.

No issues and I wouldnt hesitate to do it again.


PS “real” Jeep’s have had the full time 4wd since, well, a really long time. (40 years) NP/NV 249, 242, just to name a couple of popular ones.

PSS I quantify “real” Jeep has having solid axles.

I’m not arguing exactly as I did some wild ? with my ZJ back in the day but for the purposes of this conversation I was referring to body on frame wranglers

 

[FutureOdin]

Quadra-Trac has definitely been around for a long time, but honestly, in my opinion, I think it's just gives you the benefit of not having to think about putting your Jeep into 4WD when you need it?

I wouldn't hold out for it, since it's easy enough to pull a lever when I know I'm going to need 4WD.

 

[aevgladitorrubi]

I'm at a crossroads on the EcoDiesel with regards to 4A. Are there any indications this could ever happen? I think the current restriction is that there's just too much torque for the transfer case to handle?

4A isn't something that I need, but I would have an opportunity to use it a lot. I feel like road conditions around here rise to the level of 4A pretty often, but 4Hi maybe only once or twice a year. So it kind of feels foolish to get a Gladiator without 4A. Which puts me back in the pentastar camp. There are other reasons I'm on the fence for the EcoD (emissions/repair costs, unexpected limp mode, unexpected regen, ...), but I think 4A may be the final nail in the coffin.

Unlesssss someone can convince me that occasionally engaging 4Hi in winter conditions on pavement where traction can change a lot in a short amount of space isn't a bad idea.

You have a tough ? I will tell you this though, I just got my Gladiator Rubi diesel and have had the gasser in the past... the diesel engine is phenom!!!

 

[869 KPH]

Thanks for the responses everybody. I am pretty torn about it all, ha. Guess we'll just see what comes out of my mouth/keyboard when the time comes.

 

[Mac]

It was not an option when I got my JT it it was I probably would have gotten it, huge advantage when the surface is questionable, sure you can put it in 4hi but it binds up on side streets when there is turning and dry patches. IMO I would not want the diesel based on reliability issues with the def fluid system never mind what will may happen with the complex exhaust system once they get some miles on them, the other irony is people want the diesel for the added range but who wants to be in the boonies and have the cel come on and it say it won’t restart in so many miles? No thanks.

 

[Diesl Jp]

Unlesssss someone can convince me that occasionally engaging 4Hi in winter conditions on pavement where traction can change a lot in a short amount of space isn't a bad idea.

I've got the Diesel Overland and essentially spent a week doing the above. It really wasn't a problem at all. Traction got iffy: 4H. Traction improved: 2H. Repeat. I come from a Subaru, and while always-on AWD in the snow is a thing of splendor, popping back and forth between 4H/2H while driving in the snow was just NOT a problem.

Good winter tires can turn a Toyota Prius into a beast on garbage roads.

^^^^This!
When I first got the Subie, it had summer tires. Immediately went into a horrible snowy winter and that thing was terrifying and useless. Spent most of that winter with my Subaru in the garage, driving my wife's Honda Fit with winter tires. Wised up the next winter, but the moral of the story: for snow the tires are the meat and potatoes, 4WD/AWD is just the side salad.
Even with some challenging snow, I don't regret the diesel at all.

 

[syreeves]

I have owned a number of full time AWD vehicles (BMW 325xi, Volvo XC90, Land Rover Discovery) and my JTR is my first "regular" 4WD where I must manually shift from 2H to 4H. I lamented the fact that I did not have some kind of 4H Auto capability (Raptor F150s have this feature - I was cross shopping that against the JT).

However, having driven in all conditions now I am very confident that my desire for 4auto was misplaced. First - you can shift from 2H to 4H while moving - yes it helps to ease up on the accelerator pedal (Ha I almost said gas pedal to you) but you DO NOT need to be in neutral or anything like that. Second, you can anticipate when you need 4H - if you feel like you need 4WD above 50mph then you probably need to slow down OR you are racing or doing something similarly limited that most people won't do.

In exchange for this difficulty you get a MUCH STRONGER transfer case. No clutches to regulate 2H to 4H (which is basically how Jeep does it) or third differential to deal with (which is how my Land Rover and other similar vehicles like Land Cruisers etc) deal with full time AWD.

SO - my point is - the system in your JT takes some learning but is stronger and more reliable than other options out there.

PS - mine is the 6MT so I spend a lot of time thinking about what my right hand is doing when the weather is shitty.

 

[869 KPH]

I come from a Subaru, and while always-on AWD in the snow is a thing of splendor, popping back and forth between 4H/2H while driving in the snow was just NOT a problem.

Yeah I daily a Subaru and that's what has me intrigued with 4A.

Raptor F150s have this feature - I was cross shopping that against the JT.

Same, it's just too big for my needs.

In exchange for this difficulty you get a MUCH STRONGER transfer case. No clutches to regulate 2H to 4H (which is basically how Jeep does it)

This is an excellent point.

 

[marcwithac]

If you live somewhere with winter 4auto is pretty great. We have snow on the roads for many months. I had a tacoma prior to this. Sure flipping between 4h and 2wd is pretty simple I did it for 10 years. But not having to do it all the time makes winter driving much much better. Throw a set of winter tires on with 4auto. Could be the best driving winter vehicle I've ever driven. This is one of the reasons I don't have the diesel.

 

[WXman]

Torque output isn't the reason they don't offer it. I'm tooling around in a Ram that has this engine on the 480 lb/ft tune combined with the AWD transfer case. Let me tell you, during all the ice and sleet and snow we had in February the AWD setting was NICE. Going from dry roads to totally covered roads off and on is no sweat for the 4-auto t-case.

Hopefully this is something Jeep will add to the Gladiator in the future, maybe even when the 2022 order guide hits.

 

[FutureOdin]

Torque output isn't the reason they don't offer it. I'm tooling around in a Ram that has this engine on the 480 lb/ft tune combined with the AWD transfer case. Let me tell you, during all the ice and sleet and snow we had in February the AWD setting was NICE. Going from dry roads to totally covered roads off and on is no sweat for the 4-auto t-case.

Hopefully this is something Jeep will add to the Gladiator in the future, maybe even when the 2022 order guide hits.

I'm assuming the transfer case on the Ram is probably different than the one that goes in the Jeep, and that the one in the Jeep can't hold up to the torque output.

 

[shrinkhead]

The JL392 only has the AWD option btw. I have two winters with 2H now in snow and wet bla bla conditions. With the rear so much lighter than the front there is no under steering and the only time I needed to flip it to 4H was on steeper narrow roads where you go slow anyways with ice snow packs or getting in and out of a snow bank lol.

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