Off Road Plus and Sand, Mud, Snow, Water, Gravel

[joeym7]

Hi Folks, 1 month into my Mojave and love it, read both manuals, and have been on two basic dirt roads since - first time ever with a (non) dirt-bike...The Gladiator is way more comfortable so at this age, only way to "fly" and I have the "fever" for more.

The manual is very clear of what Off Road plus does as far as "tuning" the performance dynamic in both 4H and 4L...In (4H) it detunes the TC and ESC some (allowing more wheel spin), makes the pedal more responsive, and keeps the gears in the power band longer. It specifically calls out "Sand" as its focus in 4H...

So what else do you use it for besides Sand? Do you use it for Mud, Snow, when crossing water, gravel? Full time in these situations or only as needed? And what is your thinking why you use it in these other applications?

Thanks in Advance for your insight,
-Joe

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[NachoRuby]

All of the above. It makes the brake lock differential much more aggressive, tweaks throttle response, and keeps traction control from impeding movement so quickly. It's perfect for any offroad low traction situation (mud/rocks), or any time you're stuck. I don't have sand around here, but I use it in the mud and rocks for sure. Also in snow if stuck. My JT has a manual transmission, so it has no effect on gears/powerband obviously, but I use it for any and all low traction offroad situations. The effect on the BLD is phenomenal, which is great since no JT has LSD and offroad plus.

 

[joeym7]

All of the above. It makes the brake lock differential much more aggressive, tweaks throttle response, and keeps traction control from impeding movement so quickly. It's perfect for any offroad low traction situation (mud/rocks), or any time you're stuck. I don't have sand around here, but I use it in the mud and rocks for sure. Also in snow if stuck. My JT has a manual transmission, so it has no effect on gears/powerband obviously, but I use it for any and all low traction offroad situations. The effect on the BLD is phenomenal, which is great since no JT has LSD and offroad plus.

Thanks Nacho, that is a GREAT explanation (meaning one I understand ).

 

[joeym7]

All of the above. It makes the brake lock differential much more aggressive, tweaks throttle response, and keeps traction control from impeding movement so quickly. It's perfect for any offroad low traction situation (mud/rocks), or any time you're stuck. I don't have sand around here, but I use it in the mud and rocks for sure. Also in snow if stuck. My JT has a manual transmission, so it has no effect on gears/powerband obviously, but I use it for any and all low traction offroad situations. The effect on the BLD is phenomenal, which is great since no JT has LSD and offroad plus.

Nacho, have you ever tried shutting the TC and SC 100%-completely off when you were in OFF Road +? (The manual states: While in OFF Road +, push the ESC OFF button and traction control will turn off, BUT SC will remain active; Hold the ESC Button 5 seconds and BOTH TC and SC will turn off.)

 

[NachoRuby]

Nacho, have you ever tried shutting the TC and SC 100%-completely off when you were in OFF Road +? (The manual states: While in OFF Road +, push the ESC OFF button and traction control will turn off, BUT SC will remain active; Hold the ESC Button 5 seconds and BOTH TC and SC will turn off.)

Yes I have. I don't really ever notice stability control interfering offroad (unlike traction control). I'm probably going to slow to notice it. If you're somewhere where you can wheel fast offroad, you might notice a difference. But the major benefit, even going slow is that when you turn TC and SC all the away off, it allows you to lock the rear differential in 4HI.

 

[joeym7]

Double thanks Nacho!

 

[montechie]

So what else do you use it for besides Sand? Do you use it for Mud, Snow, when crossing water, gravel? Full time in these situations or only as needed? And what is your thinking why you use it in these other applications?

I've been using Offroad+ in my Rubicon for off road snow-pack, we've been warm here and having lots of soft/wet snow on packed snow or mud. The Offroad+ with TC off has been working well. Mainly keeping the TC from cutting power on hills as well as turning the rear locker on in 4-HI. Many snowy 4wd roads around where I live often switch between easy to drifted mess on a hill or on a steep switchback and a little momentum without TC cutting power is all you need. 4-Low and locked is great when consistently tough and deep snow conditions, but not always on easy+bad mixed conditions.

 

[joeym7]

I've been using Offroad+ in my Rubicon for off road snow-pack, we've been warm here and having lots of soft/wet snow on packed snow or mud. The Offroad+ with TC off has been working well. Mainly keeping the TC from cutting power on hills as well as turning the rear locker on in 4-HI. Many snowy 4wd roads around where I live often switch between easy to drifted mess on a hill or on a steep switchback and a little momentum without TC cutting power is all you need. 4-Low and locked is great when consistently tough and deep snow conditions, but not always on easy+bad mixed conditions.

That right there is a "Short-Course" in snow driving!

Thanks for taking the time.

 

[dcmdon]

As an aside. I had the rear axle locked and was stuck. I actually unlocked the rear axle, put it in 4H and offroad+ to see if the BLD would get me out.

It did, because I had one front wheel with good traction. Very impressive. The BLD got me out of something the rear locker couldn't

 

[NachoRuby]

Off road plus is really good. My Jeep Compass had all sorts of terrain modes. Snow, sand, rocks, mud, I think that was it. Ford touts their GOAT modes. But off road plus just seems to work everywhere, in everything, even with just one mode.

 

[joeym7]

As an aside. I had the rear axle locked and was stuck. I actually unlocked the rear axle, put it in 4H and offroad+ to see if the BLD would get me out.

It did, because I had one front wheel with good traction. Very impressive. The BLD got me out of something the rear locker couldn't

Thanks for your post dc'...

Now check me out, what is the technical explanation behind BLD getting you out and Rear locker not? If I understand it (from what I read), Jeep BLD is "almost" like a rear locker (almost as good). Wouldn't the rear-locker be just more of a "good" thing? And doesn't rear-locker also most come into play when 1 wheel has good traction?

 

[dcmdon]

Thanks for your post dc'...

Now check me out, what is the technical explanation behind BLD getting you out and Rear locker not? If I understand it (from what I read), Jeep BLD is "almost" like a rear locker (almost as good). Wouldn't the rear-locker be just more of a "good" thing? And doesn't rear-locker also most come into play when 1 wheel has good traction?

It appears that locking the rear diff turns off the BLD to all 4 wheels.

So by unlocking the rear diff and letting the BLD do its thing, it braked the spinning front wheel which allowed the front wheel with traction to get me out.

ideally when the rear axle is locked only the rear BLD would be disabled. But that's not the case.

 

[The Duck of Earl]

Does anyone know if the offroad + could be used while in 4A on a selec-trac equipped transfer case?

 

[joeym7]

I have never tried, but I believe the answer is no. From what I read in the manual OFF-Road+ works only in 4H and 4L.

I tried it 2 weeks ago for the first time in both 4H and 4L through sand and mud, it was a lot of fun. It feels like you suddenly supercharge the 6 cylinder. ?

I even took the TC and SC completely off (hold button for 5 seconds) heard the "chirp" and then was able to engage the rear-locker on my Mojave. Not that I had encountered anything that day which required rear locker but at least I know it works (or at the very least that the controls do what they suppose to ).

 

[Jaxmax]

The off road plus button works in 4 auto on my select track Mojave , which I think is sort of cool for possibly towing…..Jack

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