Off Road+ Retrofit?

[Hemy5587]

Nice find! I have JScan as well but only did minor things (i.e. tire size).

What model JT do you have? I wonder if we’ll need to add the switch assembly and associated harness prior to enabling it.

Possibly will need to add the switch but hey it is a start! I have a 2020 Sport S. Granted I was just in demo mode on JScan and when I connect to my JT it might be like nope sorry no can do but I will give it a go this evening and report back if anything comes from it.

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[remlemasi]

Possibly will need to add the switch but hey it is a start! I have a 2020 Sport S. Granted I was just in demo mode on JScan and when I connect to my JT it might be like nope sorry no can do but I will give it a go this evening and report back if anything comes from it.

Cool, I’m going to reach out to JScan to see what they say.

 

[Hemy5587]

Cool, I’m going to reach out to JScan to see what they say.

Well swing and a miss so far. I enabled the three off road settings I outlined in my picture but noticed no changes so I would imagine we have to have the button to enable and/or other connectors/software. Maybe Tazer/JScan can come up with something!

 

[Janster]

I tried offroad+ once in the 24' Mojave......while in 4hi only. Like already mentioned... It changes the shift points. You can tell right away...as the rpm's are slightly higher and the truck is more responsive.

I highly doubt Tazer or Jscan could adjust the actual shift points.... but perhaps, they could allow you to turn Offroad+ while in 2WD....??

 

[remlemasi]

I tried offroad+ once in the 24' Mojave......while in 4hi only. Like already mentioned... It changes the shift points. You can tell right away...as the rpm's are slightly higher and the truck is more responsive.

I highly doubt Tazer or Jscan could adjust the actual shift points.... but perhaps, they could allow you to turn Offroad+ while in 2WD....??

Agreed, they likely don't have access to the shift maps in the ZF8 transmission. But maybe (MAYBE) the additional Rubicon/Mojave Off Road+ shift maps are already stored in the TCU (transmission control unit) for all models and they just need to be unlocked.

There was a lot of work on the BMW side to break the encryption for the ZF6 and ZF8 TCUs and now we all have the pleasure of changing all parameters (upshift and downshift points, shift speed, max rpm per gear, etc etc etc). It's pretty wild and has transformed my E90 335d from "pretty good for an automatic" to "wow, this feels like a modern, 2015+ transmission and I have no desire to upgrade to a new car." I can have different parameters for Drive, Sport, and Manual modes. Three separate maps. Reference: https://www.xautomotive.com/

Who knows, maybe the xHP group will branch out and start looking into JL/JT transmission since they are so closely related. But those of use without the native functionality will still need a way to force the TCU into the different modes.

 

[Redfour5]

Off Road + mode is kind of silly. It just puts you in 1st gear, locks the rear, disconnects the swaybar, and turns on the front trail camera. It's an extra button for the sake of having one.

If you don't have a rear locker, swaybar disconnect, or front trail camera, all it would do is put you in 1st gear when you are in low range. If you do have all that equipment from the factory, then you already have an Off Road+ button because you bought the Rubicon.

I was looking at a Willy's monroney and saw it so came looking. Thanks. So with the 24 Willy's package it puts it in first gear and locks the rear axle. Wow, what a feature. (I've been told sarcasm does not come across well online.)

 

[Hemy5587]

Agreed, they likely don't have access to the shift maps in the ZF8 transmission. But maybe (MAYBE) the additional Rubicon/Mojave Off Road+ shift maps are already stored in the TCU (transmission control unit) for all models and they just need to be unlocked.

There was a lot of work on the BMW side to break the encryption for the ZF6 and ZF8 TCUs and now we all have the pleasure of changing all parameters (upshift and downshift points, shift speed, max rpm per gear, etc etc etc). It's pretty wild and has transformed my E90 335d from "pretty good for an automatic" to "wow, this feels like a modern, 2015+ transmission and I have no desire to upgrade to a new car." I can have different parameters for Drive, Sport, and Manual modes. Three separate maps. Reference: https://www.xautomotive.com/

Who knows, maybe the xHP group will branch out and start looking into JL/JT transmission since they are so closely related. But those of use without the native functionality will still need a way to force the TCU into the different modes.

It is amazing what a tune does for the ZF Transmissions. I had a '21 TRX that was built up and I thought the transmission was good from the factory but it was a whole different animal once it was tuned. I feel like the ZF in the Gladiator is "ok" but definitely has room for improvement. Hopefully JScan or Tazer gets back to you soon with something to go off of on this Offroad + idea!

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I still get stuck 2/3 of the way to the top of a hill in Offroad + when the PCM decides no wheel speed and kills the throttle in spite of my foot position.

Good times.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Yep, when I put it on for the first time it locked the rear end, disconnected the swaybar, put the trans into 1st gear, and opened the front trail camera. It's a 2021 Ecodiesel Rubicon. I felt zero difference in the shift points or map between 1st gear low and Off Road+.

It sounds like you're comparing the difference between 1st gear (I assume manual mode) 4LO and 1st gear 4LO off road plus. Off course there won't be a lot of difference in that specific use. Would you notice slightly less throttle gain in the diesel in 1st gear 4LO as you already have a ton of torqueat low rpms? I like off road plus in my mojave better in 4HI as it keeps the rpms up and the thing is a blast to drift around in the desert at freeway speed. What I would like to see is a way to use it in 2wd for those exact same reasons only amplified. With the low rpm torque of the diesel, I could see off road plus being less beneficial in 4HI but it seems like the improved throttle control would be great in 4LO in the big rocks?

 

[Zachanadandy]

I still get stuck 2/3 of the way to the top of a hill in Offroad + when the PCM decides no wheel speed and kills the throttle in spite of my foot position.

Good times.

You can turn off traction control in 4Hi (or 2wd), it is automatically off in 4Lo. The tazer keeps it off in the JL. I turn it off every time I start my JTM.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

You can turn off traction control in 4Hi (or 2wd), it is automatically off in 4Lo. The tazer keeps it off in the JL. I turn it off every time I start my JTM.

Yep, but it's not a feature of Offroad +, so there was me, locker locked, stuck because I didn't have full use of the throttle for no reason apparent to me.

Offroad + is bordeline useless.

 

[Janster]

There was a lot of work on the BMW side to break the encryption for the ZF6 and ZF8 TCUs and now we all have the pleasure of changing all parameters (upshift and downshift points, shift speed, max rpm per gear, etc etc etc). It's pretty wild and has transformed my E90 335d from "pretty good for an automatic" to "wow, this feels like a modern, 2015+ transmission and I have no desire to upgrade to a new car." I can have different parameters for Drive, Sport, and Manual modes. Three separate maps. Reference: https://www.xautomotive.com/

Wow….. That’s some serious shit that’s way OVER my head. My husband owns a BMW (M4). I doubt he’d be ‘into’ changing things….but ya never know. Life is busy and we have a lot of other priorities……

 

[remlemasi]

Wow….. That’s some serious shit that’s way OVER my head. My husband owns a BMW (M4). I doubt he’d be ‘into’ changing things….but ya never know. Life is busy and we have a lot of other priorities……

Ha! The M cars probably don’t need the tuning, it’s for the non-M to get closer to M shifting. But if he has the newest M4 (all-wheel drive), then they also have a product to change the drive modes (rwd only for drifting, awd bias, etc).

 

[WILDHOBO]

I still get stuck 2/3 of the way to the top of a hill in Offroad + when the PCM decides no wheel speed and kills the throttle in spite of my foot position.

Good times.

Are you in low on the t case? I’ve gone up things you would not believe in offroad plus. I’d never do it without. Meaning 40+ degrees.

 

[WILDHOBO]

It sounds like you're comparing the difference between 1st gear (I assume manual mode) 4LO and 1st gear 4LO off road plus. Off course there won't be a lot of difference in that specific use. Would you notice slightly less throttle gain in the diesel in 1st gear 4LO as you already have a ton of torqueat low rpms? I like off road plus in my mojave better in 4HI as it keeps the rpms up and the thing is a blast to drift around in the desert at freeway speed. What I would like to see is a way to use it in 2wd for those exact same reasons only amplified. With the low rpm torque of the diesel, I could see off road plus being less beneficial in 4HI but it seems like the improved throttle control would be great in 4LO in the big rocks?

It’s king in big rocks.

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