Questions for the gurus

[Texops]

Always enjoy your posts - you've given me a couple of ideas to cope with my own Overland issues -
Perhaps max tow springs and lower gearing. My JT's rear sags badly when I put 450 pounds on the receiver, and the high gear ratio bothers me since my truck stays in 6th gear so much around where I live. It hits 8th only on higher speed and flatter highways.
Cooling is no issue as any with the towing package have the same fans and alternator. my wife and I also wanted the larger screen, built-in nav (which is cool in the cluster when it displays your next turn right in your face) and the body colored fenders and roof.
I will be towing 4600-5000 max - with maybe a couple hundred pounds in the truck itself.
You are giving me some things to look at.

thanks I just read your issues with squat in the rear , my overland was bouncy in the rear with factory lower numbered coils so I picked up some Rubicon take off full suspension higher numbered springs & maybe 3/4' more lift fox shocks helped controlling the bounce, big time added a 3/4' rear poly spacer . I have a camper i'm gonna pull its weight around 4500# but it has the steel frame weight dis. bars . we will work it out no problem.

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[Rex3rd]

Brakes are the same - was looking at axles and wondered that myself and someone showed the brakes were the same.

As far as ride like someone said - I first drove a Sport S with max tow - and then the Overland I got - I have found no appreciable difference in the ride. My wife thought both rode just fine and didn't really see a difference. There shouldn't be a lot since the max tow uses progressive springs meaning they'll ride nice - but when the weight hits they handle the weight better.

Width - I believe 1.5" wider on Rubicon and max tow Sport S than on the Overland. Again, they didn't feel different to me as far as handling goes with the wider axle - of course that was unloaded, just my wife and I.

Brakes are different. Max tow gets heavy duty brakes

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Right - cloth seats standard both Sport and Overland.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Brakes are different. Max tow gets heavy duty brakes

From other posts -
No difference in the brakes.
Max Tow spec brakes - ANTI-LOCK 4-WHEEL DISC HD BRAKES (BR6)
Are standard on all models of the JT according to pg 15 of the order guide.

 

[Rex3rd]

From other posts -
No difference in the brakes.
Max Tow spec brakes - ANTI-LOCK 4-WHEEL DISC HD BRAKES (BR6)
Are standard on all models of the JT according to pg 15 of the order guide.

Well that's messed up. I wonder why they would put that on the information for max tow like it's something special if every gladiator has heavy duty brakes.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Incorrect, the max tow has different springs as stated above.

Jeep stickers are pretty rediculous and hard to read, I always though it was funny how the actual stickers Can list two different screen sizes and gear ratios. This is very confusing to consumers when sticker shopping. I overlooked a few max tows in the lot initially because I saw the small gear ratio listed early in the sticker (under standard options) and moved on...

So are they going to have gasoline engine on the left of the sticker and then list the Diesel engine to the right as an option?

that’s like a mustang GT listed having V6 somewhere on the sticker!

And the window stickers list all standard stuff, and then "unless replaced by..........." as a disclaimer. So the left could show the same springs, brakes, whatever, but then show another part or PACKAGE that replaces those. One should never go by the window sticker on individual parts because part of a package could replace that part in the left "standard" column.

 

[danielspivey]

Rear bumper is not painted. Cloth seats are standard

go figure- That’s what my dealer told me ! Thanks for the catch

 

[danielspivey]

And the window stickers list all standard stuff, and then "unless replaced by..........." as a disclaimer. So the left could show the same springs, brakes, whatever, but then show another part or PACKAGE that replaces those. One should never go by the window sticker on individual parts because part of a package could replace that part in the left "standard" column.

I get the disclaimer... just don’t get the logic. Just list what the damn Jeep has, not what it doesn’t have!

 

[MarineHawk]

I just looked it up, and was surprised that all Gladiators have Dana 44 axles. At least in 2012, as to JKs, only Rubis got the 44s. I guess it is a truck thing. It's good that Jeep put them on all models.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I just looked it up, and was surprised that all Gladiators have Dana 44 axles. At least in 2012, as to JKs, only Rubis got the 44s. I guess it is a truck thing. It's good that Jeep put them on all models.

They may be Dana 44 - but there are different axle diameters as well as axle tube wall thickness in the beefier models over, say, stock Sport or Overland.
On the other hand, if I have trouble with pulling power, it's good to know I can easily find another set of gears for even my lowly little Overland to move the power band more for pulling.

 

[MarineHawk]

They may be Dana 44 - but there are different axle diameters as well as axle tube wall thickness in the beefier models over, say, stock Sport or Overland.
On the other hand, if I have trouble with pulling power, it's good to know I can easily find another set of gears for even my lowly little Overland to move the power band more for pulling.

Your Overland isn't lowly. You just may want to slowly and incrementally upgrade a few parts.

Thanks for the education. I had no idea that there were different Dana 44 axles with different diameters and wall thicknesses.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I'm trying to find if there are ways to beef this up a bit better for towing as opposed to trading.
I still am not concerned about towing 7600 pounds or carrying 1600 pounds in the bed.
But I want it to sit level when towing and not be kicked down to 4th the whole trip. My Chevy had a higher axle ratio than some and it was constantly shifting gears to hold speed limit on I80.
Even if I put a heavy car on my trailer - I'll only be pulling 5,000 or a bit above. But I'll likely be under that for my lifetime. Getting too old for heavy stuff LOL
No one around here builds up the Overland - and there's no parts other than Rubicon stuff for sale ever.
So finding ways to make the Overland better - it's tough!
It's all about Rubicon mostly, then max tow - the Overland is pretty much ignored. So maybe I fly under the radar hahaha

 

[PyrPatriot]

The max tow has the same suspension as the sport and the overland. The only difference between the max tow and the overland with tow is the 4.1 final drive and the slightly wider axles. Load up a max tow with options like the overland and the payload drops. Especially the hard top.

Check out this window sticker for a max tow. Same normal duty plus suspension as a sport s and/or overland. http://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C6JJTAGXLL129288

I can tell you for a fact the max tow has different springs and shock part numbers from the regular sport. So no, the suspension is not the same on the Max Tow. This has been discussed many times here: the towing ability is dependent on several factors, including but not limited to: the suspension, cooling system, and tires

 

[TheNewWampsCat]

Well I’m back to searching!
Someone said go max tow and add the overland options! That’s what I’m thinking now.... I would be fine with 3:73 gears due to I had planned to go 4:88 anyway! But it would be nice to have the limited slip rear. That from what I see you can’t get from jeep in the 4:10 ratio! It drives me crazy that you can’t just tell them what you want and make it happen! Original plan was a rubicon but I don’t want all the red accents. So here I go again!
And by the way I’ve read there’s a 10 to 12 week lead time on a special order. The overland that started this whole thread is on the lot! Ugg

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Well I’m back to searching!
Someone said go max tow and add the overland options! That’s what I’m thinking now.... I would be fine with 3:73 gears due to I had planned to go 4:88 anyway! But it would be nice to have the limited slip rear. That from what I see you can’t get from jeep in the 4:10 ratio! It drives me crazy that you can’t just tell them what you want and make it happen! Original plan was a rubicon but I don’t want all the red accents. So here I go again!
And by the way I’ve read there’s a 10 to 12 week lead time on a special order. The overland that started this whole thread is on the lot! Ugg

I ordered mine October 17th, received it November 12th.

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