Modern Jeeps and Offroad Capability?

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LJRubiconGuy

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Other than the Wrangler, do you guys think there are any modern Jeep models that have any sort of off-road capability?

I see all these new Jeeps on the road and none of them seem to be anything more than family haulers.
 
I think one thing we can all agree upon is that the new Jeep Renegade has zero off-road capability.
 
The 4 wheel drive system is the key to off road ability and Jeep has a few very good systems on the Grand Cherokee. The Wrangler definitely has the best ground clearance to clear obstacles but if the main obstacle is traction... yes there are other Jeeps which are quite capable.

On another note even the current Wrangler has a lot of family hauler qualities, options and features which have nothing to do with getting off road. And stock there are not a lot of differences between the off road ability of a Grand vs a JKU. Both are built to satisfy the "city" dweller. Both benefit from lifts and more flexible suspensions.

In some ways the Grands full-time AWD, Quadra Drive and Quadra Trac might be superior to the Command or RockTrac systems... alto the Wranglers systems are pretty much bullet proof compared to the complicated design of the Grands AWD.
 
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I think that the one thing the Wrangler has going for it over any other Jeep model is the ground clearance. The more advanced 4WD systems in many ways may be better for conditions where you don't have much traction (i.e. driving to the mountain to go skiing). However, those Grand Cherokees and other Jeeps aren't going to be able to go the same places the Wranglers are in terms of off-roading.

Also, like Billiebob said, the complexity of those modern 4WD systems they use now are such that if you did take it on a trail and something broke, you certainly wouldn't be able to fix it as easily as you would on a Wrangler.

One of the things you have to appreciate about the Wrangler is how simple it's 4WD system is. It doesn't have all the sensors and gizmos the newer vehicles have, and therefore it isn't going to be as hard to work on when it breaks.

So, I would say that many new Jeeps are very 'off-road capable'. However, I would also say that 'off-road' is a relative word since we all have different ideas of what 'off-road' is. Talk to the city dweller who drives that Grand Cherokee and his idea of off-road is probably going to the mountains and driving in the plowed roads.

Talk to one of us Wrangler TJ owners and our idea of off-road is probably deep mud, snow, rocks and places that not very many people would ever even think to go.
 
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My wife drives a 2011 JKUR & it's so capable you would be impressed, she could have bought most anything she wanted but the jeep can be topless

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Sasquatchewan said:
My wife drives a 2011 JKUR & it's so capable you would be impressed, she could have bought most anything she wanted but the jeep can be topless
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I don't doubt it one bit. Car and Driver has done numerous articles stating how capable those new JKU Rubicons are.

They are fantastic... Until they break that is :D
 
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All jeeps break but so far we have 40,000 trouble free miles mostly on 35" tires now 34", my 97 TJ that I passed to my teenager has 208,000 mi only replaced normal wear parts it's a tank
 
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Sasquatchewan said:
All jeeps break but so far we have 40,000 trouble free miles mostly on 35" tires now 34", my 97 TJ that I passed to my teenager has 208,000 mi only replaced normal wear parts it's a tank
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Nice! What did that thing cost you out the door?
 
My wife always took care of our next door neighbor for years ,that's just how she is ,so when this lady passed away she left everything to my wife in her will. So she bought the Jeep cash . God rewarded her , she never expected that.
 
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Sasquatchewan said:
My wife always took care of our next door neighbor for years ,that's just how she is ,so when this lady passed away she left everything to my wife in her will. So she bought the Jeep cash . God rewarded her , she never expected that.
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Awesome story! Those new JKU Rubicons cost a pretty penny to say the least.
 
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I'd say you would be hard pressed to find people dropping $40k on a vehicle that do hard wheeling (not saying there isn't). You probably won't see much of their offroad capability until they get older and filter down into the hands of people who do hard offroading. But from what I have seen on road, only the newer wrangler types would have a chance at offroading as I know it. I think the overall design concept of the 'oddball' jeeps (as I call them) is for families on what could possibly be bad main road conditions.

@badlieutenant How do you use your commander? I found the video kinda funny. I could not tell you when the last time I came across a paved hill. (no pun intended really thought it was funny). On the dirt it seemed kinda sluggish engaging 4wd?
 
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John Carmony said:
I'd say you would be hard pressed to find people dropping $40k on a vehicle that do hard wheeling (not saying there isn't). You probably won't see much of their offroad capability until they get older and filter down into the hands of people who do hard offroading.
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Not this crazy sumbeach! (see black JKU)

His stupid butt cut in line and ended up going up a trail that pretty much required at least a rear locker. Took him longer, and every water break he leveled off, but he drove it from the dealer to the trail....I was actually impressed. His wife? Not so much. He ruined his "sliders/running boards" that day

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Yep, unless you have some seriously deep pockets my guess is that 99% of the people who buy a brand new JKU won't be doing any serious off-road adventures.
 
4WD has been around for at least 70 years... longer on the fringe.

Forget the complicated systems, the advantage of 4WD and 4LO is the ability to go slow and safe where 2WD had to go fast and stupid breaking parts and even killing people. Speed and momentum vs control and safety. 4WD can be invisible. I remember my favourite 4WD in the 1970s was the F150.... Looked exactly like the 2WD version but so much more capable.

Also 4WD lets you "tread lightly" where 2WD needs speed and throttle. If it takes 100HP to climb a hill and you lose traction at 35HP.... with 2WD, 70HP, you will be spinning tires and tearing up the terrain.... With 4WD you can actually accelerate up the hill.... 34HP x 4 tires.
 
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John Carmony said:
I'd say you would be hard pressed to find people dropping $40k on a vehicle that do hard wheeling (not saying there isn't). You probably won't see much of their offroad capability until they get older and filter down into the hands of people who do hard offroading. But from what I have seen on road, only the newer wrangler types would have a chance at offroading as I know it. I think the overall design concept of the 'oddball' jeeps (as I call them) is for families on what could possibly be bad main road conditions.

@badlieutenant How do you use your commander? I found the video kinda funny. I could not tell you when the last time I came across a paved hill. (no pun intended really thought it was funny). On the dirt it seemed kinda sluggish engaging 4wd?
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My Commander is nothing more than a family wagon with a HEMI and full time 4WD. I got it because it is an excellent vehicle that provides a safe and powerful ride that won't skip a beat when facing most any road condition. The video just illustrates that it's 4WD system is quite capable - more capable than about any other three row seat vehicle for the price.
 
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