Jeep Too Wimpy To Tow

[cshontz]

You're taking the dealer too seriously, Bill. Go ahead and regear, and don't lose a wink of sleep.

NOTE: The following information should not be considered legal advice. For legal questions regarding the Magnuson-Moss Act, or to find out your legal rights regarding other warranty related issues, we recommend that you consult with a legal professional.

The installation of aftermarket components on your vehicle does not directly void your vehicle's warranty in the United States. However, your vehicle's warranty does not cover problems with aftermarket components, and your vehicle's warranty does not cover problems directly caused by aftermarket components. In the event that a problem with your vehicle is caused by an aftermarket component, your dealer must provide sufficient evidence of this to legally deny warranty coverage.

For instance, if you were to install a suspension lift on your vehicle, the rest of the original equipment systems on your vehicle would remain covered under warranty unless the aftermarket suspension was proven to be the cause of a problem. Your aftermarket suspension would most likely be covered under its own manufacturer's warranty.

These rules are set by the Magnuson-Moss Act, the federal law governing warranties on consumer products. Follow the links on the bottom of the page for more information.

 

[dsy]

You should be able to pick up a set of 4.11's for next to nothing from someone else that has moved up to 37's. I really doubt if you had to take it in for service they would even realize you swapped gears out. The pathetic 3.8 and my trailer was why I swapped motors instead of gears in my unlimited Rubicon.

You're taking the dealer too seriously, Bill. Go ahead and regear, and don't lose a wink of sleep.

X2 :sombrero:

 

[4hilux]

Yip, geared too high - only 1 way to fix that................

Sorry, but this'll teach ya something bout listening to the wife when it comes to vehicles mate..............

(Hmmm Toyota or Jeep - is this onea those 'trick questions' huh..........)

 

[njjeepthing]

I have a 4 door JK on 35's, Rubi model with the 4:10's. I towed a packed to the gills box trailer, probably a 5x8, I don't know the weight of it or how much I had in it, but mine towed it with little issue on flat land, on hills, I kicked off the OD on the auto transmission. Can't really complain about it much, towed better than I thought.

 

[Hilldweller]

As was stated, different dealers, different views on warranties. I spoke with another dealer and they sang a different story; thank you for all of the replies. None of the dealers in my area have ever regeared one of their Jeeps though and the parts guys couldn't even find 4:10's to give me a price.

I have put on larger tires than stock but not by much. Stock carries 32"x10.5" and the Generals are 32.6"x11" --- it did make a small difference in response unladen and the trailer amplifies it.

And the Jeep AT is terrible. My Mini has a 6-speed AT with sequential shift paddles on the steering wheel; it has oodles of engine braking at the ready and gives me a sense of control. The Mini's engine also delivers torque at 1700 rpm; the Jeep wheezes up to about 4K before there's any noticeable power.

So I'll find a shop to regear; that's settled.
Now, will it be 4:56 and I move to a for-real 33" tire or go back to 32's and stay with 4:10.
Choices choices choices.

Hey, what about T-giving camping? Cades Cove?
Dendy

Cades Cove is nice -- scenic and has horseback riding. But it gets more visitors than Smokemont. Smokemont is also closer to Cataloochee if we want to motor over there to watch the elk.
I'll play along though; I think that my drive is shorter. Which shall it be: Smokemont (camp closer to Cherokee) or Cades Cove?

We're really looking forward to getting out in the trailer for more than 3 days; the overnighters are fun but it seems like it's time to pack up right after we finally get cozy by the fire.

 

[jatibb]

cades cove... family used to have a cabin and some property in townsend tn. cades cove was a must 1 or 2 times during stays there. beautiful place with very interesting history. my kids got their first try at steering cars there sitting in my lap as we drove slowly around the loop. the last few times there though seems like way too much traffic. seems they need to limit the # of vehicles in there. sitting in line in a running car for 2 hours to go 11 miles cannot be healthy for the greenery there. i always though that should have been a dirt road. that would keep alot of people that dont want to get out of their cars out of the cove. are there still 2 dirt roads that go out of the cove?
one road went from in the cove, over the mountain and out towards townsend , nice sceneic bike ride, the other was unimproved out to the foothills parkway on the lake south of the park. that was fun in my wifes 81 corrolla sr5, wish i had a truck but the drive back to townsend was a blast.

 

[Hilldweller]

cades cove... family used to have a cabin and some property in townsend tn. cades cove was a must 1 or 2 times during stays there. beautiful place with very interesting history. my kids got their first try at steering cars there sitting in my lap as we drove slowly around the loop. the last few times there though seems like way too much traffic. seems they need to limit the # of vehicles in there. sitting in line in a running car for 2 hours to go 11 miles cannot be healthy for the greenery there. i always though that should have been a dirt road. that would keep alot of people that dont want to get out of their cars out of the cove.

That's what I was alluding to; it always seems packed at CC.

are there still 2 dirt roads that go out of the cove?
one road went from in the cove, over the mountain and out towards townsend , nice sceneic bike ride, the other was unimproved out to the foothills parkway on the lake south of the park. that was fun in my wifes 81 corrolla sr5, wish i had a truck but the drive back to townsend was a blast.

Parson's Branch Road leaves CC from the SE side and snakes its way one-way down to Deal's Gap (the Dragon). It used to be a snotty run but has been graded so that 2wd vehicles can make it. The water crossings are only 1 or 2 inches deep. Lots of bears.
There's another road that goes one way from CC to Townsend; it has a mechanical release gate at the far end that is solar powered. I haven't taken that route but it looked less tended than Parson's Branch; our GPS directed us to it going in the wrong direction and I tried to coax the gate open...

 

[highlandercj-7]

(Hmmm Toyota or Jeep - is this onea those 'trick questions' huh..........)

Quite simple accually, there's nothing in the toy-box that can compare to the legendary, JEEP! Psst ever heard of the Rubicon.

 

[Scott Brady]

Just regear it, and you will be happy. You dealer is not properly informed- a change to 4.1:1 will not void the warranty, as it is a gear-set currently in use with that model.

I just pulled the I17 grade yesterday with the EarthRoamer converted JK and an AT Chaser in tow. 55mph...

I drove around for several months with 5.13s in the stock Jeep. It was great with stock tires and those gears.

 

[Root Moose]

4.56s and 33s. Sounds like a no brainer. Even if you have to defer the tire purchase for a little while I'd still do the 4.56s.

Glad to hear you are not going to get the dealer to re-gear the axles. They WILL futz it up. The profit ratio is not there and they do not get enough of them to do to be proficient. There's exceptions to every rule but since your parts guy couldn't even find the correct parts in the parts catalog that does not bode well IMO.

 

[Root Moose]

And the Jeep AT is terrible. My Mini has a 6-speed AT with sequential shift paddles on the steering wheel; it has oodles of engine braking at the ready and gives me a sense of control. The Mini's engine also delivers torque at 1700 rpm; the Jeep wheezes up to about 4K before there's any noticeable power.

Btw, typically most of the sporting paddle shifted transmissions are not really automatics per se. They are manual boxes with a fancy electronic clutch if that makes sense. Hence, they still have compression braking when lifting off the gas. I don't know if this is the case for the Mini but coming from BMW I'd expect it is as this is how the rest of the current BMW line works IIRC - certainly in the 1 and 3 series anyway.

A traditional automatic transmission can be made to have more compression braking through the use of a different stall torque converter and deeper gearing. If you re-gear to 4.56 I wouldn't be surprised if you notice an improvement in the compression braking. For sh!ts and giggles, find a local hill and try idling down it in "1" in low range and see if you notice the compression braking. You should, I certainly do in my XJ. It's not great, but it is there.

 

[JIMBO]

:littlefriend: Spoken like a TRUE MALLER!!!!

JIMBO

 

[Martyn]

Is this thread spiraling down to a level at which "my rig is better than your rig"?

It matters not what brand or model we drive, or how it is or is not modified. We are all interested in doing the same thing with different vehicles.

If you read back over the thread a problem was expressed and a solution provided, let's leave it at that.

 

[Dendy Jarrett]

Is this thread spiraling down to a level at which "my rig is better than your rig"?

It matters not what brand or model we drive, or how it is or is not modified. We are all interested in doing the same thing with different vehicles.

If you read back over the thread a problem was expressed and a solution provided, let's leave it at that.

AMEN!

 

[Zorro]

Btw, typically most of the sporting paddle shifted transmissions are not really automatics per se.

Kinda offtopic, but this is a pet peeve of mine.

Most of the so-called manual-automatic transmissions are indeed good ol slushboxes with a torque converter. They just happen to have a manual override (paddles, buttons ...) to shift when you tell it to.
It will have compression braking but will shift very slowly (but smoothly) and retain that torque converter feel.

What you are referring to is actually the least common manual automatics, which are indeed a standard transmission with automated clutch. In BMW's line-up, only the M3/5/6 have such transmission (called SMGII, whereas SMG is a torque converter). Ferrari has it as well, called the F1, or Cambiocorsa at Maserati. Aston used one in the Vanquish (but not in the DB9 or DB7 ... that one is a standard slushbox). These transmissions are just a brain fart, and are disappearing quick, simply because they are a poor design, and love to eat clutches.

New transmissions have dual clutches. Only a handful out there, Audi/VW's DSG (available in TT, A3 and Golf GTI), Porsche PDK (just out a few weeks ago ... previous Tiptronic was a normal auto transmission), new Lancer Evo and Bugatti. These transmissions are incredibly superior and will eventually replace both previously mentioned types, IMO.