I recently purchased a 2011 GC Overland. I noticed it lacks the "Trail Rated" badge. I do a fair amount of light off-roading (espcially during hunting season).
Does the lack of the badge simply mean I'm lacking skid plates, decent all terrain tires, and tow hooks?
I read that, however all it says is about articulation (I have Quadra Lift, so I don't think there's an issue there). It talked about the Terrain Mgmt System (which I also have). It, however, doesn't mention the "little things" like skid plates, two hooks, etc....thats what I'm wondering about.
you would have needed to buy the off road adventure group 2 to be trail rated.
From Jeep:
Off-Road Adventure II Group
When your adventures take you through untracked terrain, you'll want to be sure that your vehicle is purpose-built to handle it. Grand Cherokee Overland and Overland Summit have a ready-made group of components that are designed to work as a system. Top of the list is the full-protection, solid-steel Skid Plate Group (front suspension skid plate, fuel tank skid plate shield, transfer case skid plate shield, and underbody skid plate). Other key features include:
Trail Rated® Badge
Tow Hooks
Quadra-Drive® II 4WD system (if equipped with 5.7L V8 engine)
Selec-Terrain® system
Quadra-Lift® Air Suspension system
18-Inch Aluminum Polished Wheels
Michelin® P265/60R18 OWL On/Off-Road Tires
you would have needed to buy the off road adventure group 2 to be trail rated.
From Jeep:
Off-Road Adventure II Group
When your adventures take you through untracked terrain, you'll want to be sure that your vehicle is purpose-built to handle it. Grand Cherokee Overland and Overland Summit have a ready-made group of components that are designed to work as a system. Top of the list is the full-protection, solid-steel Skid Plate Group (front suspension skid plate, fuel tank skid plate shield, transfer case skid plate shield, and underbody skid plate). Other key features include:
Trail Rated® Badge
Tow Hooks
Quadra-Drive® II 4WD system (if equipped with 5.7L V8 engine)
Selec-Terrain® system
Quadra-Lift® Air Suspension system
18-Inch Aluminum Polished Wheels
Michelin® P265/60R18 OWL On/Off-Road Tires
Trail rating is a marketing gimmick, regardless of the marketing information on Jeeps web site, basically it is just a badge. Buy the badge, stick it on and your just as trail rated as any other. There has been lots of discussion here and the short story is that there is no technical or consistent rhyme or reason for why one vehicle gets trail rated and not another. For example, our Liberty has a trail rated badge, but no skid plates, no low range, the largest rimmed street tires... the only difference between it and a non trail rated is the badge and the touch screen radio...
Now if your questions is how to make the WK2 better/best off road using OEM parts, well thats the skid plates, tow hooks and good off road 18 inch wheels/tires.... oh and the badge
Now if your questions is how to make the WK2 better/best off road using OEM parts, well thats the skid plates, tow hooks and good off road 18 inch wheels/tires.... oh and the badge
SPINXT, it also depends on the trail you take and since you have the QL and sele-terrain, you have a lot of options, at least you have the 4-Lo and QTII. If it is very muddy, you want mud terrain tires or great set of all-terrain if it not that bad. The basic key is to make sure the transfer case is protected and you can always add the additional plates later if need and the tow hooks.
For 20" inch tires, a lot of the Range Rover folks love the Copper Zeon LTZ's. Their are plenty of reviews for those tires here.
If you order the Off-Road Adventure II package you get the "Trail Rated" badge, and the 18" rims have Michelin Latitude Tour tires on them. Michelin doesn't rate those tires as off-road, and it's my understanding that off-road use voids their warranty. So, "Trail Rated" becomes a rather subjective idea. As previously stated, buy the badge, and equip the vehicle for your intended use.
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