Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

SCANDALOUS!!! 20" Wheels AND Trail Rated?!?!

12K views 53 replies 23 participants last post by  Parks311 
#1 · (Edited)
Yep....and we all thought you couldn't get a TRAIL RATED 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee with 20" wheels... There was a lot of discusison about this...I think even a Jeep engineer explained why no 20" wheel trail rated...and people had to order with the 18" wheels and swap them out for 20" after purchase...

BBBUUUUUTTTTTTT....the 70th Anniversary HAS 20" wheels with Trail Rated badge....listed on the window sticker AND an actual badge on the vehicle.

What is going on with this??? Is it a Jeep scandal??? :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
#4 ·
Here is from a 70th window sticker:

Customer Preferred Package 25Y $ 5,555
20-Inch x 8.0-Inch Aluminum Polished Wheels Power 8-Way Driver and Front Passenger
Seats Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats Driver / Passenger Power 4-Way Lumbar Adjust Heated Front Seats Air Cond w/ Dual Zone Auto Temp Ctrl and Air Filter ParkView Rear Back Up Camera ParkSense Rear Park Assist System Uconnect Hands-Free Phone with Voice Command Media Center 430 CD/DVD/MP3/HDD 9 Premium Speakers with 506-Watt Amp and Subwoofer USB Port for Mobile Devices Security Alarm Remote Start System 115-Volt Auxiliary Power Outlet Tire Pressure Monitoring Display Leather-Wrapped Shift Knob Cargo Compartment Cover Universal Garage Door Opener P265/60R18 BSW On/Off-Road Tires Jeep 70th Anniversary Edition Jeep "70th Anniversary" Badge

Trailer Tow Group IV $ 695
7- and 4-Pin Wiring Harness Class IV Receiver Hitch Delete Rear Tow Hook Rear Load Leveling Suspension Steel Spare Wheel Full-Size Spare Tire

5.7-Liter V8 MDS VVT Engine $ 1,495
Dual Bright Rear Exhaust Tips Hill Descent Control Quadra-Trac II 4WD System Selec-Terrain System "Trail Rated" Badge
 
#12 ·
Here is from a 70th window sticker:

Customer Preferred Package 25Y $ 5,555
20-Inch x 8.0-Inch Aluminum Polished Wheels Power 8-Way Driver and Front Passenger
Seats Leather-Trimmed Bucket Seats Driver / Passenger Power 4-Way Lumbar Adjust Heated Front Seats Air Cond w/ Dual Zone Auto Temp Ctrl and Air Filter ParkView Rear Back Up Camera ParkSense Rear Park Assist System Uconnect Hands-Free Phone with Voice Command Media Center 430 CD/DVD/MP3/HDD 9 Premium Speakers with 506-Watt Amp and Subwoofer USB Port for Mobile Devices Security Alarm Remote Start System 115-Volt Auxiliary Power Outlet Tire Pressure Monitoring Display Leather-Wrapped Shift Knob Cargo Compartment Cover Universal Garage Door Opener P265/60R18 BSW On/Off-Road Tires Jeep 70th Anniversary Edition Jeep "70th Anniversary" Badge

Trailer Tow Group IV $ 695
7- and 4-Pin Wiring Harness Class IV Receiver Hitch Delete Rear Tow Hook Rear Load Leveling Suspension Steel Spare Wheel Full-Size Spare Tire

5.7-Liter V8 MDS VVT Engine $ 1,495
Dual Bright Rear Exhaust Tips Hill Descent Control Quadra-Trac II 4WD System Selec-Terrain System "Trail Rated" Badge
There's got to be a typo or mistake with this. It says that it has 20" wheels but then later it says that it has 18" tires. I don't think that you can fit 18" tires on 20" wheels.
 
#5 ·
I do not understand the discussion about the trail rated badge. For me its just a badge and if you order one with 18" Wheel and replace it with 20"... i mean - who cares.

So, whats behind that badge that makes it so special?
 
#6 ·
I looked up a 70th 4x4 with the V6 ... no Trail Rated badge listed on the window sticker. Only the 70th 4x4 with the V8 had a Trail Rated badge... Odd. Must be a factory mistake or something since a V8 doesn't magically make it Trail Rated...right?

Then I saw a 70th 4x4 with the V8 but WITHOUT the Trailer Tow Group and it did NOT have the Trail Rated Badge.

So, why is a 70th 4x4 V8 with the Trailer Tow Group getting a Trail Rated badge? They all have the 20" wheels....

Something isn't right....
 
#7 ·
OneCent....it isn't the "badge" per se....it is the fact that only Jeep certified "Trail Rated" Jeeps get a Trail Rated badge. Not all Jeeps are Trail Rated as the designation means it is very off road capable and passes certain tests. There was a lot of discussions why Jeep could not Trail Rate 20" wheels....it is a big deal.

There must be a glitch in the system that Trail Rate badged the 70th (with 20" wheels) 4x4 V8's with the trailer tow group.

I know people who specifically contacted Jeep HQ about wanting 20" wheels instead...Jeep said "no dice" for trail rating...

http://www.jeep.com/en/jeep_capabilities/trail_rated/
 
#13 ·
This is too funny. Another Jeep inconsistency. I think they are doing it in order to keep these forum discssions interesting :D

As for this Jeep... it makes no sense... perhaps the 20's are being replaced by the ORA1 package - oh wait, that package is not listed. But then why does it indicate P265/60R18 BSW On/Off-Road Tires?

The other odd thing... the ORA packages come with OWL, not BSW.

Just weird...
 
#14 ·
Here is a window sticker link along with a photo:

http://www.Jeep.com/hostc/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1J4RR4GT9BC666564

....Also, it is apparent from some of the replies that some people are very ignorant about what "Trail Rated" is....it is a certification by Jeep that the vehicle meets certain performance criteria. You wouldn't be happy if Jeep had factory installed SRT badges on a V6 after paying for a V8 SRT. It just makes a mockery of what Trail Rated is...
 

Attachments

#15 · (Edited)
And a photo of the wheels too.....note the Trail Rated badge along with the 70th badge.
 

Attachments

#16 ·
Regardless of the badge, not using 20" wheels isn't a marketing decision on the part of Jeep. (Although I can't explain the 70th) It's a decision to be taken seriously. I mean, who hits the trails with 20" wheels? It's like putting 20" wheels on a Mustang and taking it to the strip. Yes there are people that do it, but everyone else is laughing at them.
 
#18 ·
The VEHICLE itself is "Trail Rated" when it is a 4x4 and has a transfer case with Low-range (i.e. QT2, QD2) and has skid plates; wheels/tires are debatable.

The only reason, IMHO, that Chrysler put road tires with their off-road packages was because for every off-roader, there is an opinion as to which off-road tires are best. All those opinions change as the weather and type of trail changes too. So, Chrysler used essentially a throw-away tire as any true off-road driver would swap out whatever Chrysler placed on there anyway. If Chrysler used BFG All Terrains, many would have swapped for Mud Terrains...or visa versa. The problem is the way they marketed the off road package. IMHO of course.

FWIW, all my WK2 needs to be worthy of "Trail Rated" is some skid plates and beefier tires on my 20" wheels or swap out for taller sidewall tired 18" set. The important pieces for "Trail Rated" is having a 4x4 with that two-speed transfer case and skid plates.
 
#25 ·
x2
 
#29 ·
It is NOT a dealer mistake...have seen several at different dealerships now.

20" Wheels and NO skids plates???

I thought "Trail Rated" meant something.....apparently it doesn't anymore.

A acquaintance wanted a Trail Rated 2011 GC but with the 20" wheels. No can do is what he was told....he even spoke to the Jeep engineer that was on some of the commercials.

I think Jeep made a mistake...somewhere.
 
#30 ·
Some are missing the point...."Trail Rated" means something...a certification of certain capabilities. I was told a factory GC with 20" is NOT Trail Rated. Moreover, it needs skid plates too.....
 
#31 ·
I completely understand your point mate.

But, for me, it simply doesn't matter. The fact is that a couple of very simple bolt-ons turn the vehicle into a "trail rated" Jeep..... it's not as if its genetic makeup is altered, it's merely the options it wears.

Personally, I'd buy a 20" wheeled version, "non trail rated" technically, add some decent 18" wheels with real off-road spec rubber, buy or make my own skid plates, and havething FAR superior to what Jeep call "Trail Rated".

I'd then sell or keep the 20's for road duty.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top