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Welp...RWD Grand Cherokee's are basically useless off road

18K views 68 replies 32 participants last post by  mswlogo 
#1 ·
So this weekend I parked in a wooded area along the road in northern california. The dirt underneath my tires was silty and crumbly and loosely packed. When I tried to get back on the road, the rear tires just DUG in and the jeep just sank into the ground. Anything I tried to do (turn traction ctrl off, keep it on) etc was useless as the left rear just spun like a top and would not grip. HOnestly, I didn't buy the truck to go off road but it's a freaking JEEP. You'd think that they'd give it SOME kind of diff to help it in dirty situations.

Stupid electronic gear selector also made it impossible to rock the jeep back and forth to get grip. So I had to dig my jeep out from a parking spot next to a paved road.

I wanted the high tow capacity but I'm really disappointed that I didn't get the 4x4 now :(
 
#3 ·
A limited slip differential can help off road, but it's by no means a 4WD replacement.

It's kinda hard to point the finger at Jeep because you chose a 2WD, non-limited slip equipped Jeep. Those features are available, and for whatever reason you chose not to purchase them.

This can be argued a billion times, but ultimately the reason I always buy 4WD models is for those times when I need it. Yes 4WD costs more, and there are higher maintenance costs, and slightly lower fuel economy, but I never regret when I'm off road, or on snow-covered dirt roads.
 
#16 ·
My solution was to buy two of them. The wife has her 2x grocery getter which she loves to drive, and I've got the 4x if we are going ANYWHERE that I might want to get off road or that I am not familiar with. If I could only have one it would be a 4x4.
 
#18 ·
I think a lot of people mistake 4x4 as meaning you only need that to if you are going to go rock crawling. A rear wheel drive with a heavy suv like the GC can cause you problems in a lot of places, wet grass when you are parking in a field at the county fair or farmers market, soft shoulders when you pull off the road, I have had problems taking rear wheel drive cars up steep paved inclines that are only wet before. I would take a RWD car over a RWD jeep any day concerning traction. The GC as RWD would be like a lead brick. A sunny day on dry pavement ok, but its often not like that though even when you are not an off roader. I don't get it either but whatever people want to spend their money on I guess.
 
#29 ·
Imissedtheapex, I used to live in nor cal, if you wouldn't mind, whereabouts did this take place? Also, I get where your coming from, I live in OC and we never, ever, need to worry about having a 4x4. 4 out of 5 jeeps I see are 2 wheel drive, mall cruisers and will always be on solid pavement. Our freeways are build with those grooves in the cement to drain the water so our tires always hit the ground. The 2wd jeeps should never hydroplane anywhere unless there is driver error. Im more worried about the crap beater cars that people drive way to fast in when it's raining and hydroplaning into me.

I'm kinda with you on your thinking as well, it's a jeep, I should be able to pull off to the side of the road and not worry about it. I should have gotten the 2wd, cause Ill never need 4x4 from Santa Barbara all the way down to San Diego, but I didn't simply cause I snowboard every winter and don't want to be the guy that has to wait for someone else to drive.

As for some of the other posters, give the guy a break, he just came here to vent about pulling off a paved road just to park and getting stuck. No need to bash him over it. It reminds me of all these huge, lifted 4x4 trucks that just drive around town, getting crap for gas mileage, showing off how large their peckers are.
 
#36 ·
As for some of the other posters, give the guy a break, he just came here to vent about pulling off a paved road just to park and getting stuck. No need to bash him over it. It reminds me of all these huge, lifted 4x4 trucks that just drive around town, getting crap for gas mileage, showing off how large their peckers are.
Those guys are at least using the car for what it was made for. Lifting them, putting on large OR tires, and so on is totally reasonable assuming they actually do hit the trail. It has nothing to do with "how large their peckers are." I would argue that people that buy fake SUVs (4x2 models, plus crossovers they don't really need) are far worse offenders, particularly if they have NO excuse whatsoever (don't tow).
 
#33 ·
Ive never gotten stuck to the point where i couldn't get out. Im in a rwd gc. Before i started to build it for the street i used to offroad it. Its been burried to the floorboards in mud. Its mostly driver skill and tires equipped.
 
#62 ·
I've never knowingly seen a 4x2 Jeep. Does not compute.
You should live in S Florida. Almost everything is a mall rated 4x2 . I had to go over 2 hours to get a Jeep with acceptable features and then put lots of $ into it to make it, uh, more acceptable. ;)

OP, don't take yoself so seriously, most of it is just good natured ribbing.
Exactly that! ^^ You post on a Jeep forum that you got stuck, that in itself is kinda funny. People are going to have a comment or two to say about it.

I've been gone too long from the board.
Yes...you certainly have! Don't let it happen again!
 
#38 ·
This is hilarious. The marvel is that the Jeep can be outfitted to do anything. Mine does exactly what it was intended to: long distance trip machine mostly outfitted as a two passenger with a lot of cargo space and occasional tow duty for a 3,500 lb camping trailer.

Have had for 2.5 years now and is the best tow car I've ever had. Balance is near perfect 50-50 weight distro. Even gets the same mpg as my other two seaters and never have felt even close to being stuck.

And yes it does rain occasionally here.
 
#43 · (Edited)
I have to laugh at the fickleness of this forum. I remember not too long ago somebody asked if they should get 4 or 2 wheel drive on their GC. The responses were about 50/50, with the 4x2 proponents being the most vocal. Responses included "it's a waste of money," "people who buy 4x4s aren't real men," "you don't need 4x4 where it doesn't rain or snow."

Now we have a thread with someone who was in a similar purchasing situation (no rain/snow/offroading) and everybody's jumping on him "shoulda got 4x4 DUHHH!!!" :rolleyes:

(To be fair, a number of people instead implied that the OP doesn't know how to drive, rather than mock his purchasing decision) :slapfight:
 
#44 ·
haha I suppose that's to be expected though right? It's an internet forum and sadly this same behavior is found on the honda civic forums all the way to lamborghini forums. Apparently some of the Jeep owners here aren't any more classy than any other internet quarterbacks. Meanwhile, I'm probably the only one here that built a race truck and competed in the Baja 1000. LOL @ me not being able to drive.

Also, for all the guys who have been harping on me about checking the LSD box....the truck HAS an LSD. Why do you think I'm so frustrated that I got stuck!

I just really came here to vent a little bit and maybe mention a cautionary tale that a RWD JGC with street tires can in fact get stuck, and people are quick to jump on me.

"I can't fathom a Jeep with 2wd. Does not compute" - kind of an insulting statement if I gave a shit what some dude on the internet thought about my purchasing decision.

People use SUVs for different things. In Connecticut where I grew up, all the SUV driving soccer moms were constantly stuck in the snow while I drove by them in my tiny little front wheel drive Nissan Sentra. I didn't go bear hunting and I didn't have to cart around a pile of children to and from school, so I had a little light car with skinny tires and drove up hill while every Land Rover or Ford Explorer spun all for wheels as they slid down hill backwards...

Only about 3 people here had any kind of useful or friendly answer so I guess I'll go back to asking about which 3M tape is best to black out my chrome or "how cool does your intake sound" since no one here has any real knowledge or data on performance mods....

:rolleyes:
 
#45 ·
OP, don't take yoself so seriously, most of it is just good natured ribbing. The WK2 has always been blamed for being a bit soft by the offroad crowd, we're all just driving mall crawlers:

http://www.jeepgarage.org/f73/wk2-rock-crawler-or-mall-crawler-23712.html

FWIW, while many do, I wouldn't put a RWD tow vehicle on a snot slick boat ramp for fear of turning the tow vehicle into a submarine.
 
#48 ·
Look, no one is claiming it is a Wrangler or Hummer H1 that are decked out to tackle the Rubicon. But you shouldn't worry about deep snow, easy trails (even after rain), etc. I don't understand why our choices should be limited either to offroad ability is irrelevant and one has to forego all luxuries in favor of something that can do extreme ORing.
 
#49 · (Edited)
^DA, you can have it all. My WK2 4x4 is as flawless on date night in the city, as it is in deep snow at 11k' feet elevation, wheeling moderately aggressive OR trails, or towing a heavy load.

I've been gone too long from the board.

The only real serious point here is that it's no surprise a 4x2 SUV with street rubber got stuck in soft conditions. The OP's thread title says as much. In many's view, a 4x2 Jeep is an oxymoron, even if it's only intended for the pavement.
 
#61 ·
Actually I have a "Mall Crawler" but it is not the GC. Crossfire with its 14.5:1 first gear (4.46:1 1st , 3.25:1 axle) is much better at ultra low speeds. I usually start in 2nd (2.61:1).

Of course it is also turning 2600 rpm at 70 so it and my GC get the same MPG (but the XF needs premium). Is also the first car I have had that needed a sawzall taken to the interior in order to get the seat back far enough.
 
#63 ·
Should of got the V8:D
 
#67 ·
There's a reason the Wrangler only comes in 4x4. It's purpose built for off-road use.

The Grand Cherokee can be used as an urban vehicle with towing capabilities. For this, RWD is important.

If you put better tires on it, you would probably not have gotten stuck. The stock tires are made for fuel efficiency and road manners, not for mud.
 
#69 · (Edited)
I'm surprised the ABS Limited Slip wouldn't get you out.

The ABS should still pulse the slipping wheel to give the other wheel some traction. I bet if you stepped on it a bit as soon as you felt the first bit of slippage you would have paddled it's way out. Maybe.

Even on the Base AWD if one wheel slips all the power will go to that wheel and it's the ABS that gets you going. Accept on AWD it can pulse multiple wheels and there are more chances of finding a wheel with grip.

Certain materials are tricky. Like Sand on a beach. Even with 4WD you can dig yourself in. You have to have the right tires, pressure and speed (momentum).

I have a 4WD Kubota. I use it to pull a 4500 lb boat out in sand. If I go slow it will just dig itself in. If I go fast it will paddle across the sand.

You can see this effect if you ever go to a "Monster Truck" show.
 
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