I know 4WD reduces turning radius and it hops if you turn too far. Can someone give me a simple explanation what causes this, and the factors involved. It seems like I can't turn as hard since I put the new wheels and tires on, but it may be my imagination.

- Tim

 

the front wheels have power in 4 wheel and when they are turned sharp your are putting resistance on the front when the back is not resisted so its hard for the front to keep up with the back causing the hop...very rude explanation and dont know if thats for sure but that seems logically correct

 

Anyone else have input? I'm curious about this.

 

http://www.jeep.com/en/4x4/faqs/

 

^ Yes, it's the "Crow Hop" one.

I've never heard that term....

 

Thanks, man. Guess I should've looked that one up on my own if it was as easy as jeep.com

 

Me either, I always called it 'that tire skipping thing, that happens in 4x4'

 

Doing so on dry pavement can fracture a axle shaft u-joint.
Thats why it says in the manual or on the drivers sun visor only to use on slippery conditions.

 

I was driving on gravel and approaching wet pavement with a storm coming. Just slowed down to make the turn, and started hopping. I stopped, straightened out, and put it in 2wd til I completed the turn. Thanks for looking out, but I'm not trying to damage anything.

 

If your new tries are bigger or the wheels have less backspacing (wider stance), this will also reduce the turning radius. Never really noticed the loss of radius in 4wd, since I only use the 4wd on the difficult portions of trails anyway, and NEVER on the street. I do about 90% of my wheeling in 2wd, shifting in and out of 4HI and 4LO when extra traction or torque are required. This includes trails such as the Rubicon and Dusy Ershim.

 

But that only happens in part time right?

Sent from my mind using the rusty stock leafs off my xj.

 

Wet pavement does not always count as slippery. Unless that wet is a couple inches deep, muddy or icy. Even in the rain your tires will have to much traction for using the 231 TC. If you have a 4FT setting go for it. But then you would have a 242TC.

 

That "bang" that is referred to in the quote from Jeep.com is your billfold snapping wide open to pour out cash to fix broken transfer case gears and chains.

 

I do have the 231, but I also have worn out street tires that I got very cheap. The gravel was loose, and the road was fresh blacktop, downhill, with water running down it.

Edit: I only use 4wd on roads if I've lost traction there in 2wd before. Yes, I also slow down, but it's an added comfort. Unless it's gonna cause longterm damage? I avoid sharp turns in 4wd whenever I can by switching to 2wd or making a 3-point turn, but I have tried to make a sharp turn before, and I know it hops, so I wanted to understand why.

 

Thanks for the info. Went from 225 to 235, and I'm not sure on the backspacing. It's a set of stock Cherokee wheels from a different year.