TWXJ97

Hey guys. I just purchased my Cherokee a couple of weeks ago (I plan on introducing myself shortly) and I am just starting to learn more in depth details about it. After much research, I can say I now know the difference between Command and Selec-Trac. The confusion lies in the Command-Trac's wheel binding. I have read, and experienced, the wheel binding/wheel hop while turning on hard pavement. I understand that I can't use it on the road...

Does this mean that I won't experience wheel binding when in an off road situation? Can I turn without binding issues when off road? I can't seem to find the answer to this question anywhere.

It seems to me that an off road system would be useless if you couldn't turn when you needed to without binding issues and without causing potential damage to the system. I can't believe that one would only use 4x4 when driving straight up a hill. I mean how would you maneuver around obstacles?

Thanks!

plotski999

a loose surface, mud, grass, dirt, will allow the wheels to slip a bit and not bind, unlike on pavement where there is so much traction

Welcome to CF

Willys55

Well said, Welcome to CF

4.3L XJ

You just need to understand some vehicle dynamics first. When you make a turn, the front wheels track outside the rear wheels. If the axles are locked through use of the transfer case they want to turn the same speed. But the front needs to go a little faster in a hard turn, so it tries to release the pressure and something has to give so you get the "binding" in hard turns. All of us that have a lockable tcase have this. If you are off road where there is reduced traction you will never notice it.

TWXJ97

Awesome! That is perfectly understandable. Thanks for the welcome and the explanation.

firstime00XJ

Welcome to CF! The above posters explained it great. Here is a resource from Jeep that will help visualize the aforementioned dynamics.

http://www.jeep.com/en/4x4/how_syste.../command_trac/

mike albo

thats a cool link

firstime00XJ

I love that link.

spittinimage

very cool link. kinda hard to not understand that.