My XJ is a backup vehicle for my WJ in my business of delivering newspapers. Last Tuesday morning we had freezing rain, then it turned to snow with an accumulation of about 2-3". The XJ worked perfectly all night in 4wd and I didn't shift out of it at any time since the roads were not cleared at all. This morning was another story entirely! The roads were clear and dry for the most part, but still had deep plowed snow at the mailboxes. Once I got into that snow, I had to shift INTO 4wd to get out, then immediately BACK OUT before moving down the road! I'll bet I shifted over 50 times in 2 hours! It was most necessary in cul-de-sacs with 4 or 5 houses in the circle. My WJ with it's 242 would have done that type of driving in full time without any problem. My WJ is STILL in the shop getting it's SECOND rebuilt engine because of an oil pump failure and I don't want to do anything with the XJ because it's a rusted out POS to begin with. Reliable, but holey! After I get the WJ back, I'll be looking for another body for this powertrain, but not now.

I know a 242 or rear locker would solve it's problems, but I'm REALLY unhappy with the 231. That's all I'm saying.

 

Got any little kids?

Take one along to shift and you'll have a voice activated 231.

Pull! Push! Pull!

 

I nominate this for best post of the month.

 

Seriously? It takes less time for ME to do it! At least my shift linkage won't get stiff from not being used! I will admit the T/case shifts very smoothly, it's just a PITA! I've got enough to worry about with not running into mailboxes or getting too far away from them to be screwing around with shifting every minute. I'm 74 and by the end of the route, my shoulders are very sore just from steering and putting papers together and reaching out to deliver them that I don't need to be shifting as well.

 

Any chance you can just drive with one side of the vehicle in the snow?

 

Nope.

 

I knew this wasn't true