Ive been doing some research on the 4wd systems that are offered on the XJ and WJ. I had all but settled on purchasing an XJ until I found out that the selectrac system can be harder to find. If I cant find an XJ with selectrac would I be better off getting a WJ with quadradrive? I live in the hollers of KY and when it freezes it can be difficult to get around. I need this Jeep to be my DD.

 

I have two XJ's
One is 87 with NP231, it has 2HI, 4HI,N, and 4LO.
The 99 is NP242, It goes 2HI, 4 Part time, 4 Full Time, 4 Low.
The difference is the 4wd Full time can be used on dry pavement without damage.
I have no preference. except to say that for the wife the NP242 is better because she does not not have to worry about the road conditions, dry, icey, patchy etc. She puts in in Full time and goes when there is weather around.
4HI/5 part time is saved and used its actually needed. Never on dry pavement.

 

my mom has a wj and it's definitely nicer to drive in bad conditions.

 

My sentiments exactly.

 

i drive mine like madman in 2wd until i REALLY need 4wd, at which point i put it into 4hi. i have the 231 so 4 part time is the only option for 4wd. i don't see how dry pavement is an issue since you would only be using 4wd in situations where the pavement is definitely not dry. i think good tires are probably more important than a fancy transfer case

 

I have an 2004 Grand Cherokee Overland IMHO no better DD made for less than freeway conditions it is a V8 4.7HO full time 4w.

I have an 99XJ Sport well equipped power everything and it all works. NP231 w/SYE locked w/4.56's 4.0 lot of other stuff the GC can not hold a candle to it off-road. Would I even consider it a DD NO for one reason, level of comfort need I say more.

But I will give up neither one.

 

Forgot one thing ice, the only thing that works at all is studded tires and then with caution!

4WD means nothing to an ICY ROAD just spin 4 wheel's instead of 2.

 

I have been driving mine around down the interstate for years in 4HI with no problems when its really snowy. I think people overestimate the significance of 4x4 on a flat interstate type road when it is icy- you are still going to slide if you slam the breaks, merge too fast, floor it etc. I just 2 days ago had to winch a 4x4 suburban back on the road after he slid off an exit ramp and down a hill lol. I really think the larger impact is tire choice combined with heavy foot syndrome, both on the brakes and the gas. I usually don't even need/use 4x4 at all till there is about a foot of snow on the road. It is nice for pulling out of icy parking lots/going up steep hills etc but I usually don't need it once the plows have hit the road.

 

Winter Tyres are the biggest single thing for snow IMO. My old 96 had General Grabber AT2 which were Mud and Snow rated with the snowflake, a factory LSD in the back and a 242 TC. That thing was truly amazing on snow, even ice, within reason.

 

The 242 transfer case with the center differential and locked rear axle is awsome in snow and trails and sand (not for climbing obstacles). It will allow maneuvering without any binding or breaking free a wheel.
When using 'part-time' any turning results in wheel slip and/or binding to make up for the different front to back turning radius. Snow is slippery enough already, don't need the drivetrain breaking traction, as it must do when using 'part-time'.

 

How long have you been in MO?
I have not had any issues ice,snow, FREEZING RAIN(the worst, but manageable)
Did spin out once my fault got greedy with the skinny pedal.
4hi as long as the slippy stuff is on the roads.

 

Yes 4-Hi. But the big question is, Full-Time or Part-Time.
part-time causes wheel slip.

 

Aaand there we have it!

Ice is a special creature. It's not low-traction like other surfaces, such as mud or snow. It's NO traction. 4WD of any type will not save you, once you're off-course there's very rarely any fixing it.

That said, 4WD can be useful in preventing the rear end from kicking out when driving along. So can putting a bunch of weight in the back of the Jeep. So can not driving so fast when it's icy out in the first place. I've done stupid things this winter that I'm lucky to have pulled my XJ out of, and speed was always the factor. Ask any tow truck driver.

What the NP242's full-time mode is excellent for is reducing understeer in the snow. This would be a huuuge help for me as we get piles of snow and slush and trying to move a RWD XJ with no weight in the back is just plain annoying. But it in 4HI part-time cornering required extra caution.

Unless you see those conditions on a regular basis, don't pass up a good XJ because you think the transfer case is inferior: it's not. Best advice is to get appropriate rubber and slow the hell down. 50MPH with bald all-seasons or mud tires is an excellent example of NOT doing this, and how you end up with scenes like Georgia. BFG All-Terrain and Goodyear Duratrac are decent tires that are also peak snow rated and are available in warmer areas in a light truck tire.

So. Slow down and get the right tires. Don't worry about the transfer case.

Happy XJ shopping!

 

Heeding that advise would have prevented this damage, went straight into the trees.

 

I stick to 2wd until 4wd becomes necessary as well. My 4wd concern (having part time as my only option) is patchy snow and ice mixed with wet pavement. There are times when 4wd would be helpful but intermittent patches of pavement that is only wet but not icy, snowy, or slippery in any way keeps me from engaging 4wd.

In the end I'd prefer to stick to rwd to give myself a better feel for conditions and having the ability to increase my forward traction if necessary by engaging 4wd. Plus, I'm old, when I learned to drive they still taught old fashioned skid control of steer into the skid, now they teach mash the brakes and steer as normal, let the computer figure it out.