[benjeepers]

Not a lot of people wheel their KL, nothing wrong with that.

But I’m curious how many people who wheel their KL, actually have broken something from wheeling too hard, I don’t mean being a dummy and hitting or landing on a rock, more like a control arm breaking, a cv snapping, busting a driveshaft joint, ptu failure while doing an obstacle.
Stuff like that.

I hear of PTU’s exploding on the road, haven’t heard one breaking on the trail yet but here I am asking.

I’ve been putting my 15’ TH through quite a bit on some Colorado trails and it’s been great, but I’m wondering what the weakest link is in the drivetrain.

 

[thehydrant]

I have broken stuff but nothing so serious I couldnt limp home. Ive crushed skid plates and dented oil pan. Burnt out brake pads and seized calipers.
I've seen Wrangler owners bring spare axles and driveshaft parts with them...unfortunately KL owners dont typically have the luxury of simple repairs on the trail.

Sent from my LG-H873 using Tapatalk

 

[Flybynightcru]

I've definitely put mine through the ringers, and have not broken anything. I'm not going full prerunner across the desert at 75, I'm more slow, and presise...😎

 

[sanghill]

The only thing on my 2014 KL that has broken using the OPs criteria is the front left tone ring cracked.
Caused by fording streams which causes the wheel hubs to rust and then expand the tone ring so it cracks.
Other than that and I have probably done $4k worth of damage to my TH crashing over rocks and running into trees.
Partially but not solely because I was keeping up with stock Wranglers. Don't try to keep up with Wranglers, we need to go slower and have a "spotter".
I did pull both rear lower control arms off of their bushings because I hit rocks. The design is good but not indestructible.
I have been driving off road for over 50 years and I always break stuff. It is a normal part of driving off road.

 

[benjeepers]

Nice replies, y’all basically understood what I’m asking.

I take the Jeep slow and often get out to double check the line I’m running. I’m often out by myself in the trails so it pays off to go slow and get out and look if you’re unsure.
Worst thing I’ve done so far is hit a rock too hard and blew a gash in the side of the tire. No spare 🤓.
That was a fun day. Besides the tire replacement the Jeep took no damage and just needed an alignment.

I wonder tho if the 3.2 produces enough torque to blow a CV…

 

[sanghill]

Was your tire XL (extra load) rated?
That is what I use with the expectation they will be more durable.
Don't know if it makes any difference or not. Probably there is a rock that can break any tire.
Since I have factory tow I get a full size spare.

 

[MikeR.]

There are definitely videos out there of people blowing out diffs on the trail. Can't say I have seen a ptu go out though.

 

[N55RedJeep]

Our rear diff traction control went, it still works but makes a lot of noise at slow speeds. We have the rear diff unplugged right now so ser 4x4 is on the dash, the rear diff is just an open diff right now till we can afford the fix.

 

[Ronin38]

My buddy Fearless has had quite a few driveline repairs on his. I do have to wonder, though, if any of that was a symptom of getting rear-ended quite hard not too long after he got his, though...?

 

[DizzyPope]

My buddy Fearless has had quite a few driveline repairs on his. I do have to wonder, though, if any of that was a symptom of getting rear-ended quite hard not too long after he got his, though...?

I have always wondered the same thing. He's my go to measure for pushing the Cherokee to the limit and beyond. Really sucks the way his experience started. Seems like a really great guy to know.

 

[Bialeschki]

I know this post is a little old but I’ve seen a front diff and rear blow in one day. One of them happened to be fearless. Neither were on difficult obstacles.

 

[JeffD]

I have witnessed the rear control arms fail on one TH. They failed where they attached to the unibody. Trail fix was rachet straps holding the arms up long enough to limp down the mountain to the dealer.

 

[Will0730]

My buddy Fearless has had quite a few driveline repairs on his. I do have to wonder, though, if any of that was a symptom of getting rear-ended quite hard not too long after he got his, though...?

“Fearless” of YouTube fame?

 

[Ronin38]

Yes!

 

[JohnTH2017]

Not a lot of people wheel their KL, nothing wrong with that.

But I’m curious how many people who wheel their KL, actually have broken something from wheeling too hard, I don’t mean being a dummy and hitting or landing on a rock, more like a control arm breaking, a cv snapping, busting a driveshaft joint, ptu failure while doing an obstacle.
Stuff like that.

I hear of PTU’s exploding on the road, haven’t heard one breaking on the trail yet but here I am asking.

I’ve been putting my 15’ TH through quite a bit on some Colorado trails and it’s been great, but I’m wondering what the weakest link is in the drivetrain.

Never really broke anything, aside from scraping up the factory cladding on the bottom pretty bad. Have just added rock rails.

I did do something very stupid. I was our on a trail about this time last year. I came across a patch of snow while on pretty much bald tires. I thought I could just power through it, but didn't put the Jeep in Snow mode and the computer cut power to figure things out when the tires started slipping, I was stuck.

Long story short, I had a 5 mile walk and had to knock on someone's house door to use the phone, I was out of cell range. It took forever to find a tow truck and when he showed up he didn't want to go down the rough road even though his truck could handle it. I convinced him but at $250 per hour. I now carry recover gear ALWAYS, had I had a shovel I could have dug myself out in time. I try not to wheel alone now also, looking for groups in my area.

 

[JohnTH2017]

“Fearless” of YouTube fame?

I have seen those videos, that guy is insane. He must be rich or something, being able to afford to beat his rig up like that. Great videos that show what a TH can do!

 

[Will0730]

I have seen those videos, that guy is insane. He must be rich or something, being able to afford to beat his rig up like that. Great videos that show what a TH can do!

I was a long time “Jeep guy” back in the day. I started out as a lube and tire tech and worked up to a service writer, parts manager, service manager and eventually worked for Daimler Chrysler. I used to beat the sh!t out of my Grand Cherokees because of employee discounts, friends with A-Techs, etc. If Fearless isn’t rich maybe he works at a Jeep dealer 🤣 Even then with my benefits I never did some of the crazy stuff he does. I like his videos too. I’ll do some moderate things with my new Trailhawk but I am not doing all the crazy stuff he does. I have to pay retail for parts and labor now 😀

 

[Will0730]

I have witnessed the rear control arms fail on one TH. They failed where they attached to the unibody. Trail fix was rachet straps holding the arms up long enough to limp down the mountain to the dealer.

I once used a roll of duct tape on a upper control arm on a Honda Accord I owned back in the day to limp home. It takes a long time to get home at around 4-5 MPH with the flashers on 🤣

 

[JohnTH2017]

I was a long time “Jeep guy” back in the day. I started out as a lube and tire tech and worked up to a service writer, parts manager, service manager and eventually worked for Daimler Chrysler. I used to beat the sh!t out of my Grand Cherokees because of employee discounts, friends with A-Techs, etc. If Fearless isn’t rich maybe he works at a Jeep dealer 🤣 Even then with my benefits I never did some of the crazy stuff he does. I like his videos too. I’ll do some moderate things with my new Trailhawk but I am not doing all the crazy stuff he does. I have to pay retail for parts and labor now 😀

He drives it like he stoke it lol!

I once used a roll of duct tape on a upper control arm on a Honda Accord I owned back in the day to limp home. It takes a long time to get home at around 4-5 MPH with the flashers on 🤣

Never under estimate the power of duct tape lol!

 

[Will0730]

He drives it like he stoke it lol!

Never under estimate the power of duct tape lol!