[Tyler-98-W68]

Had a nasty snow storm come through tonight, and while I only took one video had some observations about the selec terrain system on my Wife's ADII Cherokee.

We were going through some unplowed roads with up to 12" of snow and as long as the speed was kept up no problems getting through them. Obviously the stock tires are terrible in the deep snow (as my other video showed). But we played around mode with the selec terrain modes.

We found that with ESC in "full off" mode and putting the selec terrain in "snow" mode going through the deep snow worked very well, without using 4x4 low. When we did try to use the sand/mud mode it seemed to not work as well, it allowed lots of wheel spin but it didn't transfer power across each axle with the BLD (Brake lock differential as aggressively as I would have thought). When using the snow mode the BLD seems to be more aggressive and keep both wheels on the same axle spinning more.

In this video we were on a somewhat steep icey/snow hill. Cherokee is in 4x4 low and Sand/Mud to start, then after the pause my wife puts it into the snow mode, and it was like magic, it went up the hill like nothing.
http://youtu.be/Z8mKDfKp6Ww

Snow mode works as intended it seems and very well. One thing about the snow mode is it starts in 2nd gear, however you can still make it start in 1st gear if you slide the gear shift over and select "1".

So with all the messing around in snow, we found snow mode with esc full off and without 4x4 lock to be sufficient 90% of the time. Only using 4x4 low when we got partially stuck (had my jeep out too, just in case).

In no way are these tests scientific but as time goes on I want to do more testing to show the differences between the selec terrain modes.

 

[Erie-Eyes]

Thanks for the report - very informative. Still waiting for my TH so I'll have to try your above notes later. Certainly no lack of snow here - LOL.

 

[Toecutter]

Wow, I'm surprised that the sand/mud mode was so incapable. That was a pretty dramatic difference.

 

[Sen66]

Yes, very informative, look forward to see more of these videos of tests of the cherokee in real world situations!

Thank you

 

[Larry]

ADII overall drive quality

As posted elsewhere, some folks with ADII and the accompanying off road suspension think the overall drive quality is too stiff vs. the ride without the off road suspension.

Based on your testing, what is your impression?

Thanks

 

[clew]

Wow. The description of the two modes makes them sound pretty similar. Interesting to see the difference though I wonder how being in low might have affected it cuz that doesn't really seem to be a situation for low.

 

[Tyler-98-W68]

Wow. The description of the two modes makes them sound pretty similar. Interesting to see the difference though I wonder how being in low might have affected it cuz that doesn't really seem to be a situation for low.

I was thinking the same, that when in 4 low the selec terrain modes really wouldn't matter since the front and rear are locked, meaning that the torque proportioning really wouldn't be needed. It seems that it must just changed the BLD mode to more aggressive programming for the snow (and it does start in 2nd gear in snow mode if you let it).

The rock mode I suspect on the trailhawks will probably let very little wheel speed difference between wheels on the front axle before the bld kicks in (rear doesn't matter as it has a locker).

Either way it was nice to get my wife to drive around in the snow and get a feel for what she can and can't get through. More videos to come in the future!

 

[Toecutter]

It would be interesting to see a comparo of all the modes on the same icy hill, or on the same icy curve.

 

[priell3]

Nice report. Thanks.

 

[Archie]

Had a nasty snow storm come through tonight, and while I only took one video had some observations about the selec terrain system on my Wife's ADII Cherokee.

We were going through some unplowed roads with up to 12" of snow and as long as the speed was kept up no problems getting through them. Obviously the stock tires are terrible in the deep snow (as my other video showed). But we played around mode with the selec terrain modes.

We found that with ESC in "full off" mode and putting the selec terrain in "snow" mode going through the deep snow worked very well, without using 4x4 low. When we did try to use the sand/mud mode it seemed to not work as well, it allowed lots of wheel spin but it didn't transfer power across each axle with the BLD (Brake lock differential as aggressively as I would have thought). When using the snow mode the BLD seems to be more aggressive and keep both wheels on the same axle spinning more.

In this video we were on a somewhat steep icey/snow hill. Cherokee is in 4x4 low and Sand/Mud to start, then after the pause my wife puts it into the snow mode, and it was like magic, it went up the hill like nothing.

Snow mode works as intended it seems and very well. One thing about the snow mode is it starts in 2nd gear, however you can still make it start in 1st gear if you slide the gear shift over and select "1".

So with all the messing around in snow, we found snow mode with esc full off and without 4x4 lock to be sufficient 90% of the time. Only using 4x4 low when we got partially stuck (had my jeep out too, just in case).

In no way are these tests scientific but as time goes on I want to do more testing to show the differences between the selec terrain modes.

I dropped a bottle of coke on the Selec-Terrian dials on my Jeep Cherokee 2015 Trailhawk model, and the dials fell through. Nothing broke or snapped. I have looked everywhere on the internet on how to pop it back in, but have not struck gold yet. This is my last resort before I take it to the mechanics, but hoping that the members on here can help me out here with a step by step photo instruction or a video. Much appreciated