4:1 transfer case on the road...

[Schwarttzy]

tires-chirping, wheels-spinning, front end bouncing approach that I would consistently experience previously.

Don't take this personal, this is just web wheeling and I never met you and I'm just going with my current intuition, but my mind is telling me that you might benefit from more experience off-road. Unless you have a manual transmission, then I completely understand what's happening. However, I have never experienced a situation off-road where a lower t-case gear ratio was the difference between making it and not. What I'm thinking, and I could easily be wrong, that the lower gear ratio is forcing you to drive differently and that has been making the difference. To me, the tires chirping, wheel spin, and front end bounce are all signs of "needs more experience" and less to do with the t-case. Then again if the t-case forces you drive better, I couldn't argue against that.

Off topic, but I think about having a 3 to 1 t-case from time to time because I think 4 to 1 is too low. Maybe if the shift points were difference on my vehicle...

 

[Bigunit]

Don't take this personal also, this is just web wheeling and I never met you and I'm just going with my current intuition, but my mind is telling me that you might benefit from more experience off-road driving an H3 with a 4:1 TC and one with the standard higher-geared TC. Unless you have a driven both and actually experienced the difference between the 2, you might appreciate what people are saying because the difference between the 2 TCs is night and day.



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[alrock]

I absolutely can benefit from more experience, but in this instance I'll back up my observations with this:
-I have done the same obstacle many times with the base model, and it changed instantly with the 4:1 installed. And I've never repeated the wheelspin issue on the same obstacle.
-I can replicate this today with other drivers that have the base t-case

Scwhartzzy, I never stated that a 4:1 was the difference between success and failure. Nor have I assumed a position where ANY of these mods is the difference between success and failure. However, my experiences - to which you've already agreed that you do not possess - have shown a clear difference in how a 4:1 (and gearing in general) can contribute to the success. Because you've never witnessed the benefit is not a strong argument. And arguing that my position is based on lack of experience is an even weaker argument.

The symptoms I described can be due to a lack of experience. Or it can be due to an improperly set up truck. If the symptoms go away with a modification, and that modification can address the symptom across multiple drivers and vehicles, is it still a driver issue as you suggest?

I'll let those that have witnessed my experiences and have witnessed my before and after wheeling, judge as to whether the opinions I have expressed here have any credibility.

 

[cgalpha08]

I think alot of the necessity for the 4:1 is due to the i5 being under powered compared to the alpha but hey I have a v8 so

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[poncho1965]

4:1 sure makes a diff in the West where I wheel, with the rocky, steep terrain. Really happy I got the adventure option.


Mike

 

[ReconH3]

I my experience, I will always take the 4:1 over the usual 2.7:1 of most transfer cases. Everything on the vehicle suffers much less. Experienced or not experienced. The only time I wished for a different ratio was on sand, and even then it was only if the vehicle didn't have a winch.


"Ex Umbris Venimus"

 

[06 H3]

Schwarzty...ever heard the saying "you appreciate something more when you didn't have it at first?"

You always have had a 4:1...when you wheel years without one then have one you would understand

 

[06 H3]

2.72:1 supposedly helps more in mud then 4:1 but I have never had an issue with the 4:1 and mud but I don't do mud as much as the east coasters. I also have been told 2.72:1 is better for sand but I rarely do sand so I can't comment.

 

[Schwarttzy]

Unless you have a driven both and actually experienced the difference between the 2, you might appreciate what people are saying because the difference between the 2 TCs is night and day.

I look forward to trying it out, since you guys keep arguing for it, but I don't see how the differences between ZJs, JKs, TJs, and my 4.1 H3 that I have driven and the 2.7 t case in an H3 would be so different.

 

[06 H3]

Because they are different vehicles. With different motors and different transmissions and different shift points........

 

[06 H3]

And different transmission gearing...

 

[Schwarttzy]

Schwarzty...have you heard the saying "you appreciate something more when you didn't have it at first

My old ZJ and H3 are eairly similar, and the 2.65 worked just fine in it. I would have never changed it for 4.1

 

[Zach]

Don't take this personal, this is just web wheeling and I never met you and I'm just going with my current intuition, but my mind is telling me that you might benefit from more experience off-road. Unless you have a manual transmission, then I completely understand what's happening. However, I have never experienced a situation off-road where a lower t-case gear ratio was the difference between making it and not. What I'm thinking, and I could easily be wrong, that the lower gear ratio is forcing you to drive differently and that has been making the difference. To me, the tires chirping, wheel spin, and front end bounce are all signs of "needs more experience" and less to do with the t-case. Then again if the t-case forces you drive better, I couldn't argue against that.

Off topic, but I think about having a 3 to 1 t-case from time to time because I think 4 to 1 is too low. Maybe if the shift points were difference on my vehicle...

Going for two forums in the same week? Impressive!

 

[Schwarttzy]

Because they are different vehicles. With different motors and different transmissions and different shift points........

It much closer than you might think.

 

[Schwarttzy]

Going for two forums in the same week? Impressive!

I wish I never posted it now. But I believe a locker is worth a lot more than a transfer case any day. You can have all the low end torque in the world, but if you have a tire completely up in the air and no locker, the other tire isn't worth a thing.

 

[Zach]

I wish I never posted it now.

Seems to be a common afterthought after all your tirades. Sure seem to insert foot in mouth a lot

 

[Schwarttzy]

Seems to be a common afterthought after all your tirades. Sure seem to insert foot in mouth a lot

You got it all wrong. I regretted posting because you can't help someone unless they want it. With general consensus around here for the transfer case, which blows my mind, clearly no one want it. I find it disappointing that no one even acknowledges the possibility that a locker could better. If you tried to tell the people that I go off-road that t-case is better than a locker they wouldn't take it serious and think it was a joke. The locker is and will always be the most valuable thing you could put in a vehicle when it comes to making it further down the trail.

 

[alrock]

I did not state that one should go for a t-case upgrade before a locker upgrade. In fact, I'm on the fence about it. I've ventured in other threads that each one can make a significant difference when heading off road. Which would I upgrade first? I'd follow what (I think) 4speed says: upgrade when it breaks. Essentially, I'd take the upgrade path of least resistance.

When I poked a hole in my base t-case, I upgraded to a 4:1. That happened to be before I got a good deal on a rear locker from MaxPF. And I only did that upgrade because I got a good deal from him.

If I were flush with upgrade funds, I'd look at the wheeling that I'd be doing to help make the choice.

And if neither of those opportunities existed? I'd still be wheeling my base truck and having a hell of a good time doing it.

 

[Bigunit]

Schwartzy, I agree with some of what you say above. I added the 4:1 TC only after I put in the lockers. The rear locker was first and it made a huge difference off road over stock. The TC was the icing on the cake that complimented the lockers with more low end torque for the type of wheeling we do out here. If you want to know what I am talking about, make it a point to wheel with us in Moab this April.

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[Schwarttzy]

Schwartzy, I agree with some of what you say above. I added the 4:1 TC only after I put in the lockers. The rear locker was first and it made a huge difference off road over stock. The TC was the icing on the cake that complimented the lockers with more low end torque for the type of wheeling we do out here. If you want to know what I am talking about, make it a point to wheel with us in Moab this April.

I think we're on the same page. Lockers get you home, 4:1 makes it comfortable. Sadly, my best friend for going off-road and I are going to Moab the first week of June. Otherwise I would be there and do something stupid with my vehicle for all of us to talk about.

 

[06 H3]

Im not saying a locker or 4:1 is better I'm arguing that a 4:1 helps a lot more then you think and I beg to differ JKs ZJs TJs etc are more different then you think. You mentioned alrock a front end bouncing. Gearing has something to do with that but so does suspension and they are completely different

 

[Bigunit]

I can say 1 thing that's undeniable - I use the 4:1 TC a hell of a lot more than I use the lockers but that goes without saying I guess!

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[4speedfunk]

Any of you guys ever want see what 4:1 with 5.13s is like....just jump in. It's freakin unreal. You can cram your lockers. I have em front and rear and rarely use them. Considering they are $1000 each, its really questionable in my mind. The more I build my rig...the less I use them. Plus, the H3 has such awesome traction computers that you can forget comparing it to anything from the Jeep camp.

I also think a big part of this debate has to do with tire size. If you're running 33"s...lockers make a huge difference. If you're running a 2:1 transfer case...same thing. You got to have lockers to get anywhere.

 

[Bigunit]

I sure would!

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[Highatop]

Ok then. Now I'm thinkin like was said before...If it ain't broke, why replace it. In the future of my build, I'll have both of these mods anyway. They are about the same price... And you have me thinkin more about it now.
This is good stuff.Thanks, I will sure know more after Moab and very happy about that...