Today I was reading this thread (https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/modi...our-jk-270952/) and I was a little bit confused at one point. I understand that in 4LO you can start your jeep without the clutch, but what I do not fully understand is when 'dognights' said, Is he saying that in 4LO, as long as the wheels keep turning, you won't stall? This is probably a novice question but here in Georgia, I don't get to go out and do a whole lot of rock crawling

 

Yep, it's pretty much as simple as that. Even in non-Rubi models, the transfer case is geared such that short of running into a wall, the Jeep will idle along in 4-low in first gear over pretty much anything as long as the wheels are turning. Gas is needed in situations to help climb obstacles and you don't want to lug the engine.

It's a general rule, and not an absolute. Sometimes the idle control can't keep up (i.e. if you hit a big rock and don't give it gas).

As mentioned, you really don't want to feather the clutch at all. That's wear. The more you can keep an even, constant speed with the driveline engaged, the better. Practice builds experience.

 

So, is the clutch necessary when shifting in 4LO?

 

To get into 4-low? No. Read the owners manual. You need to be stopped, with the transmission in neutral before you engage it, but no clutch is needed. You also shouldn't engage it on pavement or where the wheels can't slip.

When shifting gears while already in 4-low, yes, it's advisable to use the clutch. Although, personally, I will only use up to 2nd gear in 4-low, or about 10-12mph. There's just no need beyond that. After that, it's back to 4-high or 2-high depending on conditions.

 

With a Manual you actually don't want to be completely stopped to engage 4lo. You want to be crawling just ever so slightly (1-2 mph) and it will slip right in

 

This is true. Good tip. I'm not sure what the owners manual actually prescribes. For an absolute beginner though, maybe try stopped at first, if nervous or not sure what to do.

Another tip is to engage it before you need it. You don't want to be stuck trying to engage low range in a real tight situation where you might need a little roll or movement to get it to go in.

 

I don't agree with shifting into 4LO while rolling even though that's what the manual says to do. E very time I tried that, it grinded pretty badly. One day I just tried shifting while stopped completely and it went right in. I always shift into 4LO while stopped now. Never had an issue with it going in and no more grinding gears.

 

If the gears are lined up, it will shift in with little effort at a complete stop.

When they're not, you physically need to move the gears for them to align and engage. Sometimes a slight roll is exactly what's needed. For me, "roll" means just moving the jeep enough to make the gears turn, maybe about 1mph. If you go too fast, you grind.

 

Yes this. You shouldn't get any kind of grinding shifting it into 4lo with a slight roll and the clutch in. If you do then you're moving to fast. Also, you don't want to SLAM it in, but you want it to be one fluid motion, don't super baby it.

 

Mine must always be lined up then because I never need to roll.