2009 Jeep Liberty "trail rated"?

[06Liberty]

From what I've read elsewhere, TJKJ is right....they no longer test out the new Jeeps on the Rubicon Trail to get the "Trail Rated" Certification....they just have to pass a few tests like ground clearance, water fording, etc.


From Jeep.com:
"The Trail Rated® badge means that your Jeep 4x4 has been designed to perform in five categories of off-road conditions: traction, ground clearance, maneuverability, articulation, and water fording."

 

[Atrus]

Not that it's gospel, but Allpar fully supports TJKJ's statement that the axle ratios were determined by the transmission chosen.

I fully believe this to be true, as it just makes logical sense. When's the last time an axle ratio option was available in a Jeep? Sure, you may get a different ratio as an option package component, but never allowed to choose alone.

If people really want to know, I can see if my buddy can check for me. No promises on that one. He works at Chrysler IT, and coincidentally, is part of a large project on vehicle configuration rules. He should be able to see what was allowed and what wasn't in the manufacturing system. I am betting it was paired like TJKJ said - Auto w/3.73, Manual w/3.21.

 

[redrock08]

Ratios Answer

So what where the gear ratio's then? there was only 2 avaiable for '08 and that depended on what transmission you got,sure you had a choice.

( I ordered the 3.73 instead of a 4.11. )

 

[JeepJeepster]

The KJ was the last "new" Jeep to do the Rubicon trail in stock form,well sort of.They had a D44 rear end but the same IFS front.It basically was trashed after that run but it made it.The commander,patroit,compass,and the KK's have not done the Rubicon in pre-production.

Yea, and I take some pride in that. Ive also read it did better on the rubicon than a stock wrangler... Then they came out with the wrangler rubicon..

( I ordered the 3.73 instead of a 4.11. )

If only that were true..

And believe it or not, getting a higher gear doesnt mean you will get better mpg. Just depends on the type of driving you do.

 

[06Liberty]

And believe it or not, getting a higher gear doesnt mean you will get better mpg. Just depends on the type of driving you do.

I can vouch for that statement....my buddies JK has 4.10's and mine has 3.21's and we get almost exactly the same mileage because mine has to work harder to do the same thing his does..

 

[tjkj2002]

( I ordered the 3.73 instead of a 4.11. )

4.11's have never been offered in a KK,or in a KJ for that fact.There was only 2 gear sets offered for the KK in '08,can you guess what 2?

There are no 4.11's even made for the 8.25,or the front diff in your KK.I know for a fact.



Nice try.

*****[DMC]=Axle Ratio - 3.21*****
*****[DME]=Axle Ratio - 3.73*****
[DRA]=Axle - Rear, Corporate 8.25
1 06036572AA 1 J, T, U 74 NUT, Pinion, With Washer
2 52114046AC 1 J, T, U 74 FLANGE, Pinion
3 52070339AB 1 J, T, U 74 SEAL, Drive Pinion
4 02070316 1 J, T, U 74 BEARING, Drive PinionFront
5 02070317 1 J, T, U 74 CUP, Drive PinionFront
6 03507575 1 J, T, U 74 SPACER, Drive Pinion Bearing,
Crush
7 03723520 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.020
-8 03723521 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.021
-9 03723522 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.022
-10 03723523 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.023
-11 03723524 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.024
-12 03723525 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.025
-13 03723526 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.026
-14 03723527 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.027
-15 03723528 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.028
-16 03723529 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.029
-17 03723530 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.030
-18 03723531 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.031
-19 03723532 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.032
-20 03723533 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.033
-21 03723534 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.034
-22 03723535 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.035
-23 03723536 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.036
-24 03723537 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.037
-25 03723538 AR J, T, U 74 SHIM, Drive Pinion Bearing, 0.038
26 02800485 1 J, T, U 74 CUP, Drive PinionRear
27 02800484 1 J, T, U 74 BEARING, Drive Pinion
28 03507724 1 J, T, U 74 SCREW, Hex Head, .312-18x1.80,
Also Serviced in Differential Gear
Package​

29 CASE ASSEMBLY, Differential

52114574AA 1 J, T, U 74 [DME]
68032258AA 1 J, T, U 74 [DMC]
30 52114600AA 1 J, T, U 74 SHAFT, Differential Pinion, Also
Serviced In Differential Gear
Package
31 06507634AA 10 J, T, U 74 BOLT, Ring GearMounting
32 06023092 2 J, T, U 74 BOLT AND WASHER, Hex Head,
.250-20x.500, Differential Bearing
Lock, Mounting
33 03723859 2 J, T, U 74 LOCK, Differential Bearing
34 03507876AB 2 J, T, U 74 ADJUSTER, Differential Bearing, G
35 03723569 2 J, T, U 74 CUP, Differential Side
36 01790541 2 J, T, U 74 BEARING, Differential
37 52069426 2 J, T, U 74 RETAINER, Axle Shaft
38 04883087AC 1 J, T, U 74 GEAR PACKAGE, Center
Differential
39 02852912 2 J, T, U 74 WASHER, Pinion Gear Thrust
40 02852912 2 GEAR, Differential Pinion, Serviced
In Differential Gear Package, (NOT
SERVICED)
41 02852912 2 GEAR, Differential Side, Serviced
In Differential Gear Package, (NOT
SERVICED)
42 04883085 1 J, T, U 74 WASHER PACKAGE, Side Gear
Thrust
43 GEAR KIT, Ring And Pinion
05140867AD 1 J, T, U 74 [DMC]​

68040773AA 1 J, T, U 74 [DME]

Right from the '08 OEM parts book.

 

[tjkj2002]

I can vouch for that statement....my buddies JK has 4.10's and mine has 3.21's and we get almost exactly the same mileage because mine has to work harder to do the same thing his does..

Your KJ does not have 3.21 gears either,you have 3.73's if you have a auto trans or 3.55's if you have the 6 speed manual trans.

The main difference is your tire size compared to his.............

KJ's has 29" tall tires stock
JK's have 32" tires stock.

 

[tommudd]

Just to clear things up on the "TRAIL RATED" thing
Jeep now uses city streets/alleys here in Toledo to test them out to see if they are Trail Rated or not, they pass two closed down malls, 2 McDonalds, 1 Wendys and Tony Packos, after that if nothing has fell off they get the trail rated badge

oh and I back tjkj completely on gearing etc. Or I could walk next door and ask my neighbor, she works on the line building the KKs

 

[06Liberty]

Your KJ does not have 3.21 gears either,you have 3.73's if you have a auto trans or 3.55's if you have the 6 speed manual trans.

The main difference is your tire size compared to his.............

KJ's has 29" tall tires stock
JK's have 32" tires stock.

I'm comparing two JK's...not KJ's

 

[richd]

Today I saw a KK trail rated that had 16s with Wrangler RSA.

 

[fmdualexhaust]

FWIW: I have 2 KKs, both are Limiteds,have select-trac, and wear trail-rated badges.
To answer the original question, the 18 inch wheels are not trail-rated because they have "chrome" plastic overlays on the wheel which I doubt could take a blow from any obstacle and survive.