Hill Descent Control--a no-brainer or brainless?

[Jeeptarian]

Over the past few years I've used this feature in moderately rough downhill offroading with a couple of Liberty KKs (other than the new KK I bought earlier this year). For me it's a great way (better I think than most if not all humans can do) to control speed and up-and-down bumping which can easily crunch expensive underbody components, even if protected by the skidplates I have on my new KK.

How do you people feel about the Hill D. Control?

 

[dude1116]

Over the past few years I've used this feature in moderately rough downhill offroading with a couple of Liberty KKs (other than the new KK I bought earlier this year). For me it's a great way (better I think than most if not all humans can do) to control speed and up-and-down bumping which can easily crunch expensive underbody components, even if protected by the skidplates I have on my new KK.

How do you people feel about the Hill D. Control?

Personally, I use 4LO and a VERY steady foot on the break, gas. The torque allows me to power up rough hills as slowly as I need (the thing practically crawls up them with no gas). On the way down, the crawl ratio helps hold me back from plummeting down the hill at speed. Since I have a KJ, I don't have that feature, but there are easy ways to go up and down hill off-road without it. Generally I don't like electronic crap getting in my way.

 

[Wulfhound]

I dig mine I use it when going down long steep hils so my leg don't get tired or cramping

 

[tjkj2002]

Don't have and don't want it,eats up your brakes like traction control and all that junk.


I geared correctly(5.13's in diffs,4.3:1 low in t-case) so now I have to give my Jeep gas going downhill.Anyone that has been behind me in MOAB or at '12's ESC can attest that it ***** being behind me as I slow down going downhill.

 

[Jeeptarian]

I can see how an expert someone with a cool aftermarket setup might not want HDC, but as a Plug 'N Play factory device for the engaged, reasonably schooled, careful amateur offroader, I think it's a great feature!

As to HDC somewhat eating up brakes, I kind of put that into the same category as fuel economy---i.e., "I'm a choosin to Pay To Play!"

 

[HoosierJeeper]

My LR3 has it and I use it when I take it off road. But getting back into the KJ I never wish to have it in the KJ. It works but I honestly don't care either way.

 

[tjkj2002]

As to HDC somewhat eating up brakes, I kind of put that into the same category as fuel economy---i.e., "I'm a choosin to Pay To Play!"

Yeah but at the expense of others safety when you get back on the road from the trail with overheated brakes.

 

[Jeeptarian]

Honestly never had that problem, but I do check my brakes and other systems/hardware after getting off trail. I'm not any sort of heavy-duty trail guy with any 4-wheeled vehicle. I didn't go on hard-core trails with a vehicle I could not drag around by hand (the way I and my riding buddies could move our dirt bikes). If KK brakes somehow were to get so overheated as to affect on-road braking (and again, they never have for me), I'd certainly find that out in post-trail check, and would wait for them to cool off. I'm not racing, I'm not in that much of a hurry.