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Freedom I vs. Freedom II

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unclejjg

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Okay,

I know that the F2 offers the low range, 19:1 crawl ratio. Obviously it is a "full-time 4x4"/AWD vehicle. However, does it also feature the "lock mode" which the F1 offers?

If not, how will this affect its performance in more serious weather vs. the F1?
 
#2 ·
...Freedom Drive I is a full-time, four-wheel-drive system that can be used on all road surfaces. This system is designed for everyday use, providing added traction in rain, snow or other slippery conditions. Freedom Drive I allows drivers to lock in the four-wheel-drive system, giving Patriot the capability to handle deep snow, sand and other low-traction surfaces.

Freedom Drive II equips the Patriot with full off-road capability. This four-wheel-drive system features a second-generation continuously variable transmission with a low range (CVT2L) that engages when the off-road mode is activated. Patriots with Freedom Drive II feature 17-inch all-terrain tires and aluminum wheels, a full-size spare tire, an air-filtration system, skidplates, tow hooks, and fog lights.

Patriots with Freedom Drive II are also 1 inch higher and meet Jeep off-road capability requirements for traction, water fording, articulation, maneuverability and ground clearance—including 9 inches of ground clearance, a 29-degree approach angle, a 33-degree departure angle and a 23-degree breakover angle. Additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain vents support the Patriot's 19-inch water-fording capability.

"The Jeep Patriot's innovative Freedom Drive II Off-Road package uses all-new Jeep 4x4 technology to achieve Trail Rated capability" said Larry Lyons, vice president of the Front-Wheel-Drive Product Team. "This four-wheel-drive technology, developed by Jeep engineers, provides many of the benefits of a traditional transfer case without the additional weight."...
Click to expand...
source


and from JEEP:

...Jeep Patriot will be available in the United States and Canada in three drive configurations: front-wheel drive, Freedom Drive I™ (a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with Lock mode) and Freedom Drive II™ Off-Road Package (a full-time, active four-wheel-drive system with low range that provides true Jeep 4x4 Trail Rated capability)...
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The difference from what I gather is that the Freedom Drive II gets 4-lo and the Freedom Drive I only gets 4-hi. Both have an open 4-hi set up.
 
#4 ·
So for somebody wanting just some snow traction, FDI is more than adequate?

Sounds so, which is encouraging, because I'm kinda thinking manual transmission will be my pick, and that is unavailable on freedom drive II, correct?
 
#5 ·
Jerome10 said:
So for somebody wanting just some snow traction, FDI is more than adequate?

Sounds so, which is encouraging, because I'm kinda thinking manual transmission will be my pick, and that is unavailable on freedom drive II, correct?
Click to expand...
If a snow covered road is the worst of your worries, then yes.. FDI will be plenty capable.
 
Discussion starter · #7 ·
I doubt the Freedom Drive will be replacing the technology found in the Grand Cherokee. If Freedom Drive was better, the GC would have had first dibs at it....not a vehicle starting under $20k.
 
#9 ·
"Lock Mode" locks the vehicle in 4wd. In other words, it prevents the automatic engage/disengage of 4wd mode. So if you're driving around on snowy or muddy roads, you'd probably want to keep it locked.

FreedomDrive can't replace the systems in the Grand Cherokee because FD is a front-wheel drive system. To reduce costs on these less-expensive vehicles, DCX decided to eliminate the transfer case. Therefore, everything in the 4wd system (even FDII's low-range mode) is contained within the transaxle. Grand Cherokees and other Jeeps are RWD, with a more conventional setup - transmission plus transfer case.
 
#10 ·
You can get an idea of this from the changes made in the LR Disovery. They had a center differential lock and a low range. Then in 2000 (maybe 1999) they changed to a brake-traction control system and did away with the center lock (it could still be activated by climbing under the vehicle. They reintroduced it for a couple of years before the LR3 as an option). Anyway, most tests showed that the electronic traction control was just as effective as the center lock.
The Patriot FD11 comes with "Off-road Brake Traction Control maintains forward mobility during heavy articulation or on split-friction surfaces where one wheel loses traction. Hill-Descent Control modulates brake hydraulic pressure without driver intervention for downhill assistance at a safe and controlled rate of speed." (from official press release)
So the ability not to lock will be compensated by these electronic features, which are standard on European 4x4, but obviously more can go wrong then a simple mechanical system.
 
#11 ·
exLR said:
Hill-Descent Control modulates brake hydraulic pressure without driver intervention for downhill assistance at a safe and controlled rate of speed.
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You know, I never thought about that before since it has a CVT. When you are going downhill off-road, it's much better on the engine and brakes to just shift it into first and let gravity do it's work (braking only when necessary).

With a CVT, I guess you can't really do that since it's gearless, hence why the brakes need to be applied. I really don't like that "feature" now that I think about it... (or CAN you do something similar with the CVT?)
 
#12 ·
This is from www.offroaders.com;
Hill Descent

When descending hills, you should always be in low range and have selected the gear required before descending. You should always avoid braking on downhill sections as you run the risk of locking up your wheels, causing a slide. Engine braking slows the vehicle without causing wheel lockup. However it is better to use the brakes than allow the vehicle to 'run away' and pick up speed. Always apply the brakes gently, rather than applying them abruptly and risking a wheel lockup.
Driving TDi Land Rovers, we would accelerate if we felt the rearend sliding due to speed rather then apply the brakes, and they have amazing engine braking. The problem, as applied by the article, is the human error - How hard to apply the brakes while the vehicle is gaining speed in loose terrain.
Hill-Descent Control controls it from the very beggining of the descent so that applying brakes at speed is never an issue, at least that's the theory. I have never driven this system. Anybody out there ever used it on a Freelander or other vehicle?
 
#15 ·
J4000 said:
For the sake of clarity, both FDI and FDII have a 4wd Lock mode, which locks the power output at around 50% to each axle. The traction control is mostly used to regulate power side-to-side.
Click to expand...

ahhh... Thanks.

Now the question is: If the FDI has only one wheel one solid ground, will it get itself out? What about the FDII?
 
#16 ·
pdxbubba said:
ahhh... Thanks.

Now the question is: If the FDI has only one wheel one solid ground, will it get itself out? What about the FDII?
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That's a tall order for any 4wd system. In this case, it depends on how well the brake traction control works. And how 'stuck' you are! :D
 
#17 ·
I saw a demo a couple years ago, where they drove up on an inclined track. Three of the wheels were on rollers and the fourth was on solid track. They stopped dead cold and started up driving without a hitch. Very impressive.

There are several real life situations where you could get three wheels with limited to no traction, like if you pulled off the road into a little ditch to check out a yard sale - the grass in the ditch is about 9" long and wet. The sides slope up at a decent rate. Only the front drivers wheel is on solid, dry ground. Or pulling off the side of the road at the beach, the rear passanger side wheel go deep and the front wheels goes deeper into the sand.

These are not hardcore off-roading adventures by any stretch, though you could get equally stuck.
 
#18 ·
pdxbubba said:
I saw a demo a couple years ago, where they drove up on an inclined track. Three of the wheels were on rollers and the fourth was on solid track. They stopped dead cold and started up driving without a hitch. Very impressive.
Click to expand...
Do you remember which vehicle it was? I saw a similar demonstration of the Jeep Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Drive II system. As you say, a pretty impressive (if unlikely) demo.

There are several real life situations where you could get three wheels with limited to no traction, like if you pulled off the road into a little ditch to check out a yard sale - the grass in the ditch is about 9" long and wet. The sides slope up at a decent rate. Only the front drivers wheel is on solid, dry ground. Or pulling off the side of the road at the beach, the rear passanger side wheel go deep and the front wheels goes deeper into the sand.

These are not hardcore off-roading adventures by any stretch, though you could get equally stuck.
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You could, but a little common sense will prevent a 'stuck' condition in those examples. You're much more likely to have two wheels with good traction and two without - front end in a snowbank, right-side tires on ice when you pull off the road, etc. In those cases, it sounds like the Patriot's systems will be pretty capable.

But anyway, if you have one or two tires with decent traction, you're in good shape. It's when all four tires are slippy that things really get interesting!
 
#20 ·
J4000 said:
Do you remember which vehicle it was? I saw a similar demonstration of the Jeep Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Drive II system. As you say, a pretty impressive (if unlikely) demo.


You could, but a little common sense will prevent a 'stuck' condition in those examples. You're much more likely to have two wheels with good traction and two without - front end in a snowbank, right-side tires on ice when you pull off the road, etc. In those cases, it sounds like the Patriot's systems will be pretty capable.

But anyway, if you have one or two tires with decent traction, you're in good shape. It's when all four tires are slippy that things really get interesting!
Click to expand...
"Slippy?" Sounds like a Western Pa native...
 
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