What makes it Trail Rated?

darkhelmet46 · Sep 27, 2011

Pardon my ingorance. I'm a first-time Jeep owner, and being a techie, I know more about computers than cars.

I wanted to get a trail rated Patriot, but pickings were slim and I got impatient. I didn't wait to wait for the 2012's. The one I got does have the CVT II, and from what I understand the only things missing are mostly tow hooks, skid plates, and the low-range crawl ratio.

I guess my question is, how far off is the standard CVT II from the FD II package? Is it possible to upgrade to "Trail Rated", or are we talking about a whole new transmission?

Futura · Sep 27, 2011

MrMischief · Sep 27, 2011

Whole new transmission.

the_jeep_now · Sep 27, 2011

You've mentioned skid plates and tow hooks. I'll post Todde's reply in regards to CVT differences as it sums it all.

todde702 said:
The FDII, when placed in it's special LOW range gives a crawl ratio of 19:1, but also activates a bunch of computer programming features (downhill assist, brake lock differentials, etc.). On the FDI model, putting the CVT transmission in 1st gear gives a 14:1 crawl ratio. Turning ESP partial or full off will allow more wheel spin to help get through some stuff. The manual 5-speed models will have a 15:1 ratio in 1st gear.

kds · Sep 27, 2011

From Jeep: http://www.jeep.com/en/4x4/trail_rated/index.html

Here's a thread from a few days ago, in which goser summed it up very nicely: http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81041

goser said:
From allpar.com:

"The Trail Rated Jeep Patriot sat 1 inch higher than non-Trail Rated versions and met 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. This version of the Patriot also had additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain vents to support 19-inch water fording capability."

I believe the trail rated version includes a higher-amperage alternator, tow hooks, and skid plates as well.

Some Patriot drivers consider the Trail Rated badge to not be such a big deal. The Patriot is very capable off-road even if it doesn't have the badge. There's lots of those stories around these forums.

Sandstone · Sep 27, 2011

From what I remember reading, the computer programming is in some way linked to the VIN and therefore it can't be changed. So you can install all the hardware, you just can't change the programming to support it to make a true FDII.

TheDeadInMe · Sep 27, 2011

hey if i can hack a PC i can sure hack the Jeeps ECU.

darkhelmet46 · Sep 27, 2011

Thanks, I was hoping the CVT II had everythang that FD II had, and it was just a difference in software programming. That's ok, I probably won't be doing much serious off-roading with this thing. I got it on a lease.

Besides, it's much too pretty haha.

kds said:
From Jeep: http://www.jeep.com/en/4x4/trail_rated/index.html

Here's a thread from a few days ago, in which goser summed it up very nicely: http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=81041

Some Patriot drivers consider the Trail Rated badge to not be such a big deal. The Patriot is very capable off-road even if it doesn't have the badge. There's lots of those stories around these forums.

Is it true that only the trail rated Jeeps have the additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain vents? I read that too, but it sounded more to me like marketing hogwash. I'd think that all the Jeeps would have that, just to keep manufacturing costs down.

dixiedawg · Sep 27, 2011

You can add the oil cooler, the skid plates, the tow hooks, and the 11 model non-FDII models are as high now, and you can add the full size spare (some other models come with that too), not sure about the BLD and how they work though. In most instances you will not need that for off road, unless you really hit some hairy trails, with rocks and water fording. But if, like me, you really do need some of that, it's actually a good deal.

You will lose some MPG with the FDII though, from what I see from folks here. Everything is a compromise. I have the FDII, but if I really wanted a vehicle for the trails, it wouldn't be the Patriot. I'm not saying it's not capable, but IMHO a true off road trail vehicle would not be something I would use as a daily driver, but would tow to the trails. I drive mine every day, mines a little over 3 years old and has almost 80K miles on it. I also use it off road, although not on trails as hairy as some others here, most weekends too. Some of us can't afford the true off road toy for those hairy trails, or the lower MPG on some more capable Jeeps for a daily driver. And realistically, most people are not going to need the capabilities of a more robust trail vehicle, but want something for camping, hunting, fishing, and more or less light off roading, and maybe they have a driveway like mine, and weather like we get in north central PA, and still need to drive the vehicle every day for work. This is the sweet spot for the Patriot IMHO.

mav0016 · Sep 27, 2011

the driver...

kds · Sep 28, 2011

darkhelmet46 said:
Is it true that only the trail rated Jeeps have the additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain vents? I read that too, but it sounded more to me like marketing hogwash. I'd think that all the Jeeps would have that, just to keep manufacturing costs down.

It's a good question, and I've never really thought to look at my 2011 FDI. A couple of people reported in a thread (http://www.jeeppatriot.com/forum/showthread.php?t=79369&page=3) that their FDI had double door seals like an FDII. The thread also has pictures of an FDII door.

Hitman Hugh · Sep 28, 2011

mav0016 said:
the driver...

Haha, good answer to the "What makes it trail rated?" question.

dixiedawg · Sep 28, 2011

I agree, like any tool, someone who knows how to use it will get the most out of it.

MrJeepR44 · Sep 28, 2011

darkhelmet46 said:
Is it true that only the trail rated Jeeps have the additional body sealing and high-mounted drivetrain vents? I read that too, but it sounded more to me like marketing hogwash. I'd think that all the Jeeps would have that, just to keep manufacturing costs down.

I wonder if it is hogwash too. Mostly because of people with FDI showing pictures of their double sealed doors. I wonder if anyone has actually located their vent tubes and taken a picture, so that someone with a FDI can check for it. The engine air intake is the same on all Patriots..

Overland · Sep 28, 2011

To keep on topic, here's what it means to be "Trail Rated"

jeep.com/en/4x4/trail_rated/index.html

Traction, Ground Clearance, Maneuverability, Articulation and Water Fording all to meet a minimum standard before being awarded the badge.

darkhelmet46 · Sep 28, 2011

Overland said:
To keep on topic, here's what it means to be "Trail Rated"

jeep.com/en/4x4/trail_rated/index.html

Traction, Ground Clearance, Maneuverability, Articulation and Water Fording all to meet a minimum standard before being awarded the badge.

Thanks, but I guess what I'm really asking is which of those things are flat out *not* included in non-trail rated Jeeps? Like if you wanted to take a Latitude X and make it trail rated (hypothetically of course), is it just the tranny, skid plates, tow hooks, and tires?

Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

Overland · Sep 28, 2011

You'd probably lose the skid plates and recovery hooks and possibly have slightly smaller tires / wheels.

To be "Trail Rated" it needs to have protection and minimum spec break-over/depart/approach angles......

All five sections point to ground clearance for the most part.

Your transmission type doesn't make it trail rated or not, you can throw any transmission in there.

Oh, and 4x4 is a basic "entry level" thing for "Trail Rated" to.

In my Liberty days, people would buy the non-trail rated models in 4x4, and purchase after market parts to make it trail ready in its own right, some had even proven savings in total purchase over the trail-rated models with all things added.

darkhelmet46 · Sep 29, 2011

Overland said:
You'd probably lose the skid plates and recovery hooks and possibly have slightly smaller tires / wheels.

To be "Trail Rated" it needs to have protection and minimum spec break-over/depart/approach angles......

All five sections point to ground clearance for the most part.

Your transmission type doesn't make it trail rated or not, you can throw any transmission in there.

Oh, and 4x4 is a basic "entry level" thing for "Trail Rated" to.

In my Liberty days, people would buy the non-trail rated models in 4x4, and purchase after market parts to make it trail ready in its own right, some had even proven savings in total purchase over the trail-rated models with all things added.

Well the trail rated Patriots have literally 1" more of ground clearance. So if read you correctly, one could take a 4x4 Latitude and add tow hooks, skid plates, and bigger tires to get the ground clearance then technically it would be "trail rated" even though it doesn't have the gear ratios that you get with FD II.

Would you consider that to be correct?

And the question still stands, do ALL Patriots have the higher engine intakes and door seals and such?

Sent from my Autoguide iPad app

Afmcronnie · Sep 29, 2011

Technically, if you could achieve the specifications on the Jeep in question to pass muster for Jeeps "Trail Rated" requirements, it would be "Trail Rated". The biggest hurdle to making it "Trail Rated" would be meeting the traction requirement. The FDII uses the Brake Lock Differential (BLD) system. No one that I know of has transferred that bit of kit over to an FDI. Dont underestimate the value of that system, or what an FDII can do with it when pushed. Those BLD's work, and work well.

What makes it Trail Rated?

darkhelmet46

Futura

MrMischief

the_jeep_now

kds

Sandstone

TheDeadInMe

darkhelmet46

dixiedawg

mav0016

kds

Hitman Hugh

dixiedawg

MrJeepR44

Overland

darkhelmet46

Overland

darkhelmet46

Afmcronnie

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