Last weekend I went offroading with another member from this forums and I can definitely tell why FD1 isn't as good as FD2. He had a 2010 FD2 and I just had my 2011 FD1.
I think the main thing that really lags in FD1 is the lack of low gearing. There was 2 obstacles where I was definitely burning my cluch trying to get over some rocks where as the FD2 just rumbled up over them. Also the lack of a lower backup gear is frustrating even in parking lots and such. It seems like twice as high as the first gear and I really never can lift my foot entirely off the cluch when backing up unless i want to go flying. Definitely not good for offroading.
Other things like tires help out a ton too. I just have the all season tires and those obviously dont perform as well as the tires that come on the FD2.
Things I was impressed with that are just ABOUT as good on the fd2 is the four wheel drive system on fd1. FD2 has those break locks which are better but I really don't believe they are better by much. They also seem to give some trouble with locking up too much. The FD1 system works great. It will have tires spinning in the air at times but still can supply enough power to the tires on the ground to get over things.
I also am impressed that the 2011 FD1 has the same ground clearance as the FD2. I bet I would have been scrapping bottom with the 2010 or earlier FD1s
Tow Hooks would definitely be nice on the FD1 and skid plates but at least I have some plastic skid plates on the FD1 that came with it.
I really haven't found the need for the FD2's extra oil cooler. My engine never heated up that much eventhough I pushed it to 5-6k rpms.
One last thing is the patriot has a pretty small wheelbase which is better for offroading than the wheelbase on the grand cherokees. I could see getting high centered easier on the basic grands.
Overall I think the FD2 is actually pretty close to the ability level of a basic 4wheel drive wrangler from what I see. I wouldn't compare the fd1 to this though. Its just a step above the crv or rav4 in ability. I would still rate it higher than the Forster though.
I think the main thing that really lags in FD1 is the lack of low gearing. There was 2 obstacles where I was definitely burning my cluch trying to get over some rocks where as the FD2 just rumbled up over them. Also the lack of a lower backup gear is frustrating even in parking lots and such. It seems like twice as high as the first gear and I really never can lift my foot entirely off the cluch when backing up unless i want to go flying. Definitely not good for offroading.
Other things like tires help out a ton too. I just have the all season tires and those obviously dont perform as well as the tires that come on the FD2.
Things I was impressed with that are just ABOUT as good on the fd2 is the four wheel drive system on fd1. FD2 has those break locks which are better but I really don't believe they are better by much. They also seem to give some trouble with locking up too much. The FD1 system works great. It will have tires spinning in the air at times but still can supply enough power to the tires on the ground to get over things.
I also am impressed that the 2011 FD1 has the same ground clearance as the FD2. I bet I would have been scrapping bottom with the 2010 or earlier FD1s
Tow Hooks would definitely be nice on the FD1 and skid plates but at least I have some plastic skid plates on the FD1 that came with it.
I really haven't found the need for the FD2's extra oil cooler. My engine never heated up that much eventhough I pushed it to 5-6k rpms.
One last thing is the patriot has a pretty small wheelbase which is better for offroading than the wheelbase on the grand cherokees. I could see getting high centered easier on the basic grands.
Overall I think the FD2 is actually pretty close to the ability level of a basic 4wheel drive wrangler from what I see. I wouldn't compare the fd1 to this though. Its just a step above the crv or rav4 in ability. I would still rate it higher than the Forster though.
