Rubicon transfer case performance in sand

[Mat36]

Hello guys
I heard many times that some people dont like the performans of rubicon transfer case on a beach (rear ratio is too low) and that they prefer JK standard 2.72 ratio transfer case. I cannot see how rubicon transfer case would perform any worse than standard 2.72. What are yopur thoughts? Have you come across this view?
Matt

[bagnkat]

Well that's a ridiculous argument... just use a higher gear.

[humdingerslammer]

I took my 07 Rubicon unlimited across the Anne Beadell track last year, loaded to the hilt and pulling a trailer through about 650km of sand and a lot of it very deep up to diff pumpkin. I got stuck once and that was my fault for droppiong momentum (and attention). Mostly in 4wd lo in 2nd or first gear. Burnt thru a very lot of petrol. The Rubi is pretty much unstoppable and especially when u remember to lower tyre pressures.

[ARB87U]

The correct gearing on sand is always variable. It depends how dry the sand is, how hot the weather is, what the sand is comprised of, how loaded / heavy it is and most importantly the pressure in your tyres. You can drive a beach one day in rear wheel drive, the next you need low range 4x4 the day after and high range is fine. The only real downside to 4:1 on the sand is additional engine load and increased fuel usage or the hole you dig when you floor it. But when you need that gearing it can't be beat.

Worst case you get stuck, no big deal, it is what your recovery gear is for after all.

[Mat36]

Originally Posted by ARB87U

The correct gearing on sand is always variable. It depends how dry the sand is, how hot the weather is, what the sand is comprised of, how loaded / heavy it is and most importantly the pressure in your tyres. You can drive a beach one day in rear wheel drive, the next you need low range 4x4 the day after and high range is fine. The only real downside to 4:1 on the sand is additional engine load and increased fuel usage or the hole you dig when you floor it. But when you need that gearing it can't be beat.

Worst case you get stuck, no big deal, it is what your recovery gear is for after all.

Thanks, could you please clarify what you mean by "the hole you dig when you floor it" and how it would be different to 2.72? I guess people should not race in low gear.

[ARB87U]

Originally Posted by Mat36

Thanks, could you please clarify what you mean by "the hole you dig when you floor it" and how it would be different to 2.72? I guess people should not race in low gear.

Just that it transfers more torque to the wheels as a result of the gear reduction. You can dig out some quite big deep trenches, not that you can't at 2.72:1, it's allot easier at 4:1 and can get you stuck bogged in to the chassis rails which will be shovel time.

[Mat36]

Originally Posted by ARB87U

Just that it transfers more torque to the wheels as a result of the gear reduction. You can dig out some quite big deep trenches, not that you can't at 2.72:1, it's allot easier at 4:1 and can get you stuck bogged in to the chassis rails which will be shovel time.

Oh, that is right. That is probubly why some people dont like 4.1 transfer case in sand. Thanks again