I took my Jeep Laredo with Quadra Trac II system on a business trip this week. I was darn happy I did since I hit snow every day. This was my first time with this system in snow and thought I would share my impression.

First a little background, I've been into 4x4s since the 70s and currently own three. This is my second Grand Cherokee with my first being a Quadra Trac I.

Though I was already impressed with this system for Off Road trails, it flat impressed the heck out of me in the snow. Its brake actuated via traction control variable 4x4 system has an amazingly fast response. Though I was expecting it to shift traction from wheel to wheel while accelerating, how fast it actuated the ABS option was almost shocking when the vehicle would attempt to slide to a stop. It stuttered those brakes so fast and hard it was surprising but stopped it on a dime.

When I drove out yesterday, I was in a very rural location 18 miles from the interstate. The first 4 miles was a combination of pot holed pavement and gravel with steep hills and the last 14 two road pavement with no berms with sloping long hills. Conditions were about 2"-3" of fresh powder.

The first stretch was down a steep hill across a high perm single lane bride then a straight away into a 90 degree turn. This let me know right off the bat the sure footed nature of the system can shock you a little on how well it handles snow and I found I was hitting that 90 degree turn at regular speed. Braking the system kicked in very obviously allowing me to slow to keep from side spin. Going up the first steep hill, I could feel the traction shifting from tire to tires. It climbed up a hill under the same conditions my other 4x4s normally would be spinning tires without a tire spin. The long two lane paved, it was so sure footed I was passing other cars well within the Jeeps safety comfort factor.

The only bad thing about a good 4x4 system is everyone doesn't have one.

I'm quite impressed with this system. Its truly the finest I have every used in snow. Its basically a smart system that by using the traction control/ABS braking system shifts traction from wheel to wheel or wheels very fast, so fast in the snow you don't notice tire spin at all. On dirt where you get a little chirp of dirt, its about 1/8 a spin compared to the older Quadra Trac I system which is about 1/4 spin.

This is the closest thing to an idiot proof 4x4 system I can think of. The system does all the thinking. Its neat.

Tj

Well dangit TJ.... Sounds like your new Jeep takes all the fun out of Winter driving ..


My buddie has one and loves it !


(His ONLY complaint is that he wished the drivers seat would
slide back another inch or two. He's a tall bastage )



(Edited for spelling )

This post has been edited by Aahhyes68: November 25th 2008 8:30 PM

Dagnabbit, you're almost convincing me to go get a new GC, and I just rebuilt this one. I love the Quadra-Trac I, if the II is any improvement at all, it's got to be spectacular.

glad to hear it works well.

Don't get me wrong, I loved my 98 GC Quadra Trac I. Actually due to the one inch more ground clearance it does better off road, but this new system is amazing.

It combines the traction control with the AWD aspect. It takes a fraction of a spin on the wheel to shift the traction. Where I use to get a little wheel spin now I don't at all.

Though the new GC looks smaller. It actually isn't. Its bigger a little wider and longer and weighs 200lbs more, however its lower by one inch on the ground clearance and the cabin height is a little lower. Probably the most startling improvement is the turning radius is very noticeably improved. Well that, and the back windshield wiper actually works.

If you like the Quadra-Trac 2 system then you will love the optional Quadra-Drive 2 system in the Grand Cherokee even more.

It is a more refined AWD with front and rear limited slip for extra pulling power. It works great up here in snow country as long as you have some good winter tires.