2018 Jeep Wrangler JL & Scrambler JT

I wonder if they'll hydro lock like JK/JKUs every time you hit a puddle at 10mph+.

 

Just toss out the stock tires and you're good.

 

Watched a 3" lifted JKU on 35s hydro lock hitting a puddle half his tires tall (tops) at abou 15mph. Was in all the recovery pages I'm in. I'll go FB searching at some point today try and dig it up.

Buddy of mine had a 3" and 35s as well, hit a puddle a bit fast (25-30) in a creek and locked, gonna text him for the video now.

 

I take it these JKs didn't have a snorkel? The stock air intake is pretty exposed. So if you go fast enough to create a standing wave, water might get sucked in. The Jeep manual specifies 3-5 mph for water crossings. I've driven a stock JKU through water up to the height of the doorsill with no issues.

 

Yeah, from my understanding they're significantly more exposed than the TJs.. There's videos all over the Internet of them seizing up..

 

Photos online show the TJ intake is just as exposed. Maybe the design of the airbox and intake pipe better promotes water separation?

 

The TJs had an internal snorkel that put the intake as far above the motor as possible. That photo doesn't do it justice.

However, I managed to find a swimming hole while doing donuts in a creek bed and hydro-locked my TJ in 5' of water. Threw a piston right through the block. It's a Jeep thing. Good times.

 

Got a picture of the "internal snorkel"? The inlet seems pretty low to me in the photo, right next to the radiator.

 

The fluted end you can see the picture is longer than it looks. It sits just below the hood to pull air from as high as possible. Any higher and it would be sticking out of the hood.

 

^The JK inlet is done in a similar way.

 

Judging by the pictures, no. The JK's inlet is halved and much closer to the fender, leaving the side toward the passenger head lamp potentially more exposed to water during a water crossing. Looks to be a good 4"-5" lower.

 

Now there are pics of a JL test mule with a 6-speed manual. Makes you wonder if these leaks were planned...

 

That's good to see!

 

I'm happy Chrysler is sticking with this formula. Consumer reports will rip it apart like it always does. Pro tip CR, nobody that buys a Jeep wants it to drive like a Civic, nobody. Stop giving it shitty marks because it rides like a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Most ridiculous rag of a magazine on the planet.

 

Looks like Chrysler put a Ram bed on the JP test mule. Note the fenderwell cutout mismatched with the wheel position. It would be cool to have an open-top pickup though!

 

If the JP pickup keeps the 5-link rear suspension, it will be a first for the midsize segment as well.

 

And solid front axle

 

^True! All the "midsize" trucks sold in North America, starting with the 1986 Dodge Dakota, had IFS.

 

All I will say is no matter what they throw at the consumer ...it is "Job security"