TECH TALK

The full-size ’22 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer may not be Trail Rated by Jeep due to their sheer size, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t equipped for dirt-road excursions.

- Sean P. Holman

In fact, beyond the available skidplates and tow hooks, there are three four-wheel-drive systems, two suspension systems, Selec-Terrain traction management, and a host of available tech. Let’s walk through the capability of each of these systems.

Capability

When the Advanced All-Terrain Group package is selected, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer benefit from either an 18-inch or 20-inch offroad tire; a two-speed transfer case; a 3.92:1 final drive ratio; tow hooks; an electronic limited-slip differential (a mechanical one is standard on the 5.7L-equipped Wagoneer); Quadra-Lift air suspension; Selec-Speed Control; and skid plates for the front suspension, fuel tank, rear stabilizer, and transfer case. This gives the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer a 48:1 crawl ratio, 24 inches of water-fording ability, and up to 10 inches of ground clearance. The big SUVs also feature 25-degree approach, 24-degree departure, and 22-degree break-over angles at the highest suspension setting.

Suspension

Although the body-on-frame chassis is loosely based on the Ram 1500 DT platform, the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer WS platform is different enough that almost nothing is shared with the 1 ⁄2-ton Ram; it’s even 2 inches wider than the Ram. The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer sportfully independent suspension with a short- and long-arm set up in the front with hybrid steel composite upper control arms, aluminum lower control arms, aluminum knuckles, and steel coil springs with monotube shocks or the familiar (think Ram 1500 and Grand Cherokee) Quadra-Lift adjustable-height air suspension with semi-active damping and a sway bar. Under the rear is a five-link setup with coil springs and monotube shocks or the aforementioned Quadra-Lift with semi-active damping. There is a rear sway bar, and the tension, compression, camber, and toe links are cast aluminum, while the spring link uses high-strength steel.