Jeep really did have an innovation with the Quadratrac.

[J10Mike]

After experiencing first hand what the Dodge NP203 is and is not, you really have to take your hats off to Jeep for using the Quadratrac from 1974 thru 1979.
Let's take a look at the Chevy and Dodge transfer case offerings during that exact range of model years...The NP203. Since I'm unfamiliar with Ford transfer cases during that same time period, I won't bring them up in this comparison.
The NP203...Chain drive heavy monster with an open differential...Much like the NP228, just heavier.
Here are it's ranges in order:
4Lo Lock
4Lo
N
4Hi
4Hi Lock
While in the 4Hi lock or 4Lo lock ranges, the transfer case is very stout and is great for the offroad. But, get a little slipping in 4Hi or 4Lo, it's keeps slipping...Again, that very same open differential.
Which brings me back to the Jeep BW QT. It truly was an innovation with it's limited slip differential during a time when it's competitors were offering a far lesser transfer case with an open differential.
OK...Granted, the rear output was offset...But, it was far superior than what the Big Three were offering at that very same time period.
Actually, about the only thing the NP203 is good for is to use the range box to create a 203/205 doubler.
I myself will be replacing my NP203 with a NP241 and matching 727 I just picked up.

[shepherdskeep]

I tend to agree - other than the offset rear yoke, lack of aftermarket upgrades, and the tendency to leak :rolleyes: , it is a good transfer case. But I wonder if Jeep could go back in time, knowing what they know now, would they have just stuck with the tried & true D20?

[Bob Barry]

I tend to agree - other than the offset rear yoke, lack of aftermarket upgrades, and the tendency to leak :rolleyes: , it is a good transfer case. But I wonder if Jeep could go back in time, knowing what they know now, would they have just stuck with the tried & true D20?

:confused:

They did have the D20 available on the manual-trans trucks and Cherokees right through 1979.

So I guess the answer is no, since the D20 equipped trucks didn't outsell the QT-equipped trucks.

[fulsizjeep]

http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac/qtking.jpg

There is a document over here:
http://jubileejeeps.org/quadratrac/qt_review.pdf
that goes through what you are talking about...

As far as an after market for QT modifications, the Doug Nash Engineering part time conversion kit that later has been sold by MileMarker is the ticket for replacing blown out QT differentials.

[shepherdskeep]

They did have the D20 available on the manual-trans trucks and Cherokees right through 1979.

So I guess the answer is no, since the D20 equipped trucks didn't outsell the QT-equipped trucks.

My point is that they didn't offer the D20 in automatic trans equipped models where the Quadratrac was used. Might have turned out different if such was the case.


Flint, I meant things like lower gear ratios for the LR unit, 4340 chain, etc.

[Bob Barry]

My point is that they didn't offer the D20 in automatic trans equipped models where the Quadratrac was used. Might have turned out different if such was the case.


I don't know how it could have turned out better; FSJ sales increased throughout the 70's, peaking in the final year of the use of the BW1339, 1979.

I don't think a part-time case would have made the vehicles more desireable, as even when the offered the NP208 and the NP219/NP229 at the same time, the optional cases with the full-time modes were more popular.

[Wagabond]

I don't think I'll give anybody credit for using the Qtrac. The 70's obsession with FT4WD I'll never really get, especially when the technology didn't really seem to be there.

[Mikel]

I don't think I'll give anybody credit for using the Qtrac. The 70's obsession with FT4WD I'll never really get, especially when the technology didn't really seem to be there.

I think the QT worked pretty well.

[The PIG Smith]

Goodness Mike! Why did you need to go and get Flint and all these other QT enthusiasts all stirred up!
We'll need to hose them down after this!
< just kidding with ya! :D >

I agree with you 100%, that it was Jeep and not Ford to have the 'Better Idea" and the BW1339 was the superior product of that time.

I personally have never owned a QT and while I can not speak to how well they perform, they are many here that do swear by them.
I poke fun at Flint and Janie because because the QT's age and increasing hard to to find parts, there are many posts about broke or ailing QT.
The QT seems to not have past the test of time and is mostly due to owner neglect.
There has been some loose talk about getting the "cones" and other hard to find QT parts reproduced.
For the sake of our community, I hope those parts do indeed get reproduced and breathe new life into the QT.

[jeeping1974]

the QT does work well.... when the vaccum diaphram works. i will give the QT props though, it is tough on the inside for standing up to a mildly built 360 and a heavy right foot.

[fulsizjeep]

My point is that they didn't offer the D20 in automatic trans equipped models where the Quadratrac was used. Might have turned out different if such was the case.

Flint, I meant things like lower gear ratios for the LR unit, 4340 chain, etc.

Pretty sure if you really wanted a T400/D20 and had the bones at order time, AMC would make it for ya up through 79. I have seen a 78 WT Cherokee with 401/T400/D20 and if my memory serves me correctly, it was a factory config.

It's all good. I ain't no machinist, but think it is possible to use a modified low range unit between the tranny and the QT to get a double low option. It would require a longer spud shaft to exit the back of the 1st low range to mate the QT up and another crossmember too probably.

[Spock]

I remember a post made a while ago and I think that person made a very good point. Someone had mentioned that these q-trac units were only ever designed to last say 10 years with average driving. To have them still around today with double or triple mileages on these units is a testament to their engineering.
To compare apples to apples at the time, the q-trac was pretty good. To compare it to current units, I think it still has some tricks up its sleeve.

[79 widetrack]

My current bw1339 has gone through quite a bit and needed rebuilt a while back and it drives great after the rebuild. Quote the original owner, "i had to have it rebuilt at about 130k on it, (new chain) and it needs a rebuild now at 250k" right when i bought it. Lets hope the part-time case i'm getting from jeeping1974 will last another 60k at least before i get into it again. Still keeping mine as it was rebuilt 6k ago but doesn't have the part-time kit in it and i wanted that.

If i ever decide to go with a tire bigger than 35s and a taller lift i will probably go the d300 route with the adaptors.

[tgreese]

So if everything was going so well, why did Jeep switch to the Chrysler automatics and New Porcess transfer cases in 1980? This change has been referred to as 'the end of the great transmission era' at Jeep. As I understand it, the B-W manual transmissions went away because of the CAFE standards, but the TF727 would not have been any big improvement over the TH400 in that department. Price? GM's automatic transmissions had a great reputation at the time ... they were the industry standard.

[Kali]

im betting it was all for fuel economy... remember there was a huge gas crises in 78 and 79. the 727 is every bit as strong as a 400, and it has more highway oriented gear ratios. anyone want to weigh one? i would venture a guess its lighter than a 400. then add the lighter NP cases and youve got a couple hundred less pounds and a bit better gearing to make these rigs more fuel efficient. jeep did a pretty good job with this change in my opinion. kept the low range specs almost identical for that same legendary jeep performance off road and shaved a few hundred rpms off the highway cruising. all with mostly comparable strength units.

with that being said, i still wish my 82 had a QT in it. I like the 208 and its strength and fuel economy (lol), but I really like the QT.

[79 widetrack]

Also as one of our topics stated a bit ago a th400 trans eats quite a bit more horsepower than a 727 does. That is in a topic just a little while ago.

[grand_wag_85]

Quadra-Tracs deserve every bit of their reputation, both good and bad. Most other t-cases if exposed to the neglect most QT's are when they go, would probably outlast the QT 10 fold. However, QT's can be built to last alot longer than they were from the factory. It's a double edged sword really, treat it like crap and it'll come right back atcha, treat it well and it will treat you well.

[Mikel]

I'll begin by saying that I'm a big fan of the QT. It bothers me to no end that 99% of the people who love to badmouth the QT in the "jeep world" have never owned one and know nothing about it. They are simply spreading the misinformation they've heard from equally ignorant people.

In my opinion, the QT is a great transfer case, way ahead of its time. It makes all-weather driving a pleasure and it is more robust than most chain driven T/C's (so common nowadays). The problem with the QT is that it needs regular maintenance and some consumable items. Without these, it WILL fail. I'll venture to say that most QT's still in existance are probably due for a chain replacement or have the wrong fluid (or the old fluid was never changed in 35 years). Nor surprisingly, a lot of these are failing in the hands of people who don't know how to care for them. Is this the fault of the QT? No.But it doesn't keep these people from blaming the poor QT.

There is also the crowd who will run away screaming at the mere mention of an aluminum cased T/C. Most case breakages in a QT that I've seen are due to overly stretched chains riding over the sprockets and destroying the case (see my earlier point about neglect). I am yet to see a non-stretched chain break. Also, the relative fragility of the case is a lesser factor in a FSJ, due to the protection offered by the frame. Lesser trucks have the driveline hanging far lower than ours.

I still have the QT from my first FSJ, sitting in my basement. If the NP200 in my J300 starts misbehaving, I'll convert it to a divorced setup and put it back to use ;)

[J10Mike]

Goodness Mike! Why did you need to go and get Flint and all these other QT enthusiasts all stirred up!
Well Bryan, I had no intention of stirring things up. It's just an observation of the full time transfer case offerings of that era. And, the Big Three's offerings during that very same era couldn't touch the BW QT. It truly was an innovation and far ahead of it's competitors and time.

[79 widetrack]

There's alot of guys that have bad talked it but there's also alot of guys that praise it as being a very solid t-case. I've seen numerous pictures and videos of quadratrac equipped rigs going places i would never venture and never haveing problems along the way. From what i understand it was meant to be a military offering at first and we have seen alot of great innovations from military vehicles in the past. If it can withstand the things i've seen it do in the past i'm sure it will far outdo whatever i'm going to throw at it in the future. Besides that i actually service what needs to be serviced on my vehicles. And the way i see it is i've seen it in far worse conditions than anyone who ever designed it thought it was going to be used for and it has gone way beyond what it was intended for and lived through it. The nasty talk i have seen of it for the most part the people never even knew they had to measure slack in the chain when serviceing, and even better some of the people were saying "what serviceing?" If you looked at all of the times the t-case has failed when it had a good chain in it (and i mean a real chain , not a made in china chain) they are few and far between.

[The PIG Smith]

I'll begin by saying that I'm a big fan of the QT. It bothers me to no end that 99% of the people who love to badmouth the QT in the "jeep world" have never owned one and know nothing about it. They are simply spreading the misinformation they've heard from equally ignorant people.

Okay, a little damage control from me....
I will freely admit, I am probably one of these types people you are referring to.
As I have already mentioned, I have never owned a QT.
I do not consider myself to have ever badmouthed the QT, but I do poke fun at those who have had issues with them.
It is sad that anyone would bash anything out of ignorance.
I try to stay well informed, but I am often wrong.

As I stated earlier, I do not feel the QT has passed the test of time.
There are many more posts about broken QT than those praising it.
Does this mean it is a bad case?
Absolutely not!
Poor maintenance and abuse from owners that misunderstood the QT, 30+ years old and hard to find parts are top
on the list of reasons why the QT has a bad reputation.

There is no doubt in my mind that a QT is just as good if not better than anything today, provided that it is good working order.
It's these off the wall parts made from unobtainium that make the QT best suited for enthusiasts and not average owners.

While I would have no problem owning a QT equipped rig, I will stick with my NP/NV units for now.
I have other Jeep issues I struggle with and do not need to add a 30 year old transfercase woes to my troubles.

[79 widetrack]

Okay, a little damage control from me....
I will freely admit, I am probably one of these types people you are referring to.
As I have already mentioned, I have never owned a QT.
I do not consider myself to have ever badmouthed the QT, but I do poke fun at those who have had issues with them.
It is sad that anyone would bash anything out of ignorance.
I try to stay well informed, but I am often wrong.

As I stated earlier, I do not feel the QT has passed the test of time.
There are many more posts about broken QT than those praising it.
Does this mean it is a bad case?
Absolutely not!
Poor maintenance and abuse from owners that misunderstood the QT, 30+ years old and hard to find parts are top
on the list of reasons why the QT has a bad reputation.

There is no doubt in my mind that a QT is just as good if not better than anything today, provided that it is good working order.
It's these off the wall parts made from unobtainium that make the QT best suited for enthusiasts and not average owners.

While I would have no problem owning a QT equipped rig, I will stick with my NP/NV units for now.
I have other Jeep issues I struggle with and do not need to add a 30 year old transfercase woes to my troubles.


That is why i wanted to go the part-time kit to get rid of a few parts that i won't be able to find later on in life.

[crispyboy]

Note: name change - crispyboy a.k.a. 13lftmfsj

When I was a young boy at age 10 my dad bought a 1978 Cherokee 4 door narrow track with the quadra-trac tcase. Dad always keeps his vehicles maintained..... Dad put 180K trouble free miles on that Jeep before he sold it. He loved that vehicle like no other because of it's many attributes - nice riding classy car for his clients, good all weather driving, big enough to take the family on trips out west several times, etc..... The only downside was the 3.09 axle ratio which was a dog though I remember going through Wyoming on a trip on time and he pulled 17 mpg's.
As far as the 727 tranny goes - this beast started back in the 1960's and went up into the 1990's with the final version as the 518 with overdrive. I just had my tranny fluid changed and adjusted at a local tranny mechanic shop - he absolutely loves this transmission and stated that it was equal or better than the turbo 400 - as a comparison of that era.

If I knew I could get the parts/fluid I would never be scared to own a quadratrac.

[fulsizjeep]

I ain't skeered...
http://jubileejeeps.org/picture_library/smite_brutus.jpg
:cool:

[Casey]

Pretty sure if you really wanted a T400/D20 and had the bones at order time, AMC would make it for ya up through 79. I have seen a 78 WT Cherokee with 401/T400/D20 and if my memory serves me correctly, it was a factory config.

It's all good. I ain't no machinist, but think it is possible to use a modified low range unit between the tranny and the QT to get a double low option. It would require a longer spud shaft to exit the back of the 1st low range to mate the QT up and another crossmember too probably.
You are correct sir!
I have seen two W/T Chero's with the 401/TH400/D20 combo, both '78 models. I had a '77 Wagoneer with a 360/TH400/D20. To the best of my knowledge, it was a factory set up.

I like the idea of the QT doubler. I haven't seen one but I have heard of some Rover guys buying up QT low ranges to build dblrs for their rigs.

[Casey]

Okay, a little damage control from me....
I will freely admit, I am probably one of these types people you are referring to.
As I have already mentioned, I have never owned a QT.
I do not consider myself to have ever badmouthed the QT, but I do poke fun at those who have had issues with them.
It is sad that anyone would bash anything out of ignorance.
I try to stay well informed, but I am often wrong.

As I stated earlier, I do not feel the QT has passed the test of time.
There are many more posts about broken QT than those praising it.
Does this mean it is a bad case?
Absolutely not!
Poor maintenance and abuse from owners that misunderstood the QT, 30+ years old and hard to find parts are top
on the list of reasons why the QT has a bad reputation.

There is no doubt in my mind that a QT is just as good if not better than anything today, provided that it is good working order.
It's these off the wall parts made from unobtainium that make the QT best suited for enthusiasts and not average owners.

While I would have no problem owning a QT equipped rig, I will stick with my NP/NV units for now.
I have other Jeep issues I struggle with and do not need to add a 30 year old transfercase woes to my troubles.
Nothing has ever been built to carry people over snow covered roads that can match an FSJ with a QT case. If you live where it snows QT rules.

Period, amen.

The 203 was close second for snowy roads.

The latest full time case from Jeep was/is called the quadra-trac. That stands the test of time right there.

I've owned several. Never broken one. Had one break all on its own. I have one out back free for the taking. :)

Personally, I don't really care for a full time case.

[Gambler68]

I like the idea of the QT doubler. I haven't seen one but I have heard of some Rover guys buying up QT low ranges to build dblrs for their rigs.

Flint and I were brainstorming that idea one long ride up to Nebraska..unfortunately the storm was more of a minor squall :P One thing I can think of now would be problems with the huge amount of stress on the second QT in the series. (chain). And wouldnt the front shaft have to reach the front output of the second QT?

[The PIG Smith]

The latest full time case from Jeep was/is called the quadra-trac. That stands the test of time right there.

I've owned several. Never broken one. Had one break all on its own. I have one out back free for the taking. :)

Personally, I don't really care for a full time case.

Time to open my mouth and insert my foot, something I do well.
I do not know what case you are referring too when you speak about the latest full time case.

In my '99 WJ, I have a full time case, NV-247 Quadra-Trac II.
Jeep calls is an "on demand system".
It runs in 2WD until 'it' decides that 'it' needs 4WD and then 'it' engages the front axle.
So, to the unsuspecting owner/driver, the rear end will need to loose traction and come around before the 4WD kicks in.
It rarely kicks in until after I spin the tires in the snow.

I've whined about this crappy system before and it gets my blood pressure up just thinking about it.
I've know others have WJs and enjoy them.
Do not mistake my bitterness as a bash against other WJ owners or other WJ for that matter.
I dislike 'my' WJ and the way 'its' 4WD system works.

The BW1339 case is a zillion times better than the NV-247 Quadra-Trac II.
I would want to hope that cases installed in '07 and '08 model Jeeps are better.

Additionally, I would venture a guess, that a 258 I6 in a late 70's Wagoneer, that was properly tuned and in working order,
does not get that much less fuel economy than my WJ and its 4.0L I6. (avg 17/18 MPG)
So, my point, a Wag with an I6 and QT is a superior Jeep than a WJ with a 4.0L I6.
Just more kudos for the original Quadratrak.

[The PIG Smith]

Looking back through the posts, I saw where this discussion has died.
It may have died because of my rants.
I am making this post to publicly apologize if I have offended anyone here or scared anyone away from adding to this discussion.

J10Mike, sorry derailing your posting about the Quadratrac transfercase.

[fulsizjeep]

Bryan - You had such impact on the topic, I was afraid to post myself... :D <j/k>

I think that this thread is not getting much mileage because most of you have conceded to the fact that the QuadraTrac was and is the best transfer case ever put in any Jeep by AMC and that there is no debate to be had about it. :p

[Mikel]

Not at all. There is no demographic more informed in QT matters than this forum. My comment was about those who had a cousin who knew a guy whose friend's sister had a blown QT, which proves beyond any shadow of doubt that the QT sucks. OTOH, tere is nothing wrong with some civilized discussion. Isn't that what this site is for? :thumbsup:

Okay, a little damage control from me....
I will freely admit, I am probably one of these types people you are referring to.

[turtlejoe]

I learned how to drive in Ohio in QT equipped Wagoneer's and Cherokee's and it was easily the best 4WD available. Especially for a new driver, the QT probably saved my butt a hundred times. Being able to go from plowed to unplowed streets, or wet to dry, or asphalt to dirt without having to think was awesome.

Now that I'm 30 years older and living in Texas, I still think it's one of the best. We can go long stretches here without much weather, but when it comes it can get nasty. Between torrential down pours, ice storms and occasional snow the QT is easily the best option for trouble-free 4WD.

Recently, I procured a NOS QT case for just under 800 bones - this to some seems quite expensive. I could have switched over to some other case, but I'm pretty sure I would have spent at least that much and had more labor. My original case has 186K on it with only 1 chain change required (at 184K!) - testament to the durability of a properly maintained unit.

[janie]

I ain't skeered...
http://jubileejeeps.org/picture_library/smite_brutus.jpg
:cool:


Me neither.:thumbsup:

[fulsizjeep]

hee hee hee, especially if you know the voodoo! :thumbsup:

Many burnt offerings and blessings with used QT fluids in a bent FSJ hubcap, then pass the pie! :cool:

[ne715]

hee hee hee, especially if you know the voodoo! :thumbsup:

Many burnt offerings and blessings with used QT fluids in a bent FSJ hubcap, then pass the pie! :cool:


When I first converted my 715 (now Ethans) to 360, 400, Quadtrak I fully expected it to go south in a hurry. Not because it was weak, or poorly designed but rather because it was pulling a detroit locked extremely heavy vehicle that ran high rpm's due to gear ratio and I didn't baby it. I built it to wheel and that's what I did with it. I used this truck heavily down in Kansas at the ORV park and it seen plenty of tall rocks, deep mud, and steep hills covered with loose shale. Never broke the case!!!! Had a '79 with Quadtrak that got me home safely through many a Nebraska snowstorm and never went off the road. Always straight down the road over snow, ice, and heavy wind. No shifting no muss no fuss. Ethan still runs a quadtrak in the 715 and if it was not good, I'm sure he would have changed it out. I will always like the Quadtrak and defend it's ability and ease of operation. Daughter now has one in her J-pickup and I will keep a spare Quadtrak in case something happens to hers, but I'm guessing it will sit in the garage for a very long time before I ever would need it.
Thats my $.02 worth.

[J10Mike]

J10Mike, sorry derailing your posting about the Quadratrac transfercase.
Bryan,
You didn't derail my post what so ever. I do understand the issues you have had with your WJ. I guess I was fortunate not to have those same problems with our 2 WJs.
Going off topic now...I traded in my WJ for that CTD Dodge truck back in April. I have read your posts on diesels lately...Feel the power of the Cummins brother. It will make a believer out of you.
I added the Juice chip to my CTD...Like WOW. I increased my HP from 245HP factory to 395HP. I increased my Torque from 505 Ft/Lbs to 625 Ft/Lbs. It also produces a lot of black smoke now...Keeps the tailgaters off my azz...I like that.
Getting back on topic...The BW1339 QT just rules. Still way ahead of it's time by today's standards.
Party On...

[grand_wag_85]

One more QT story. Way back when I first got my '79 I took a friend out for a ride thru the then snow covered roads of the Delaware Water Gap. He liked it so much he went out and got an '81 Cherokee Laredo, not QT I know. However, he just got a '76 J10 parts donor and the QT& TH400 is going into the '81 along with the front end from the J10.

[dngrs1]

I love my QT! I DON'T HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK TO LOCK THE HUBS! 'Nuff said.

[Don S]

..


... As many of you know for my style of Colorado mountain offloading the BW-1339 case is,… IMHO... even today the best. Not having to make the wife get out in the rain, snow and mud to lock hubs is just an added plus. :eek:

I‘d like to shed a little extra light about the WJ QuadraTrac-II QuadraDrive in some ‘99 and later GCs.

Our '99 4.7 WJ Quadra-Drive was an ’On Demand’ unit. The front axle only gets power when the rear axle has a wheel or wheels spinning faster than the front. The different speed of the front and rear drive shafts causes the V-lock (an oil pump applying pressure to clutches) in the transfer case to sent power to the front like an LSD. As soon as the front and rear drive shafts equalize speed the front axle loses all power. If you need and are on the gas for power the front wheels go in and out of drive mode rapidly. The easy way to solve the problem is to sell… we did!
The Case is locked in 4wd when in 4 low.

... If the WJ had the BW-1339 we would have kept it... Even with sorry brakes and power steering.

Have a good one while you can still laugh about it.. Don S..
If something I’ve posted on the Internet offends you please ignore it.
If you don’t know how to ignore something on the Internet e-mail me … and I’ll demonstrate.

[mattmopar440]

I don't have one on my jeep but my buddy dose i like his blow a drive shaft E drive get stuck low rage is crazy on those things

[1977cherokeechief]

i have been working on a 77cherokee for the past year, i havent had much of a chance to drive it and i dont want to until i change all the fluids front to rear. i have dont the coolant, engine oil, and tranny. I am having a hard time finding a local supplier to get me some fluid for my QT... kinda affraid to open the drain plug, dont know any history on the jeep before my dad bought it and then gave it to a friend and i got it back from the friend... ne ways the owner before my dad had hacked the rear fenders off, so i am kinda affraid to see what fluid is in the QT,


***Hijack*** if for some reason i open it up and get red fluid (i know it is auto trans fluid) then what do i need to do to get the right stuff in it besides draining it and refilling it with the right stuff???? ***end of hijack***

[shepherdskeep]

If ATF comes out of the drain plug, first check to see if it's been converted to part-time. If it hasn't, that's definitely the wrong fluid! :eek:

[1977cherokeechief]

If ATF comes out of the drain plug, first check to see if it's been converted to part-time. If it hasn't, that's definitely the wrong fluid! :eek:


its not part-time but what all would i need to do to make sure i get all the atf fluid out???

[fulsizjeep]

If you have a stock unit with ATF in it, you may have damaged parts inside. If I were you, I'd be tearing it down for inspection and possible repair and at the very least new seals. Then you'll get all the ATF out.

If you are not that concerned, most of it will drain out through the chain inspection hole and just fill it up with the liquid gold and cross your fingers.

[W O S]

Here in Utah, we hunt. Fall in Utah can be dry as a bone, or wet, or snowy, or slushy, or mucky, or muddy, or frozen, or "D", all of the above. Where we hunt, it is 10,000 feet above sea level. Also, we pull our trailer with our Jeep. It is a 20 foot travel trailer and Salt Lake City is at 4000 feet. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that you have to go up approx 6000 feet to get to our hunting grounds. Our hunting rig is pushed to its limit every year. Sometimes just GETTING to the hunting grounds can be an adventure. Anyway, the point is that those of us that hunt, here in Utah anyway, are not posers.

I've been hunting since 1977. The first 3 years we used a Ford truck, with a standard (non full time) transfer case. We got stuck a lot. (for lots of reasons, not just the inferior transfer case!) In 1980, my dad bought our first Jeep product. A 1976 Wagoneer with a Quadratrac. Long story short: We have worn out 5 FSJ Jeeps since then. ALL with the Quadratrac, and NONE ever had any problems with the quadratrac unit. (Now dashboard wiring, and rust, thats another story...)

We now have a 1976 (different) Wagoneer, with Widetrack axles and a 4 inch lift that we built specific for our hunting needs. (Got tired of getting high centered in our stock Jeeps) When purchased 6 years ago, it showed 35,000 miles on the clock. The PO said it was 235,000! We built the truck, took it out hunting and heard a noise that we had never heard before. It didn't take long to figure out that it was the dreaded transfer case chain slipping. We STILL abused the truck that year and heard that chain slip every day during hunting season. It still got us around the mountain and brought us home, towing the trailer. After hunting season was over, BJ's hooked us up, and in one night it was repaired. In other words, out of 27 years of using Quadratracs, I've got approximately 3 or 4 hours of maintenance time put into them!

When this Jeep wears out (or is wrecked beyond repair), we will look for another FSJ with a Quadratrac.

I won't go so far as to say it is the best transfer case in the world, but I will say that in 27 years of honest to goodness off road use in real world situations, the quadratrac has passed MY test and I will continue to use them as long as I can.

Edit: I must add one statement: We always made sure our quadratracs were full of fluid AND had the CORRECT fluid in them!

Randy