Thread: Is a Jeep Grand Cherokee really better than a D4?

Chances are we will own a new 8 speed diesel Grand Cherokee before the year is out Graeme, so I for one would be interested in a fully functioning Llams unit with extended lift.

Out of interest how much extra lift can you safely get out of one without it topping out all the time?

cheers,
Terry

The vehicle was topping out creeping over my driveway ruts on OR2 so I suspect that another OR1 or similar increment wouldn't leave much movement but I will try the vehicle at faster speeds assuming Llams fitment goes to plan to see how it compares with the Disco. I hope the owner doesn't object too loudly as the vehicle is so new.

Do you think that you would want unrestricted speed for OR2 height if there's very little movement? I thought that 65/80 would be plenty fast enough under those conditions because I would expect the vehicle to be tossed around too much by the bumps. However OR1 might be a little low for high crown outback roads although their exhausts don't hang as low as it does on Discos. The only reason for Llams providing OR1 height is so that effectively only the speed limit is removed.

The plan is to fit and tailor late this week. However once the loom is fitted the module can be swapped without having to visit so minor adjustments will be possible. I hope to decide by the end of this next session whether to have 1 or 2 raised heights as if only 1 raised height then I'd limit the switch movement and could also omit program code to honour the highest setting. The vehicle owner is intending to take the vehicle off-road for the 1st time in the upcoming school holidays so I expect to get some useful feedback before too long. Hence it may be worthwhile to leave the 2 heights enabled at least for a while.

Extended lift would be possible just with Llams OR1 added to native OR2 without having a Llams OR2. Hopefully there will be some good practical test results next w/e.

Hi Graeme,

It still would be nice to know how much extra usable height one can get from a Grand Cherokee if Llams was fitted.

If it was like the unit on a D3/4 where the Llams full extension dropped back down once it got to its preset speed that would be fine as full Llams extension is only used in really rough situations anyway.

Given how many of these things are being sold here in Oz I would imagine the market for them could be potentially quite extensive once people new this was available.

cheers,
Terry

It would work the same way as the LR version because it would provide raised height whilst on the normal height setting therefore without a speed limit and would raise the OR1 height to OR2 with OR1's speed limit. The dilema is whether to provide OR2 height without any speed limit or provide for only 64 kph continuous which isn't much good for high crown outback gravel roads, unless OR1 is high enough.

Havent driven the latest cherokee, but the last one I drove back to back with hte D4 in 2011. The jeep was set up to copy the d4, but didnt hit the mark, wheel travel was not as good, so the air suspension clunked and thuded. The inside was nice, comfortable and well laid out. It drove well and handled well, but no where near as well as the D4.
THe new cherokee is supposed to be loads better, Tusker has bought one as a 3rd car for touring, he still has the defender for anything serious. ?
If I wanted a comfortable 4wd that had an interior spec level of the D4, for the price of a Defender, I'd give one a look for sure.

The clunking and banging in early current model GC's was found out to be because of faulty rear shocks. I believe they have fixed that issue.

New update model that comes out mid year apart from a 8 speed supposedly has all new Terrain Response programming so should be improved on that front.

With a LLams kit fitted and the standard ediff that comes in the Overland model they should be reasonably good off road. Time will tell.

cheers,
Terry

As most would probably know, I had the D4 3.0Lt and have downscaled to a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited.
It has the Mercedes 3.0Lt diesel and running gear.
The engine is very quiet & smooth.....more so than the D4.
The Limited spec gives you electric memory leather seats, navigation, electric sunroof, auto wipers etc etc etc.
Have since added a 3" lift kit, second battery, GDE ECU power upgrade, 3" exhaust system, bigger wheels & tyres, and a few other bits.

The Limited model comes standard with the Quadradrive 11 system that provides a locking front & rear diff as well as traction control. Only had it 10 weeks and haven't had a chance to take it off road as yet, but from what I am told, they are extremely capable.

The power upgrade means that I now have the same power & torque as the D4 3.0Lt in a vehicle that is 500Kg lighter. It will accelerate to 100Kph in around 7.4 seconds and pull my boat etc with ease.
The vehicle including all my add ons has cost just under $30K. Not bad considering what I now have.

I must admit, you cannot beat the ride of the D4's air suspension. Best out of any vehicle I have owned.

Now for the bagging...........

Cheers, Craig

These car of the year awards are a joke.

The Falcon 4 cyl turbo has won a few. And look how many of those have sold, the market showing what it thinks...