My Review: NP 231 vs. NP 242

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:11 am

After owning two Jeeps, one with the NP 242 transfer case (also known as Select Trac) and the second one with the NP 231 transfer case (also known as Command Trac), I prefer the NP 242. Driving on pavement is so much safer knowing you can leave your Jeep in the FULL TIME mode. Driving home tonight, I saw vehicles in the ditches due to extreme temperature drop. What was water once second was ice the next. In FULL TIME mode, you don’t have to worry when that extra traction is needed. I’ve pretty much left my transfer case in the FULL TIME mode all winter, on all paved conditions, and driving at all speeds.

03Cactus · **Joined:** Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:03 pm **Posts:** 49

Hey man, I appreciate your review and your post and am in no way bashing, but i did want to point out that your preference says you prefer an AWD vehicle to a 4WD vehicle. What you use your vehicle for obviously plays a big part in that opinion. My opinion is that the NVG231 is a more offroad capable transfer case and is a true 4wd transfer case vice the NP242 which is more road friendly, less offroad capable, and is not the stereotypical "jeep" transfer case.

I apologize if that sounds like a bash, not the intent.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:01 am

My Jeep is an off-road sexual tyrannosaurus but I do acknowledge that the NP242 is only for the true enthusiast.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:39 am

The 242 has a max torque rating of 1486 ft/lb - and a weird shifter
other that they're great.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:43 am

I greatly prefer the 242. Weve got two Jeeps with the 242, one has around 105,000 miles and mine has 45,000, and weve never had any problems out of either of them. Weve also got a dodge truck with a part time tcase, and two more jeeps with AWD. AWD is great for people that just really do not understand nor need to mess around with 4wd. They never need to think about it, its always there, and they can lock it in low if they need to but probably do not understand what that means so they never do.

For me, the option of having 2wd, part time, full time, and low are great. I drive in the city 80% of my time so being able to put it in full time for weeks at a time is great. Then if I get into serious snow I can use part time then for offroad I have low.

dieselenthusiast · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 1:39 pm

03Cactus wrote:

Hey man, I appreciate your review and your post and am in no way bashing, but i did want to point out that your preference says you prefer an AWD vehicle to a 4WD vehicle. What you use your vehicle for obviously plays a big part in that opinion. My opinion is that the NVG231 is a more offroad capable transfer case and is a true 4wd transfer case vice the NP242 which is more road friendly, less offroad capable, and is not the stereotypical "jeep" transfer case.

I apologize if that sounds like a bash, not the intent.

No bash taken............. I do have a question though. Are you referring to the lack of a 32-spline output for the NP 242?

As far as stereotypical, I understand what you are saying, but we also know that Jeep has been offering AWD’s dating back to the full-size Wagoneers.

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 20, 2010 2:11 pm

03Cactus wrote:

Hey man, I appreciate your review and your post and am in no way bashing, but i did want to point out that your preference says you prefer an AWD vehicle to a 4WD vehicle. What you use your vehicle for obviously plays a big part in that opinion. My opinion is that the NVG231 is a more offroad capable transfer case and is a true 4wd transfer case vice the NP242 which is more road friendly, less offroad capable, and is not the stereotypical "jeep" transfer case.

I apologize if that sounds like a bash, not the intent.

you know that the 242 has full time (awd) and part time (4wd) and is has a 4 low range as well as good ol' 2 high right?

if you are eluding to that maximum torque handling of the t-cases (i don't know exactly what they are but think the 242 is rated for less), i ask is that you consider the weak dana 30a in the front, that is the true limiting factor, not the t-case. and if we are going to start that pi$$ing contest again, let's just lay the gauntlet down with the 241or! :goink:

think of how much easier it would be to bust the front diff with a 4:1 low!

you can break anything if you try hard enough!

and for the record, i have had both in my liberty and prefer the 242, the full time option is great for the winter season!

Neatus · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:32 pm

Living in AZ I have pretty much no use for a full time option. The 231 has been around for a long time and has a lot of aftermarket support. It is a good T case and there are different kits to make it more of what you want. It is also fairly durable. I don't think it is a matter of what is better but more a matter of what you want. Oh, but for the record, the 231 is better. :goink:

InCommando · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 2:59 pm

242 cannot be had with a stick. :cry:

Albert · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 3:52 pm

I was not going to post since this will turn into a "mine is better than yours thread" and that is not the point. I have run both the 231 and the 242. Had no trouble with either. I also off-road.

The 242 is better for me for on-road use because where I live we get a lot of snow and many times roads are part snow and part pavement. Then I can just put it in full-time and not worry about it. Off road I always use part-time just like it was a 231. I find the 242 more convenient for my usage. I would never use the full-time position off-road.

If I lived in one of the western desert states I would not need the 242 and a 231 would be just fine.

So it all just depends on where you are, your weather and what is your usage. There is no right or wrong answer. It just depends on your local driving conditions where you live and drive on which one is better for you.

:JEEPIN:

cmohr · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:25 pm

InCommando wrote:

242 cannot be had with a stick. :cry:

Bugger, This what I was wanting.. I did have a V6 auto with the 242 and I find the Fulltime option sensational on wet roads, and just for touring long distances on dirt roads, when you are travelling at speeds of 50 60 mph, it gives you traction and grip on corners without stressing/binding up the drivetrain like you can get in Partime. Its also great in sand. Now I have a CRD Manual with the 231, and I'm a little concerend about having 4.10s, DTT and big 31/10.5/15 Mud tyres on the front and only having a Fully locked up 4Hi option..

Is it a spline thing or the way it bolts on that is the problem, I understand you probably need a new drive shaft as well.

InCommando · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:31 pm

From what I have read a few places, the opertion of a manual transmission will eat up a 242. Perhaps it is the driveline slack/tension of the clutch being used. I do not know. Like some others on here, I have read of people trying to mate a stick and a 242 only to have the 242 commit suicide. The transmission can be physically attached to the 242, but they don't work together.

This is true of several AWD systems. IIRC, it includes the original main stream usage here, the Quadratrac from the mid-70's.

cmohr · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 5:57 pm

Whats the 241????????????

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:17 pm

the 241 is a heavy duty version of the 231 (normally used in truck v8 applications)
and for the Rubicon is fitted with 4:1 low range gears.

cmohr · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:34 am

Ahhhhh.. thanks for that.....

dgeist · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:49 am

InCommando wrote:

From what I have read a few places, the opertion of a manual transmission will eat up a 242. Perhaps it is the driveline slack/tension of the clutch being used. I do not know. Like some others on here, I have read of people trying to mate a stick and a 242 only to have the 242 commit suicide. The transmission can be physically attached to the 242, but they don't work together.

This is true of several AWD systems. IIRC, it includes the original main stream usage here, the Quadratrac from the mid-70's.

Supposedly it's the shock-load induced by the modern driver (lazy people who require clutches to drive and can't synchromesh with their right foot :wink:

...) Once engaged and if you didn't break the Al chain shifting, you're golden.

I do have one pipe-dream for the 242 (which I know will never happen). The beauty of an AWD system is when your wheels slip on one axle, you know that the other definitely DOES have traction. That's not really the case with the 242, as it's still an open diff. If someone found a way to put a torsen center diff in there (and not make it fragile), I'd buy it

InCommando · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 10:58 am

The 242 really is a good transfer case and it does what it was designed to do well.

I am old, and prefer old things, and that is one reason I have a 6spd & 241.

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:00 am

dgeist wrote:

I do have one pipe-dream for the 242 (which I know will never happen). The beauty of an AWD system is when your wheels slip on one axle, you know that the other definitely DOES have traction. That's not really the case with the 242, as it's still an open diff. If someone found a way to put a torsen center diff in there (and not make it fragile), I'd buy it

yeah, like a trac-lok for the transfer case, that would be sweet! but even without it, there is a night and day difference in snow and rain.

BVCRD · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:44 am

I like having the extra choice in the 242. Like DE said, sometimes you feel safer in "full time" 4x4 instead of the hassle of putting it in PT, then a dry patch of road shows up, so you have to take it out again and so on.

Daksport · **Posted:** Fri Feb 26, 2010 12:05 pm

BVCRD wrote:

I like having the extra choice in the 242. Like DE said, sometimes you feel safer in "full time" 4x4 instead of the hassle of putting it in PT, then a dry patch of road shows up, so you have to take it out again and so on.

I agree. I've always had PT 4x4's previous to my Liberty but now that I have the FT 4x4 it takes a lot of the hassle out of driving

My Review: NP 231 vs. NP 242

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