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2016 Limited or Trailhawk my Dilemma

7K views 46 replies 27 participants last post by  Leems 
#1 ·
Basically both the limited car I built and the TH cost $4300.00

Here is the deal.

I love the look of the Trailhawk, especially the red tow hooks, the red stitching for the seats and the blackout decal on the hood. Plus it comes with the ADS II drive system which is superior to ADSI and thus is immune to the wobble issue.

However the Limited is the only option that allows me to get the factory HID/bi-Xenon lights. Also limited uses ADS which still has the straight drive shaft and will suffer the wobble issue. As of right now only the 2014-2015 have a TBS for FCA to fix any wobble issues that might arise.

I will be leasing this car for 2 years with the option to buy the car out if in fact it turns out not to be a lemon. With all the issues I am hearing with the VF9 speed transmission and some other things I figured leasing is the best way to see for myself if the car will prove it's self within a 2 year time frame.

I am well aware of all the HID modifications being done on the 2014-2015 cars, but as of right now not a single person has been able to get the 2016 cars working 100% with HID modifications since FCA made some computer/voltage check changes to the lights.

Thoughts, and opinions are welcome.
 
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#2 ·
see if you can test drive a trailhawk at night. the headlights are incredibly worthless, but they aren't bad if you leave the fog lamps on. i dont think limiteds have issue with a wobble but i havent read many threads to verify. a brand new vehicle with warranty should always give you peace of mind, i think it will be win win either way you go. good luck
 
#3 ·
I thought the limited had AD2 also just without the rear locker. Test drive the TH at night. I have no complaints of the headlights at all. The fog lamps do not illuminate anything though which is to be expected and normal. I drive 2600 miles a month and have no complaints with lights at all. I also have no regrets for not getting a limited.
 
#5 ·
If you like the look of the TH, go with the TH, worst case scenario is that you'll put with the headlights until a better set of LED's or HID's comes out that are easier to install. The manufacturers are working on the changes to the '16's and will solve it soon.

I personally do see that the lights are bad with fogs.
 
#6 ·
Yikes....

Ok for clarification. Limited comes standard with ADSI.

I don;t have the best night vision, so it's critical that I get the best illumination at night. I have driven my friends 2016 Grand Cherokee with the included HID's and vision is excellent which is to be expected with HIDS. I have seen the TH light at night and they are garbage and unexceptionable for a top of the line $4300.00 car.

FCA is really pissing me off. I just can't even begin to fathom why they would deprive there top of the line KL Cherokee of HID and instead put in place halogen lights that emit an illumination similar to a car from 2001.

I could take a gamble and see if at some point XenonDepot will be able to figure out the new 2016 minimum current threshold and find the solution to the voltage cut off issue which will just shut the light off.

The Trailhawk package IMHO is what really set this jeep apart from the rest and gives it that panache/Distinct style where as the others just look plan and boring to the eye and tends to blend in with all the other cars.


By the way guys what do you think for color, I am debating between these two:
-Granite Crystal metallic
-Rhino.
The granite looks nice but due to how dark it is you see very little contrast between the front hood decal, where as the Rhino is more noticeable.
 
#7 ·
Yikes....

Ok for clarification. Limited comes standard with ADSI.

I don;t have the best night vision, so it's critical that I get the best illumination at night. I have driven my friends 2016 Grand Cherokee with the included HID's and vision is excellent which is to be expected with HIDS. I have seen the TH light at night and they are garbage and unexceptionable for a top of the line $4300.00 car.

FCA is really pissing me off. I just can't even begin to fathom why they would deprive there top of the line KL Cherokee of HID and instead put in place halogen lights that emit an illumination similar to a car from 2001.

I could take a gamble and see if at some point XenonDepot will be able to figure out the new 2016 minimum current threshold and find the solution to the voltage cut off issue which will just shut the light off.

The Trailhawk package IMHO is what really set this jeep apart from the rest and gives it that panache/Distinct style where as the others just look plan and boring to the eye and tends to blend in with all the other cars.


By the way guys what do you think for color, I am debating between these two:
-Granite Crystal metallic
-Rhino.
The granite looks nice but due to how dark it is you see very little contrast between the front hood decal, where as the Rhino is more noticeable.
Granite Crystal, you want to see no transition between the Decal and color, look at my garage. I have Black and you really can't see the decal. Rhino is too close to the Blue, they should have kept Anvil and just renamed it.
 
#9 ·
I went with a TH for several reasons:
1) love the fender flares
2) like the tires/wheels
3) like the skid plates for when I am someplace I find out I should NOT be when I hear them hitting rocks.
4) like the red stitching
5) like tow hooks
6) like the more angled look of the nose and tail sections

I too started out considering a non TH but side by side the TH just looked 'mean' and is more capable for off-road, which I do several times a year.

I don't do a lot of night driving but once I'm about 5 minutes into the drive I have adapted to the 'less-than-optimal' headlights on the TH. I did switch my fogs to the bright LED's and that makes a nice difference : - )
 
#10 ·
It's amazing how much people hate the standard halogen projectors. I personally think they are great, they are the best and most uniform non-HID headlights I've ever used.

The Phillips 9012 is also supposed to be one of the most efficient halogen bulb ever produced, which is why there isn't a drop-in upgrade for them. (They're already the best.)
 
#12 ·
I'm guessing there are no HID's available on the TH due to it's water fording capability. Jeep allows for up to 20" of water at 5MPH. I can see how that would effect HIDs negatively.
 
#13 ·
Has nothing to do with water fording. 4X2 N/A - ADI 4X4 19" - ADII 4X4 19". The 20" ADII with Lock 4X4 is because of tire size. HID is just an Limited package with the Luxury Group.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Cant see the decal on a Black TH ? Problem solved ..
 

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#16 ·
Fine you win but, I don't have the $200 US to spend on a new one, don't care though I like my stealth Decal.

:laugh:
 
#18 ·
I had a '14 TH for one year and had so many problems with it, the dealer let me replace it with a '15 Cherokee. Given this second opportunity, I decided to go with a Limited primarily because of the HID lights. I miss the look of the TH, but not the dim lights.
 
#19 ·
I am a senior citizen and my headlights work just fine, but I do use the fog lights most of the time too as they do add to the light and especially at non lighted intersections where the fog lights give you a lot more illumination to the sides. But even on straight road driving I seem to get a lot more illumination with the fog lights on, but maybe mine are aimed just a little higher (from the factory--never touched them) but never get any signals from anybody that I am affecting their vision.
 
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#20 ·
I had a 2011 Grand Cherokee Limited with bi-level Cenon lights but still bought the 2016 TH. There is an easy to install or at least not difficult for any tech to put in from Xenon Depot for under $200. Still I don't feel that the light output is so bad that I need this right now. I will install it during Spring but the better 4WD option and the fact that the TH reminds me much more of the WK2 than a limited did, made my decision for me.

I also really liked the Mango Tango paint scheme. Sure you could take a Limited to Zeibart or a competent exterior tech and have it wrapped in bright orange vinyl and put the black hood decal on it, but these two vehicles are very different to drive. Ask yourself what you want and buy it based on this. My decision was easy coming down from the bigger Gran Cherokee Limited. The vehicle is a blank slate and Jeeps are all about customizing as you go along.




What shall we have? An '82 Margaux! Is it any good? Good....?, It will make you believe in God!
 
#22 ·
See perfect example of how the Trailhawk screams JEEP since it has a much more distinct look, while the others look ordinary and just end up blending in with the rest of the pack.

Initially was going to pick cherry red, but the last 2 cars I owned were all red, F150(1988), Honda Accord(2001)so for once in my life I'd like to get something different, a subdued color but not too much, hence why I like the granite crystal metallic, stealthy with a little flash.

By the way I love your Mango Tango Pearl and if I was living back out West in Vancouver, British Columbia I would have chosen that color. I guess in a strange way the Trailhawk sort of broadcasts a personality/lifestyle and no color does it as well as Mango Tango. I bet you frequently catch people quickly gazing at your car. Where I drive here in Ontario, Canada most people's car color is comprised of shades of Grey and Black and then just whites and some blue.

Heck I even prefer the look of the standard Trailhawk Leather/cloth setting, over it's premium full Leather napa seats.
 
#23 ·


This will be the first time in my life leasing to own a brand car opposed to all my previous cars which were used and purchased at a very steep discount. However I will be forking out with tax $4600.00 if I decide to keep the car, so hopefully it's understandable why being stuck with outdated halogens in this price bracket is a bit of a huge let down for me persoanlly. I think I may just have to gamble in the hopes that Xenondepot will eventually be successful in getting there HID's to work properly with the 2016 models.
 
#27 ·
It's an easy fix with both the projection headlamps and driving (fog) lights. The current bulbs have positional movement.


What shall we have? An '82 Margaux! Is it any good? Good....?, It will make you believe in God!
 
#30 ·
I have both a fully loaded limited and a TH. Can definitely see the difference in headlights. Wish my TH had the HID but im ok without it. If I could change them to HID I probably would but have other priorities first like rock rails and maybe a roof basket.
 
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#32 ·
The main reason we bought the trailhawk over the other models was the rear locker, extra room in the wheel wells and the rock chip prevention material around the wheel wells, skids. Reason is that we also own a very well built '09 JK Rubicon so we know the value of a locker, and the extra flexibility that the "open" fenders can provide. So far we have had it off pavement several times and off road once. Yes, there is a difference. We did climb a hill with the TH that we climb in our JK so we could have a comparison, there was none. BUT, the TH did well goating up the hill as it didn't slip, slide or anything else I was expecting it too. When we get the rock rails installed we will be taking on some other "minor" off road excursions for some comparisons.

Do the headlights suck? IMO no, but have a hard time with high and low beam differences as there are just about none. Wish the temperature of the light was a little more towards 5500k than it is but it is what it is. Like you, keeping an eye on the Xenon threads to see when they get this all worked out. Have Trucklites on the JK and got spoiled with that 5500-6000k light temperature.

Also like you am leery about the transmission but knock on wood, there have been no problems with the 2k miles we've put on it in the last 30 days or so. Invested in the lifetime warranty just to be on the safe side. Hopefully will never use it.

So, if you have a choice I would say go big or go home. Better to have it and not need it, then need it and not have it. Also you know that after about 2-3 months with a non-TH, you will be saying to yourself, "Shoulda gotta TH". Especially once the Xenon issue has been figured out.
 
#35 · (Edited)
I have already decided to go with Trailhawk, despite the fact that I will probably never need to use the Real differential lock and this car will only be used for normal every day driving with with light 4x4 when I go up north camping and of course winter driving up here in Canada. Despite this the price difference between TH and limited is $350 with all the same add on packages. The only real difference is the Limited has the Luxury group with the Bi-Xenon lights and vented leather seats, other than that both cars have all the same loaded features.

#1 TH looks superior to any of the other models and comes in more colors
#2 Comes with higher lift and better suspension/drive shaft(test driving the car I was able to speed through pot holes and very bumpy rail road crossings will ease)
#3 Larger and nicer rims+ mean looking tires
#4 Red tow hooks
#5 Red tow hooks
#6 one more time, Red tow hooks. The squared off design, and the red looks amazing and as a bonus they serve a purpose.
#7 Drive shaft is free of wobble issue, unlike ADSI where FCA for 2016 still continues to use the straight drive shaft that they knowingly are aware is susceptible to developing the wobble issue.
#8 Decal adds contrast further enhancing it's look.
#9 Interior has more personality with it's black and Red stitching
#10 Trailhawk badge for showing off, even though most yuppies will have no idea what that badge stands for.

CONS::
Will have to patiently wait for a working HID plug and play kit, plus the added time, hassle and labor of installing it myself. Even with all that it will still not be as good as the OEM HID from Chrysler.
 
#34 ·
There is a difference between the halogen projector and HID projector. I have a 2014 limited that doesn't have the HIDs in and had the dealer quote me what it would cost to put ones in thinking a couple hundred dollars but when they looked it over and got back to me they ended up quoting around $1300 because they have to change the harness and the projectors and everything else according to them. Lets just say I didn't have them put HIDs in haha
 
#36 ·
This is true that aftermarket will never look as good as factory HIDs. I loved the bi-level Cenon headlights on the Grand Cherokee as well as HIDs I had on a 2011 Buick Regal Turbo. I had HID on a 2004 Nissan Altima V6 model. I sold it. Years later my wife purchased a 2005 Nissan Altima S and the regular headlights were so bad I did seek out better LED options. They were acceptable. The halogen headlights in her current 2012 Honda CR-V are worse than my daughters stock 2005 Honda CR-V.

I just don't understand why a manufacturer won't put the best lights in at least as an option.

The 2016 will have options, but like many I would rather get Rock Rails first then see what has come out when the warmer weather is upon us.

The TH is a great looking ride. I would have kept the 2011 Grand Cherokee Limited before downsizing to the Limited. Of course the additional color schemes are great as well.

The Grand Cherokee have tow hooks as a MOPAR option but not in TH red.


What shall we have? An '82 Margaux! Is it any good? Good....?, It will make you believe in God!
 
#38 ·
as far as the headlights go, has anyone tried just simply installing brighter bulbs? GE and Sylvania both have bulbs with varying degrees of brightness, and I am sure the bulbs that are installed at the factory are not the top of the line.
 
#41 ·
Actually the bulbs are high quality made in Germany Philips. Other halogen from what I can tell really just change the color temp to somthing white/blue spectrum but I could be wrong, if anyone else want to chim in please do.

I got the dealer on the phone today asking me to confirm my TH order so he can send it through.
 
#42 ·
As long as they are left-hand drive cars, they are the same as regular US-HID headlamps. No special part number for being 'export'.

as far as the headlights go, has anyone tried just simply installing brighter bulbs? GE and Sylvania both have bulbs with varying degrees of brightness, and I am sure the bulbs that are installed at the factory are not the top of the line.
They actually are top of the line bulbs... (HIR2?)

This is true that aftermarket will never look as good as factory HIDs. I loved the bi-level Cenon headlights on the Grand Cherokee as well as HIDs I had on a 2011 Buick Regal Turbo. I had HID on a 2004 Nissan Altima V6 model. I sold it. Years later my wife purchased a 2005 Nissan Altima S and the regular headlights were so bad I did seek out better LED options. They were acceptable. The halogen headlights in her current 2012 Honda CR-V are worse than my daughters stock 2005 Honda CR-V.
Not really... A full retrofit uses the same factory components you're talking about. Perhaps you are thinking of HID 'kits' - in which case yes I totally agree.
 
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