4:1 TERA-LOW Transfer Case Install in the JEEP TJ | Budget Crawler Ep. 10

We were lucky enough to get hold of a Teraflex TeraLow kit for our project Jeep Wrangler TJ and today we install it. This kit converts a factory Jeep NP231 transfer case with standard 2.72:1 low range to a hefty 4:1 low range, just like the Rubicons came with. As an added bonus, the new transfer case also has a previously installed Teraflex Extreme Short Shaft SYE.

[@blainesworld6895]

Makes me appreciate my TJ Rubicon. Great channel!

[@dironaa]

Yeah, I really should have started with one of those! LOL

[@blainesworld6895]

Dirona, then the budget Jeep wouldn’t be a budget Jeep 🤪

[@Jarod1941]

Woah! 10:38 is solid proof that even with a proper length rear shaft, adjustable upper control arms are DEFINATELY needed to correct that pinion angle.

[@indridcold8433]

That is a beautiful 1998 through 2002 Wrangler TJ. If you use a cheap heat gun to heat the faded Fender flares, they will become beautiful black again, almost like magic.

[@dironaa]

I tried that, but think my flares were too far gone and ended up with a lot of striping so I ended up painting them instead

[@CrawlinTJ50]

I ran a Teralow for a number of years with good success. On a trip to the local sand dunes I BBQ’ed the planetary gears, and runined it. An unfortunate situation, but am loving the new Atlas. As long as you don’t overrev it and overheat it, it should last for years to come. Cheers!

[@dironaa]

Was initially planning a Dana 300 build/swap which would have also involved a tranny swap, but came across this Tera Low set up for a 4 cyl and couldn't pass it up. I am mildly concerned about doing something stupid with it and being left stranded in the middle of a trail. Were you still able to use 4 Hi after 4 Low went out?

[@CrawlinTJ50]

Yes. All gear ranges still worked when I removed it. It will make a significant amount of noise after overheating. I’d recommend paying particular attention to how loud it is and noises it makes currently (they are already quite a bit louder than the stock 2.72 setup) if you notice it getting any louder, it’s a good indication that it’s overheated and the thrust washers are toast. I do have a video on my channel of what mine sounded like after overheating, if you ever need something to reference.

[@dironaa]

Thanks for the info! Just checked out your video...not a good noise LOL. I should probably take a similar video to yours in this cases current state and keep it in my files for the future for comparison. For now I suppose I'll try to keep the RPMs low, keep fresh fluid in it, and keep an eye out for a cheap D300.

[@CrawlinTJ50]

I think if you do as you’re saying, keeping the revs down, it will last you for years. I’ve got friends who are crowding 15-20 years on their units. Just don’t let high speed in 4 low tempt you. It will likely prove to be to your demise.

[@jeremy8715]

2 speed or 4 speed Atlas?

[@redbug3777]

Good info on how and why! Some people don't spend enough time thinking about usage and functional capability! No highway miles for this Jeep!

[@dironaa]

Agreed!

[@Running925]

I service my buddy's jeep that has gone through 2 of those kits. It doesn't like highway speeds. He's getting an atlas this time around.

[@dironaa]

Sounds promising LOL. When this thing blows I'll probably set the Jeep up with a Dana 300, which was the original plan until this thing popped up for sale.

[@SPQR-Z]

This is a great series. After owning and seeing many 40K + rigs on the trails I am going back to basics with my own TJ 4cly budget build. You can build a pretty nice daily driver/trail TJ for 15-16k without going strictly budget. I ran the TeraLow kit for years no problem. Don’t over rev the thing, running max 33” and don’t abuse it terribly, it will last. Probably get a NP242 4:1 unless I can find a used TeraLow kit for cheap. 456 or 488 gears, maybe upgrade your axels to 30 spline, lockers and a 3” lift, your good to go

[@ftw7730]

just a matter of time before the thrust washers roach

[@dironaa]

So it seems. I'll be keeping an eye out for a Dana 300 in the meantime.

[@adamfowles1060]

Hi, I was wondering if I could get a a flat belly skid with an Atlas tcase with minimal beating of the tub?

[@dironaa]

I'd head over to jeepforum.com and see if you can find an answer there. The atlas is larger than the 231 case I used in this video.

[@bobhorvath7069]

I have a used terra lo in my cherokee. I called terraflex to ask if there is anything i need to know about them. They told me not to take it above 2500 rpm because i could hurt the planetaries. I could still shift into 4wd on the fly though. What gears are you running for the test.

[@dironaa]

They are cool little units but unfortunately a little fragile. The axles are geared at 4.10 on 33” tires in this video.

[@Sunshine198803]

I have a 2000 tj 2.5l and would love to be able to find one of these for my rig. Any idea of where to look?

[@dironaa]

Craigslist or Facebook marketplace. If you have trouble finding one, look into an Atlas transfer case, they usually have a good sale on those around thanksgiving

[@Sunshine198803]

Thanks i will definitely look into it, I really enjoy your content so keep it up.

[@maurodellacasa8845]

Hi I want to ask you a question. So when you use the lower gear, Did the Tera Low 4.00:1 make the same noise of the original transfer case or make more noise than the original ? I mean if you feel different noise between the one and the other when it work in 4 Low gear ? Thank you

[@dironaa]

The teralow makes noticeably more noise than the original case. Since I did get the teralow used, I don’t know for sure that it wasn’t abused by the previous owner (abusing the tera case can cause the thrust washers on the planetary gears to wear). And I’m currently running ATF in the case, as I do with all my jeep cases, but maybe switching to gear oil would quiet it down a little.

[@maurodellacasa8845]

So I can tell you that I bought a brand new one teralow 4.00:1 directly from USA some years ago. I remember that I paid it about over 1.500 euro. I put this new one on my Jeep TJ 2.5 (5 speed my 2001/2002) also with an SYE and that’s why I ask you this question. Because I hear more noise than the original one when it work in low gear and so I am worry for that like something inside is wrong from the factory. Finally Now, after I listen to your rewiew, i think that this particular noise is normal (because I am sure that it has been fixed as well). So I also think that even your teralow is not abuse before but anyway is good idea to change the oil inside the case. Can you advise me a kind of new oil for the transfer case (maybe with more density is better) for reduce this noise ? At least I can tell you that the teralow maybe is too much short for off roadimg on medium or long track but is the best for rock crawling. Thank you very much indeed and sorry for my poor English.

[@maurodellacasa8845]

Is the Mopar ATF + 4 oil for transfer case and automatic transmission the best ? What do you think ?

[@NWEDC]

Haha! I live near a gun range, so my videos I am making are going to be a little noisy at times.

[@dironaa]

You don't realize how difficult it is to record good audio until you start making youtube videos haha

[@rickjames5998]

yo how is this budget. Also how crucial is this rubicon type low range? If you have a tj sport 4.0 liter and 33's how important is this?

[@dironaa]

It really depends what type of wheeling you do and how much wheeling you do. I prefer to run trails that have a lot of technical rock climbs and on those trails the slower you can go the better...and in order to go slower we need either lower gears in the axle or lower gears in the transfer case. By spending $600 on a used transfer case and driveshafts (which would have cost over $2000 to buy new new) I'm hoping to avoid spending $1000+ regearing the axles right now. The purpose of this build is heavily based around functionality and based very little around cosmetics. If I had an automatic transmission this 4:1 low range wouldn't be as critical because torque converter slippage would partially make up for the lack of low gearing when on the trail. Depending on what gears are in your axles, 4:1 low range may also not be quite as necessary with the 4.0 and 33s (with 3.07 gears you'll notice a greater improvement in control on the trails than you would with 3.73 axle gears). By and large this is a "budget build" but its also a functional build, and in my opinion there are 3 major areas that rare worth spending a little extra cash on if you can afford it when running the more rocky trails that I like to run: 1) winch, 2) transfer case, and 3) axles.

[@mnjeeperkurt9432]

Makes it easier on every drive train part

[@MidnightPolaris800]

I like how it's fucking up your hood

[@dironaa]

Builds character LOL

[@dironaa]

But really the hood was already FUBAR when I bought the Jeep. It actually makes a good makeshift workbench so I've been putting off find a replacement.

[@robertthrem3382]

Lol split it open and count the teeth

[@dironaa]

That sounds too much like working on the harder side of the ‘smarter vs harder’ spectrum lol

[@rickjames5998]

Dude has money for a new transfer case but cant afford a proper lift kit and winch

[@dironaa]

Haha keep watching the build series, you’ll see a winch show up. And factory springs should be adequate for the wheeling I plan to do with this rig. This is a very deliberate build.