The Meaning of the Jeep Trail Rated Badge

If you’ve recently checked out a Jeep and noticed a little badge with the words “Trail Rated” above the image of a set of mountains with “4×4” written underneath, you might have wondered what that was. As one of the best Jeep dealers in Colorado Springs, we know everything there is to know about the Trail Rated badge, and we’re here to explain it. Jeep has always had a reputation for making vehicles that are ready for anything. They are the adventurist’s car brand––they’re even the choice vehicles in classic adventure films like Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. And while the stories in those movies might be fictional, the capabilities of the Jeep represented in them are just about accurate.

There’s a reason why adventure films love the Trail Rated Jeep models. This is a badge that denotes a vehicle that’s undergone rigorous testing to stand up to the most trying of conditions. These vehicles are certainly ready to take on the vast and beautiful landscapes represented throughout the national parks and Rocky Mountains of Colorado. So if you’re looking for a car that’s as game as you are for challenging roads, check out a Trail Rated Jeep. Meanwhile, here’s a look at what exactly that eye-catching Trailed Rated badge means. The badge might be small, but the challenges overcome to achieve it are massive.

The Five Tests

If a Jeep dons the Trail Rated Badge, then that means that vehicle has seen a thing or two. It’s been put through advanced testing in perilous conditions to make sure that it can keep its drivers safe and its four wheels on the ground in nearly any circumstances. Trailed Rated Jeeps go through five tests, to be exact: Traction, Water Fording, Maneuverability, Articulation, and Ground Clearance.

It is of the utmost importance to Jeep that drivers feel confident taking their vehicle into almost any area and know that their car will keep them safe on their adventures. No limitations––that’s what is at the spirit of the Jeep life, and so Jeep created this badge to signal to buyers when a vehicle is ready to accompany them on any adventure they can imagine. And in order to earn the badge, the vehicles go through the below five tests.

Traction

Every Trail Rated Jeep has been created and tested to ensure it has excellent traction, allowing for unmatched stability and control on a variety of terrains. These Jeeps can handle slopes, rough roads, and snowy conditions with ease. So whether your plans are to journey through the boulder-ridden lands of the Rocky Mountains or the wet roads after an iconic snowy Colorado day, a Trail Rated Jeep can do it.

Water Fording

While most drivers would never even dream of intentionally putting their car anywhere near a body of water, Trail Rated Jeep drivers can actually venture into wet territory without issue. A Trail Rated Jeep has been designed with sealed electric connections and body openings to safely allow drivers to go through streams, ponds, and other moderate bodies of water. These cars also boast higher intakes to make it safe to cross shallow water without fear of water getting inside of the vehicle.

Maneuverability

Jeep knows that its loyalists escape the boring, predictable paved and marked roads of cities and highways whenever they can. They prefer the surprising twists and turns of rough terrain and all that comes with it. That means that impeccable maneuverability is a must to safely get through tight and windy areas. That’s why Trail Rated Jeeps have precision steering and optimized wheelbases for high command in sticky situations.

Articulation

Jeep defines articulation as “The ability to keep as many tires as possible on the ground when traveling over rough terrain, allowing for a more efficient transfer of power.” This is useful in a number of scenarios, including roads with many potholes or rocky terrain. Keeping all four wheels on the ground improves safety and control. And Trail Rated Jeeps go through extensive testing to make sure their tires keep in contact with the ground, no matter how rough the road.

Ground Clearance

Ground clearance denotes the space between the undercarriage and the ground. Having good ground clearance is critical for going over rocks, logs, and other large formations on uneven ground. And when you take your Jeep out of the city and into the wild where it belongs, you’re bound to encounter obstacles such as these. That’s why Trail Rated Jeeps feature a generous amount of ground clearance to ensure important parts of the vehicle aren’t damaged on rocky terrain.

Furthermore, the approach angle, breakover, and departure angles have all been maximized in these vehicles. The approach angle is the measure of how steep a hill can be for a vehicle to initiate a climb without scratching its undercarriage. The breakover angle is the steepest angle a car can get over without damage to its undercarriage. And the departure angle is how steep a slope can be for a vehicle to safely descend it.
Each of these components are why, when you see Jeeps out in the wilderness, it looks like they grip and hug boulders and rocks with ease.

Where Testing Occurs

Trail Rated Jeeps go through their rigorous testing in two unique landscapes: the Rubicon Trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, and Moab, Utah.

The Rubicon Trail consists of 22 miles of rough and diverse terrain with twists, turns, boulders, tight trails, and rough roads. Due to its active weather changes, the terrain is constantly transforming and posing different challenges to drivers. This makes it the perfect place to test a Jeep, and Trail Rated Jeeps are taken out onto these grounds many times before earning their badges.

Moab, Utah––home of several stunning national parks––is known for its slick rock surfaces, which create the ideal challenge for a Jeep. This is another location the engineers of Trail Rated Jeeps test these vehicles before releasing them to the market.

Which Jeeps Have the Trail Rated Badge?

Now that we’ve got you excited about the amazing capabilities of the rugged Trail Rated Jeeps, you’re probably wondering which models have earned their badge. Well, for 2022, the Wrangler 4xe, Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, Cherokee, Compass, Renegade, and Gladiator all don the heroic Trail Rated Badge, so if you’re shopping for your next ready-for-anything car, these are each a great option to take for a test drive.

Jeep Solidifies Its Reputation

Drivers have always looked to Jeep for rugged, adventure-ready vehicles with features that allow one to safely navigate all sorts of terrain. And in 2004, when Jeep came out with the Trail Rated badge program, they continued to impress and live up to their reputation. This badge established a standardized test to ensure drivers that certain cars would come with special capabilities.

When a Jeep has this prestigious badge, you don’t just have to hope that your car can make it through that rocky trail over a stream and down a slope––you know that it can. That peace of mind lets you focus on the things that matter, like taking in the sunset, snapping photos of the great outdoors, and enjoying time with friends. The Trail Rated Badge is a promise that your Jeep has your back in (almost) any situation. It means that your car gives you the freedom to experience a vast array of landscapes that drivers or other cars don’t get to enjoy. It’s not just a little badge: it’s your ticket to freedom.