Manual transmission VS auto for off roading??

[MUDDING B-3000]

just a question what is better for off roading a manual or auto?? cuz i could see a manual being better because you can stay in one gear the who time and so you wont have the loss of power between gears shifting in an automatic

but one thing i notice about standard is you have to sometimes ride the clutch which can get hard on the clutch cuz i found that out the hard way i took like 3 months off my clutch in one day bush wacking but i like manual better

 

[KELLY88]

just a question what is better for off roading a manual or auto?? cuz i could see a manual being better because you can stay in one gear the who time and so you wont have the loss of power between gears shifting in an automatic

but one thing i notice about standard is you have to sometimes ride the clutch which can get hard on the clutch cuz i found that out the hard way i took like 3 months off my clutch in one day bush wacking but i like manual better

The only thing I can say is put a poll up and see what happens. There's really never going to be a unanimous decision about this. Each has their advantages and disadvantages and each wheeler has their own preference. Neither has the clear and overall advantage.

 

[TrucksGetDirty]

I think auto is better, but that's just me. Better=easier.

 

[88mudder]

i like manual trans for an underpowered engine like a 4cyc or v6. Makes the engine feel more peppy and the clutch helps in alot of situations. If im wheeling a truck witha v8 with more power an Auto trans is fine with me.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

i like manual trans for an underpowered engine like a 4cyc or v6. Makes the engine feel more peppy and the clutch helps in alot of situations. If im wheeling a truck witha v8 with more power an Auto trans is fine with me.

I am the other way, most small engines don't have a creeper, so you end up nursing the engine while slipping the clutch in tight places, or running in 4low. V-8 with a creeper would just idle along on its own, I have yet to use 4low in a fullsize while wheeling, if my dad's '80 F-350 went any slower in 4low it would be going backwards...

But I prefer an automatic hands down, I stay busy enough with the wheel and two pedals to bother with shifting and clutching. Plus you can lock it into a gear so you don't have to worry about it shifting without you wanting it to.

Only downside to me is if you get the automatic hot and cook it.

 

[Dishtowel]

Do you have three feet? I dont.

IMO
"Power loss due to an automatic" = BS ( I know on paper there is some, but, I doubt the ButtDyno would notice.)
How much HP are you actually losing to your auto?

Or try this, real challenging mud/hill with the wheels loaded up and shift your manual. I have yet to see somebody who can magically instill enough momentum in their tires&axles to keep spinning fast enough to catch the next gear.

IMO Autos shine for hill climbs, and mud because they dont let off the power. Also, when crawling you get one foot for throttle and one foot for brake.

I'm not trying to pick a fight, I just have yet to see huge benefit to having a manual over an auto.

 

[gw33gp]

I prefer a manual transmission if it has a low range transfer case. I have not thought about why I prefer a manual over an automatic, I just feel more comfortable with a manual. I will say that I think, in general, an automatic will suffer more abuse off-road than a manual, which would make it more prone to failure.

 

[BlackBII]

I like the manual better, you can get neutral just by pushing in the clutch and you can jump start it when rolling down a hill, and if stuck in ruts, you can rock it easier with a clutch.

 

[dusto2]

it all depends on what you are doing if its crawling around on stuff i like a auto, but if i am hauling ass through the dunes and fast trails around here i like a manual

 

[Twitch57]

Probably whatever you are used to driving on the road

If you drive thousands of miles on the road with one I don't see the advantage of driving the other off road

*In my humble opionion

 

[86ford]

I prefer a manual transmission if it has a low range transfer case. I have not thought about why I prefer a manual over an automatic, I just feel more comfortable with a manual. I will say that I think, in general, an automatic will suffer more abuse off-road than a manual, which would make it more prone to failure.

you ever cleaned mud out of the fingers of the pressure plate? or hit a HOT fly wheel with cold lake water? i preffer a manual but they have some serious down sides just like a auto.

86

 

[metalmacguyver]

Another aspect to this discussion is that the autos in RBVs suck. Auto is definately easier and I would prefer one if it were not for the lack of longterm reliability.

 

[Roadkill]

If you were riding the clutch that much then you are in way too high a gear. That and you can try to learn to shift without the clutch . Works well offroading when you are in flatter areas.

 

[Dishtowel]

I prefer a manual transmission if it has a low range transfer case. I have not thought about why I prefer a manual over an automatic, I just feel more comfortable with a manual. I will say that I think, in general, an automatic will suffer more abuse off-road than a manual, which would make it more prone to failure.

Couple questions for you, cause I have yet to see a auto trans failure due to usage. I have seen them fail when towing beyond their ability, but just moving the vehicles own weight?

How does an auto see any more abuse than a manual?
What fails?
What causes this failure?

PS: I dont want it thought that just because I'm a fan of autos (when offroad) that I dont know how to throw gears. I do. 4 speed, 6 speed, 18 speed, ect. Dosn't matter. They're just gears.

PSS: good point MetalMacG

 

[CJREX]

Well, my Ranger is a 5 speed and my CJ7 is an auto.

The CJ7 is easier to control on the same trail and can be finessed up some areas where the Ranger has to be either hammered or ride the clutch to the point of stench.

As mentioned earlier, if the Ranger had a good auto trans, I would have the auto trans.

Since Ranger autos suck, I have the M5OD.

The only real plus in a manual is descending hills using gearing instead of brakes.