Manual transmission VS auto for off roading??

[GBranger04]

i was asking myself the same question when i was buying my ranger. personally i like to drive stick but i'm not the most experienced off roading so the auto makes it easier and as a DD the auto is much nicer in traffic. i think stick is more fun, auto is easier. for a trail pig that is.

 

[mkpecor]

im a stick guy,just like them better, but there has been times were i wish i had a auto on some trails, and or trafic. its all about learning how to use your gears wheeling.

 

[hihoslvr]

why I prefer manuals: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4g4CIYR7lIk&feature=related (that is a manual, right?)
sorry, that video never gets old, but you wanted to know about off-road, huh?

 

[superrocker10]

why I prefer manuals: http://youtube.com/watch?v=4g4CIYR7lIk&feature=related (that is a manual, right?)
sorry, that video never gets old, but you wanted to know about off-road, huh?

that video is bad i have driven a stick offroad for four years and its all about gear selection. thats all ive driven since i got my licence. plus im lazy and never use the clutch hahahaha. my vote is manual

 

[Evan]

All the guys I run with that have manuals are always cursing how easy I make some sections of trail look because of my auto. I'm mostly trail running, rocks and such.

Tell your friends to get better gearing. A manual with good gearing beats the pants off an automatic when it comes to rock crawling. And there are no overheat issues with a manual.

EDIT: Alright, to be fair we need to compare a manual and auto that have the same gearing. If both trucks had 3.55s in the axles I'd take an auto for rock crawling (or sand) any day.

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

i think im just goin to stick with manual

k ive been reading how people dont use the clutch to shift off roading how the hell do you do that? i want to learn how?

 

[Ranger44]

I think the key is just to not use the clutch. Keep it in 1st and plant your foot on the floor.

 

[Evan]

i think im just goin to stick with manual

k ive been reading how people dont use the clutch to shift off roading how the hell do you do that? i want to learn how?

Pull the trans out of gear, rev your engine up to meet the wheelbase RPM, while nudging the stick lightly toward the gear you want. When the speed is matched she'll slide right in. This would be hard to do on the trail when going slow, and must be done carefully.


On the trail, it's best to pick the right gear for an obsticle and stick with it.

 

[Ranger44]

well yeah....that too.

 

[mhughes165]

the only time i use my clutch is when starting and stoping, otherwise i dont need to depress the clutch pedal

 

[danger88ranger]

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

I've seen an auto trans go out in an RBV, not towing either. Totally stock ranger that burnt 2 transmissions. The kid blew them out from them both overheating. I prefer a manual, but i understand where your coming from with the auto.

 

[northerncountry]

I prefer man trans just be cause that is all I have ever driven it's just second nature to me don't even think about it my 2 cents

 

[mhughes165]

I prefer man trans just be cause that is all I have ever driven it's just second nature to me don't even think about it my 2 cents

u know, i was thinkin that aswell, since my first vehicle i learned to drive was a stick, i suppose that drivin a automatic just doesnt feel right to me, i dont think about shifting or the clutch ever, and i dont even think when i need to triple pedal it, its just automatic in my head

 

[MUDDING B-3000]

ya im the same all my brothers car were manual so i got to drive those all the time when i was like 14 15 years old the only time i drove an auto was my moms truck and my budies car 94 b3000 is manual an its my first truck and im goin to stick with a manual unless i get like a full size truck cuz my buddy has a 95 chevy 2500 5 speed an its just anoying cuz the gears have no balls the the shift is soo long to i like manual in small pick ups or cars

ok ya i kno how to shift without a clutch now ya my brother told me he does it when he races pll in his cobalt but he does it like you revit up to like 7gran thenpop it into neutral then when it drops a 1000 rpm you ease it into the next gear

is that the same why you guys do it??

 

[Will]

I wouldn't do clutchless shifting. I try to rev match and use the clutch--that is the least amount of wear. When I let the clutch back out, there is no difference in the speed between the flywheel and the tranny input--that's rev matching.

I think if you don't use the clutch you will put abnormal wear on your synchros. Even a miniscule imperfection in your rev matching will make the synchros fight against the engine--not just the transmission.

And a semi's transmission (I'm looking at an old Fuller 13-speed diagram) isn't the same as yours. It has all straight-cut gears and no synchros. You have to rev match it either by being a good driver--in which there is no point and no harm by not using the clutch, or by double-clutching.

I would rather have an auto.