Auto Transmission vs. Manual for Off Road.

I have owned a manual transmission my entire life; even my Tacoma 4x4 was manual. When I purchased my Jeep it happened to be an automatic which I was a bit disappointed about.

I have heard people argue both points and I was uncertain about which is truly best for off roading.

Here is what I have found convenient about the auto versus manual: The manual is of course simpler to drive. When crawling very steep or technically challenging obstacles it never stalls (See the video of my brother following me in his manual stalling constantly). Also, I never need to break when climbing as the torque converter locks into place so I get no “Roll Back”.

Which do you prefer and why???

No "roll back?" Man, that's half the fun!

Well, I've been wheeling mostly manual so long that I'd just assume stay with it. It feels weird to me 4-wheeling with an automatic now.

I agree AT can make 4x4 a little easier, but who wants easy? Because of the extra skill and challenge, there's a special sort of pleasure with becoming one with machine... it really feels like you're doing something when wheeling a manual. Sure it's not scientific but I get a more satifying experience when I have that feeling of control.

And from what I understand, you can be in extreme angles with a manual transmission and not worry about failure.

 I would have to say manual . Although im new to wheeling it seems to me that if you can keep throttle input steady stalling shouldnt be an issue . In low range its even less of a problem all i need to do is lift off the clutch and it goes . I realize larger rocks and more difficult trails require more input. Throttle control isnt the easiest thing to learn after all how often do you teach your feet anything? Also you have to like compression breaking having the truck help hold its self in line as you go down steep inclines . Instead of riding the breaks all the way 

 At my age of 46 I prefer the AT over the manual. Biggest reason is that I don't have to deal with piano footing 3 pedals. With the AT I find that I have more control double footing the brake and gas pedals at the same time while using my gear range to control climbing, and easing into holes and over obstacles. Now that I wheel with my wife and kid aboard most of the time I really don't miss double clutching and fighting gravity with a manual set up. This is just my opinion on how I like to drive off-road. I have owned both AT as well as manual 4x4's and enjoyed the benefits of both worlds. I do feel that the manual set up gives you more torque and feel while driving, but I'm getting older and don't like to work so hard when I can sit back and let the AT do the work for me.

JD

Yeah it's pretty much a wash for me... I can go either way, perfectly happy. I really wouldn't factor it much into an "off-road vehicle" buying decision. I just have a manual now so I like to look at the bright side of things ;)

6 of 1 1/2 dozen the other if your geared right. if you have a good clutch then you shouldn't roll back at all. 11 years of driver 100,000+ pounds in the dirt has taught me how to use the clutch to control speed. low speed = low rpm = low heat which = no dmage. for the in experienced guy/gal I recomend the automatic. if you can't drive a stick then you can't wheel a stick either and the in experienced wheeler burns clutches from over rev ving but would also kill an auto from excessive heat and torque loading, exspecially with the wrong stall converter. My Suburban has a stock stall with a switch to lock the torque converter at any speed/rpm. My LandCruiser has a heavy duty pressure plate with Specter's extreme disc and heavy duty flywheel. even with the 3.73's and 33's it will move at idle on a 6% grade with no roll back. what I want to see is a CVT non fluid driven auto with a centrificul wet sump clutch (like a motorcycle, only centrificul) that can handle 400lb torque and 400 hp. then my LC might a 383 stroker

Have have owned nothing but maual's since I started driving a wheeling. What I mean by roll-back is not when your crawling a hill so much, but when you are on a 4 foot rock on one tire and leaning twards an 8 foot drop. Being able to take your foot of the gas and have the t-coverter lock your wheels into place is what I am talking about.

I have wheeled and whitnessed in two jeeps with low after-market gears (one auto and one manual). I will never own a manual tranny in a 4x4 ever again. Just too many advanages...

In other types of terrian, this may be a different story, but in Arizona and the boulder fields I have encountered, auto all the way.

Ryan

lie I said. 6 of 1 1/2 dozen the other