Auto vs. Manual trans?

Do you prefer wheeling in automatic or manual trans?

  • Total voters
    64
Zebbie

Zebbie

Active Member
Joined
Dec 11, 2009
Location
Rock Hill SC
I came across a TJ I’m considering buying but it has an automatic trans. I’m use to my 5 speed Tacoma. How is an automatic on the trails?
 
so it does not take the fun and challenge out of it completely?
 
after going from a cj w/ manual for 7 years (back in early 90's) which went to auto with a v8, there has been no turning back. the auto gives me more confidence and allows me to concentrate on the obstacle in front of me easier. also if its built right, there are no problems with compression braking. most recently, in my motor swap from a LT-1 to an LS2, i also changed torque converters. always in the past, in low range, my trans would push through the brakes and had sluggish launches but crawled great. so after some research i went to a 2200 stall, factory was 1200, and i enjoy my automatic even more. crawl seems unchanged, but now i can launch with access to the RPM's without it falling on its face first, and i have brakes in low range!

this topic has been debated since the invention of the automatic, everyone has a preference and a opinion, for my driving style i prefer auto. i'm sure some manual guys will chime in. i respect those twinkle toed dancers who still use manuals.
 
I prefer my manual with a hand throttle on the gear shifter. I have that third foot needed for sticky situations which is an advantage of an auto. My sis had an auto TJ that I wheeled for years and going up hill was great, but steep downhill sections were down right scary. You either fought the engine pushing you down hill or switched to neutral.

As others previously mentioned, there are ways to build an auto to rock, but as for me I am still a manual guy.
 
It's definitely a matter of personal preference, but the one downside most people say against manuals in the need for "three feet." In my experience if you're geared low enough, there is rarely need for three feet as it will start up most inclines without needing the gas pedal. My preference is manual because they're more fun, more reliable, easier to rebuild, and have better engine braking.
 
I wheeled for years with a T-5 in my CJ, I tell you when I switched to auto. it was night and day. No more clutch foot, and your not wore out from all the clutch feathering all day. IMO it's way more comfortable, and having an auto. I do not break alot of parts anymore, you will have alot more control of the vehicle.:driver:
 
I have wheeled both an auto and a stick in the rocks and I much preferred the stick with a hand throttle for technical stuff (used to crawl at paragon). For everything else I would take an auto, especially on the beach.
 
For day to day driving and standard trail riding, I wish I had an auto. For the technical stuff and wet sloppy stuff, Im soooooo glad I got a manual. Ive also had a few close calls on the trail that if it were not for my stick shift I think the Jeep would have suffered more injuries.
 
nothing like being in the middle of a rock garden, and have the pressure plate give up on you. this happened to me at the fall crawl. I had a auto before and i loved it.
 
Never even owned an auto so I'd side toward manual. Manual just makes it that much more fun, esp when you have little gearing and no power, I def have burned some clutch but I like shifting to much to go auto.
 
cj777 said:
My preference is manual because they're more fun, more reliable, easier to rebuild, and have better engine braking.
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X2, I've been wheeling an auto for the past 3 or 4 yrs now. Its nice and has its place but I'm currently going BACK to a manual.I've done the majority of my wheeling behind a manual and yes its more work but its also more fun and reliable. My dd and my tow rig are manuals, I absolutely love driving them because of it.
tw89yj said:
The auto is easier on the rest of the drivetrain.
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True, and if I have any weak links I'll find them:flipoff2: Seriously though, I never broke any parts side steppin the clutch on the old rigs......that was never with much more than 200hp though:lol:, we'll hopefully see what happens with some 6.0 power:D
 
manual + dual cases = epic win
 
Redneck92 said:
Never even owned an auto so I'd side toward manual. Manual just makes it that much more fun, esp when you have little gearing and no power, I def have burned some clutch but I like shifting to much to go auto.
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I am all about the manual I love it, yes it makes it more difficult to get over obstacles but that is what I like about it.

Also typically 1st gear in a manual is going to be a lot lower then 1st gear in auto so you can get better crawl ratios without killing highway drive ability. If you get you crawl ration right you can drive a standard like it’s an auto because it will be gear so low you can just idle over obstacles without ever touching the clutch and that is just cool to see.
 
jds97Wrangler said:
I am all about the manual I love it, yes it makes it more difficult to get over obstacles but that is what I like about it.
Also typically 1st gear in a manual is going to be a lot lower then 1st gear in auto so you can get better crawl ratios without killing highway drive ability. If you get you crawl ration right you can drive a standard like it’s an auto because it will be gear so low you can just idle over obstacles without ever touching the clutch and that is just cool to see.
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Yeah hopefully 5.29s will be a lot easier on me, 4.10s makes for a lot of clutch feathering.

Another reason to go manual is with auto you can burn them up pretty easliy and thats a whole lot mor time consuming to fix than putting a clutch in.
 
Manual. Never seen an auto that you can drive out with the starter after you flop in it's side, did this in the race @ harlan. Even in an underpowered full tube buggy with 39's, the manual didn't hold it back from climbing some really rough stuff. Hand throttle makes life much easier, never got around to installing one though.
 
Tacoma747 said:
Manual. Never seen an auto that you can drive out with the starter after you flop in it's side...
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Why would you need to drive out of a flop with the starter if driving an auto?

I've seen countless rigs with autos drive out of a flop(done it my self), forward or reverse with no issues.
 
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