6th Gear?

[ATMO]

Do most of you with 4.10 or 4.56 gears use 2nd starting out on the street? (33" tires)

I have the 4.88 gears in my stock manual '23 Rubicon, and I was worried about first being "too short" from what I read here- namely "you'll be in 3rd gear before you get through an intersection." Now that I actually have my Jeep and have gotten used to it, I always start out in 1st, and don't think it's too short of a gear at all. The only time getting in 1st is an issue is when you're barely rolling and not at a dead stop, then it's a little jerky getting into first, so that's when 2nd is used.

Factory 33" tires, 4.88 gears, and this thing is a hoot to drive.

Sponsored

 

[AHess]

I have a brand new 2022 Wrangler Sahara UL with 3.6L engine and 6 speed manual. I have noticed it is very sluggish on the highway. Can't pass very easily in 6th or 5th, even with the gas pedal nearly floored. Going uphill, forget it. This is my first Jeep and this was surprising. I thought the V-6 engine would have a little more power. So from all the comments I guess this is normal and there is nothing wrong with my Jeep? I confess I don't understand some of the lingo about gear ratios and tire size.

 

[Chugiakguy]

I've been threatening to change gearing to 4.10 or 4.56 because with the 3.45, the Jeep is basically a 4 speed with two overdrives. This really came to light when off roading in Tenn a month or so ago. My previous JL was an auto, and with the current manual, couldn't run in 4 high on any real inclines. The only thing stopping me from changing gear ratios (besides money) is the fear that 1st gear will be much shorter than it already is. Do most of you with 4.10 or 4.56 gears use 2nd starting out on the street? (33" tires)

That is a great question, Red Willly.

I have virtually the same Jeep as you (Willys Sport instead of Willys), and with only just over 300 miles on it, I am already starting to wonder about having it regeared to 4.56. In my case, it is primarily due to upcoming situations when I'll be relatively heavily loaded, while also pulling a small (4' X 6'), ~1100 lbs (loaded) cargo trailer. Which makes me wonder if I'll even be able to get it out of 3rd on the highway, much less 4th.

 

[azwjowner]

I have a brand new 2022 Wrangler Sahara UL with 3.6L engine and 6 speed manual. I have noticed it is very sluggish on the highway. Can't pass very easily in 6th or 5th, even with the gas pedal nearly floored. Going uphill, forget it. This is my first Jeep and this was surprising. I thought the V-6 engine would have a little more power. So from all the comments I guess this is normal and there is nothing wrong with my Jeep? I confess I don't understand some of the lingo about gear ratios and tire size.

5th and 6th are overdrive gears. You would never expect to pass in overdrive on any vehicle. Overdrive is for cruising. That's quite normal.

 

[txj2go]

I thought the V-6 engine would have a little more power.

The V6 can make a lot of power, but it needs some rpms to do it. The problem with standard Jeep gearing on the highway is that it is keeping the engine speed too low. My other car is lighter and has more torque, but overall is geared similar to the Jeep, it is driveable down to almost 40mph in 6th. With a V6 that is barely half the displacement, the Jeep doesn't have the low end torque for that. The things that make an engine produce a lot of horsepower are great at high rpm but at low rpm none of that really matters very much, it depends on displacement.
Now if our engines were turbocharged it would be a different story, like the turbo V6 that Ford had used in some pickups.

 

[JerseyMark]

That is a great question, Red Willly.

I have virtually the same Jeep as you (Willys Sport instead of Willys), and with only just over 300 miles on it, I am already starting to wonder about having it regeared to 4.56. In my case, it is primarily due to upcoming situations when I'll be relatively heavily loaded, while also pulling a small (4' X 6'), ~1100 lbs (loaded) cargo trailer. Which makes me wonder if I'll even be able to get it out of 3rd on the highway, much less 4th.

I have a 4 door Willys sport and I just schedule my regear to 4.56 gears in December. I’m going to keep my stock tires for now and I’ll update this thread to let you know how it is after regear.

 

[Chugiakguy]

I have a 4 door Willys sport and I just schedule my regear to 4.56 gears in December. I’m going to keep my stock tires for now and I’ll update this thread to let you know how it is after regear.

JerseyMark, thanks for that, and I will be very interested in hearing what you find after regearing to 4.56! Particuarly as I, like you, do not have any immediate plans to change out my stock 32" tires. So your observations would be a direct apples-to-apples comparison to your factory setup, and to mine.

 

[Xtina]

I used 6th driving down to moab from Alberta Canada. 80mph at 2000rpm. Averaged 11.5l/100km for the whole trip. I want 4.56 gears though. That's the only thing wrong with my Willys. 3.45 gears are abysmal

 

[PatrickR]

6th is double overdrive. It's actually shorter than 8th in the automatic. Use it for what it is, a gear to cruise in and save gas.

I've got a sports s on 33s and use 6th anytime I'm cruising over 50 (in flat terrain). I don't really get the hate on the 6th, it does exactly what it's supposed to. You should be shifting when you need to accelerate....

 

[Chris D]

The stock 4:10 on the Rubicon work great with the 6SP IMO. I went from the stock 33's to 35's and it feels better driving. Need to run the RPM up another 2-500 prior to shifting but no biggie. Heading to Flagstaff on I-17 I routinely drop out of 6th on the hills, sometimes even getting down to 3rd if I get caught behind a truck on a hill in traffic.

 

[TMP]

My pet theory is that 6th exists only because Jeep uses the same gearbox in the Rubicons and to a Rubicon with 4.10 gears 6th is essentially 5th gear in a Sport.

Ha! It definitely feels that way! I use 6th gear all the time in my JLUR on the freeway and I love the MT. Cheers!

 

[Robinstones]

My pet theory is that 6th exists only because Jeep uses the same gearbox in the Rubicons and to a Rubicon with 4.10 gears 6th is essentially 5th gear in a Sport.

I've got the 22 JLUR with the 6spd manual and rarely use 6th. i do a lot of small highway driving 55-65mph, hills and flats but 6th makes it lug too much. If I was on a 75mph interstate, 6th is ok but the mpg sucks. I can keep between 21-22.5 mpg pretty easily if i never use 6th and keep my speed under 70. The 3.6l doesn't seem happy (mpg wise) unless you're taching 2500+ rpms. if you let it lug along in too high a gear the mpgs drop quick. does better taching it up.

 

[arcticaaron]

On 37s with 5.13 gears and I use 6th to cruise at 65mph.

 

[Jym65]

6th is double overdrive. It's actually shorter than 8th in the automatic. Use it for what it is, a gear to cruise in and save gas.

I've got a sports s on 33s and use 6th anytime I'm cruising over 50 (in flat terrain). I don't really get the hate on the 6th, it does exactly what it's supposed to. You should be shifting when you need to accelerate....

Thing is when you live in hill country using 6th means you would be down shifting every 30 seconds. Add to that the ever present Kansas winds acting on the box on wheels body and you have a gear that is all but useless for the 200-300 rpms you change out.

 

[Rad Dad]

Hey everyone. I’m a new forum member on my 3rd Jeep, but first one with Manual transmission.

I know this thread is about 6th gear and it’s uselessness, but since all of you have the same transmission I figured I’d ask.

Anyone else’s 1st into 2nd gear shift make a horrific driveline noise if not done perfectly ??

Asking to save myself a trip to the dealer. Thank you and sorry for asking an off topic question.

Sponsored