Newbie wheeling in a manual

[21_Sarge_JLUR]

Good morning all,

So I am relatively new to off-roading, and my jeep is a stick. Went to Rausch Creek yesterday and stuck to the greens. My question/issue is when trying to maintain slow speed, say 1-3mph I found it easiest to just put it in 4low and use 2nd gear, that seemed to be the happy spot. 1st gear in 4 hi had me riding the clutch a lot. 4 low was required at all other than making my life easy. Is this common practice or is there something else I need to try.

Thanks

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[UNC Rubicon]

I drive an auto, so I cannot comment directly. However, when I need to maintain low speed for a technical section, I’m in 4 low. I use 4 high between technical sections or If I need a lot of wheel speed. For the most part, 4 low is your best bet.

We were at Rausch last weekend and ran mostly blacks and blues. Such a fun park.

 

[DanW]

4 low is the way to go, and over time you'll develop a very smooth throttle foot. I'd say I'm in 2nd gear most often, but when climbing or crawling, noththing does it slower than that 1st gear in low range on a Rubi.

I just completed the 2nd trip to Moab in my JL and 3rd, counting one with my JKUR. LOVE wheeling with the manual and wouldn't want it any other way.

Keep doing what you are doing and the Jeep will tell you what it likes. Experience will be the best teacher.

Got any pics from your trip?

 

[21_Sarge_JLUR]

4 low is the way to go, and over time you'll develop a very smooth throttle foot. I'd say I'm in 2nd gear most often, but when climbing or crawling, noththing does it slower than that 1st gear in low range on a Rubi.

I just completed the 2nd trip to Moab in my JL and 3rd, counting one with my JKUR. LOVE wheeling with the manual and wouldn't want it any other way.

Keep doing what you are doing and the Jeep will tell you what it likes. Experience will be the best teacher.

Got any pics from your trip?

Thanks Dan, yeah I love the manual. I didn't get many photos, lots of video but still new to that too, so not very good...lol. Wife and I had a blast though and will definitely be back.

 

[DanW]

Thanks Dan, yeah I love the manual. I didn't get many photos, lots of video but still new to that too, so not very good...lol. Wife and I had a blast though and will definitely be back.

Nice looking Jeep! Love the green!!

 

[Sheepjeep]

At a place like RC you can get away with keeping it in 4 low all day and be fine will make the ride much nice on the greens. General rule i have if i find myself driving a long distance on dirt road at speeds greater than 15 MPH then drop it out of 4 low. But short distances between harder trails or or flat sections on a hard trail you really shouldnt be going that fast at a place like RC to start with and it becomes a chore to go in and out of 4 low and with a manual you are always riding the clutch.

as you go faster in 4 low you will start hearing the tcase whining a lot which is a good indication you should switch to high range

 

[MaineBumpkin]

Went wheeling with my new manual last weekend and I also found 4 low in 2nd gear to be the sweet spot.

 

[MaineBumpkin]

Just curious Matt, did yours pop out of 4 Low at all? The first time I dropped into 4 low it kept popping out as soon as I started to move. After some cuss words it finally stayed put on the 3rd or 4th try.

 

[DanW]

Just curious Matt, did yours pop out of 4 Low at all? The first time I dropped into 4 low it kept popping out as soon as I started to move. After some cuss words it finally stayed put on the 3rd or 4th try.

You did it right. Just have to let it know you mean business!

 

[Sheepjeep]

Just curious Matt, did yours pop out of 4 Low at all? The first time I dropped into 4 low it kept popping out as soon as I started to move. After some cuss words it finally stayed put on the 3rd or 4th try.

This usual is because you didn't get the gears to mesh up well there is no synchros going into low so it just pops out same reason you some times can get it in 4 low the teeth are miss aligned hence why people say to roll the jeep a little bit to engage or why the manual says to roll at <2 mph when going into 4 low

 

[21_Sarge_JLUR]

Just curious Matt, did yours pop out of 4 Low at all? The first time I dropped into 4 low it kept popping out as soon as I started to move. After some cuss words it finally stayed put on the 3rd or 4th try.

No, I didn't have issue with it popping out but sometimes I played hell getting back into 4 hi.

 

[omnitonic]

I had pretty much the same experience today myself. I'm used to an old T-18 4-speed that originally came out of a dump truck. They used that transmission in Jeeps of the day, too, and I can see why.

Compared to the crawler gear of the T-18, 1st gear in the new Jeep is a little tall. I found myself lugging hard in 1st gear, and I, too, found 2nd in 4 low to be the sweet spot. I guess I'm going to have to keep practicing until I can shift in and out of 4 low more consistently. It's a little touchy right now. I've gotten hung in neutral more than once.

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