When the stock clutch's life comes to an end I will replace it with a South Bend version.
My long-term plan is to convert my JLUR with MT to electric once the batteries mature and solid state is available (half the weight of cell or pouches and charging in 10 minutes) and axial flux motors (current radial flux motors are 150-year old tech) can be dropped in. See the Magneto and Magneto 2 concept vehicles from Jeep at EJS the last two years. I like to drive and although the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y are good vehicles, they are simply this generations Prius. They are higher-tech commuter vehicles with spartan interiors. I have no interest in Full Self Driving and with my MT I tell people my Jeep is FSD level zero .... I do everything include shift, because I love to drive.
It happened quite a bit to me. And yes, I'm thinking that I've been driving manuals for longer than most people here have been alive.
I don't know. I don't have any issues stalling in low or high. But in low, I'd have to try very hard to make it stall. It'll pull even if the e-brake is up on a hill, without stalling, with no throttle input.
I switched to 5.13s and mine is crazy at climbing and descending now. I also start in 2nd most of the time, but will use 1st when I am climbing steep or very technical sections or going down loose and steep trails. The autos behind me complain they are dragging their brakes and I never touch mine. I tell them to stop and wait for me to descend further before coming up behind me. I swear I am doing .5 mph downhill and it is so controlled.
Learning how to rock crawl with an automatic should be interesting. Feet on both the gas and the brake at the same time is supposed to be the preferred technique. We'll see when I eventually get my diesel.
I think the "off-road" cruise control feature should make it a cinch. Especially with the diesel torque, you shouldn't have any issues. The diesel drivers I've wheeled with (mostly 3.0 gladiators) love them off road.
I followed the initial centerforce debacle on this forum and am glad i waited. Hadnt really seen if anyone got a new one and if they got it straightened out. Same thing w the other company mentioned later in this post. At the time they didnt have one out. Plus single dad w kid. So priority is bills fun then build jeep lol.
Oh, I totally get it. I guess I'm just thinking a clutch kit is $1800, an automatic is $2500. I'd rather save $700 and have what I want. As far as the Centerforce debacle, I got a response from them today:
Frankly I find the Auto much easier off-road because it doesn't stall. Of course, I didn't do the two foot driving much, it was usually not much different than a stick using the right foot for brake and gas and the right hand for handbreak.
My suggestion, if you can find someplace muddy or sandy, or even a grassy area after a rain or heavy dew, it makes it a lot easier and less frustration. There is less stalling from popping the clutch because the tires just spin, and once they find the friction point, the Jeep doesn't even need gas to get rolling. At least that's been my past experience.
I think you said before you are on 35"s. I am on 33"s with the 4.88s and my experience seems to be the same. There is no acceleration needed in 1st or reverse in 2/4 hi. I treat it as a 3spd with 2 overdrives. Unless I am on a hill (>20deg or so), I run 2>3>4>6. 5th is reserved for cruising at 45 or so. As I mentioned before, I think the gearing has a lot to do with it, but it should be also noted that I am driving a 2dr with half doors and the top off for most of my experience. I didn't notice much difference with the top/doors on, however. I also typically drive between 3k-6k in elevation. Most of my manual experience is with trucks and my joy with the manual may also completely depend on my driving style. There is also the possibility that Stellantis/FCA/Jeep/Whomever has fixed some issues before I got my 2022.
