Off-roading with a manual transmission?

[Rodeoflyer]

Jeep is still putting this out there.. even with the all the clutch issues

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[SadRobot]

The manual REQUIRES gears.. I can idle up that in 4lo

It's been better since I went from the stock 3.45 to the 4.88s. Still have the sport transfer case though. I'm told if I had the 4:1 I'd have less issues stalling.

 

[Rubi6mt]

It's been better since I went from the stock 3.45 to the 4.88s. Still have the sport transfer case though. I'm told if I had the 4:1 I'd have less issues stalling.

Your crawl ratio will go from 68:1 to 100:1 with the 4:1 transfer case install. Definitely will help quite a bit.

The other item for me was the CFII clutch kit with the high inertia flywheel makes it much harder to stall.

As mentioned I can idle up boulders and steep hills.

 

[Rodeoflyer]

It's been better since I went from the stock 3.45 to the 4.88s. Still have the sport transfer case though. I'm told if I had the 4:1 I'd have less issues stalling.

The 2.73 clutch based transfer case on the sports (np273 or whatever) is like what you get in full size trucks. No comparison offroad.

 

[Canjeeper]

Low engine torque in the new ones??

Yes it has very little off idle torque, was not noticed as much in the JK because of the heavier flywheel . Compare a 03 to 06 Rubicon with a 2018 and newer Rubicon ,in deep sand /mud/snow you would be amazed at how poor the new ones are .

 

[Zuni]

Off-roading with a manual isn’t more difficult, it’s just more involved.
sure, I might stall once in a while on a difficult obstacle but, it doesn’t keep me from completing the task.
I love rowing the gears on and off road and have never been held back by the analog interface.
If you don’t have a passion for manuals you won’t get it and should just drive the automatic which, is ok.

That's part of the fun in my book: knowing what gear to pick and when to shift!

 

[Zuni]

CRAWL WITH CONFIDENCE
With a 4:1 low gear ratio, the Rock-Trac®-equipped Rubicon can deliver an available Best-in-Class 100:1 crawl ratio( Disclosure1) when equipped with the manual transmission and the available 4.88:1 axle ratio.

It's not about low engine torque...

No but low end torque can help with stalling out at a start. Think about it, at 100:1 crawl ratio u have what about 2900 BHP at the axle shafts. No off road vehicle needs a high output engine like sports cars have and I consider the 3.6L pentastar with it 11.2:1 compression ratio a high output engine. Ur giving reliability up for power! The 3.8 with, I think it was, 9.6:1 was rated at about 250,000 miles. The old 4.0 straight 6 even more. Let's see how long the 3.6's last in comparison. I haven't heard any stats on it yet.

 

[hoch]

Let's see how long the 3.6's last in comparison. I haven't heard any stats on it yet.

The 3.6 pentastar has been around since 2011 in various Chrysler vehicles. I’d say they have a pretty good track record. Over 200k miles without issues, typically.

Some of the TJ guys may have a heart attack when I say this, but I’d put the 3.6 up against the 4.0 any day of the week.
My brother had a ZJ with a 4.0 back in the day. It ran ok at 180k miles but leaked worse than Ed Snowden. Did I mention slow?

3.6, 6-speed, 4:1 = amazing combo. Plenty of power and comfort.

 

[Toycrusher]

The 3.6 pentastar has been around since 2011 in various Chrysler vehicles. I’d say they have a pretty good track record. Over 200k miles without issues, typically.

Some of the TJ guys may have a heart attack when I say this, but I’d put the 3.6 up against the 4.0 any day of the week.
My brother had a ZJ with a 4.0 back in the day. It ran ok at 180k miles but leaked worse than Ed Snowden. Did I mention slow?

3.6, 6-speed, 4:1 = amazing combo. Plenty of power and comfort.

Agree and agree. The 3.6 is pretty well bulletproof as far as motors go.
I loved the 4.0 and 5 speed in my old TJ with it's tractor like low end grunt. However, a heavy flywheel like my Centerforce gives my 3.6 the same low end power but still still all that extra hp up top.

 

[Zuni]

Agree and agree. The 3.6 is pretty well bulletproof as far as motors go.
I loved the 4.0 and 5 speed in my old TJ with it's tractor like low end grunt. However, a heavy flywheel like my Centerforce gives my 3.6 the same low end power but still still all that extra hp up top.

Like u 'agree and agree'! I wish my JLR had a heavier flywheel. Maybe then it wouldn't try to redline at the slightest touch of the throttle when not in gear. I exaggerate but u get my drift. LoL

 

[Zuni]

Like u 'agree and agree'! I wish my JLR had a heavier flywheel. Maybe then it wouldn't try to redline at the slightest touch of the throttle when not in gear. I exaggerate but u get my drift. LoL

Glad to hear about the longevity too. Now they need to fix the clutch problem!

 

[Old Jeeper]

So I've been thinking of getting an JLU Rubicon. Will be a daily driver for my mainly 2-lane commute and light to moderate off-roading. Might work my way up to Beasley Knob ORV trails (7-9 rating on Badge of Honor system). Would love to eventually go to Moab as a bucket list adventure.
I haven't had manual tranny in several years and like the idea of going back to one. How is off-roading in the manual with say a 2" lift and 35's compared to the automatic? Plan to keep this one forever so long-term durability/service life is a high priority.
Any input appreciated.

The TRUTH!

I have been driving manuals since 1962, ranch trucks, Ford and John Deere tractors, Jeeps, Corvettes, I was a drag racer back in the 60s.

To me a Stick is natural, in fact its transparent to me.

It did NOT get transparent over night!!!!!!!!!!

If you have not lived with a stick most of your adult life then you better get a AUTO, you will be glad you did. I had to give up Sticks on the 1320 because drag racing had advanced and autos started shifting gears faster than I could and that is saying something! I had a trick to my fast shifting. Use a ROUND shifter knob and unscrew it a about 3 turns. Now it would twist in my hand and all I had to do was apply muscle and direction back, right forward and back right again.

GO AUTO, I just ordered my 2024 Rubi with a Auto and I have only had 3 autos in life and not counting my F 350/450 trucks.

Trust me , that Auto is a LOT FASTER and SMARTER than you and me are.

 

[RubberFrog]

The TRUTH!

I have been driving manuals since 1962, ranch trucks, Ford and John Deere tractors, Jeeps, Corvettes, I was a drag racer back in the 60s.

To me a Stick is natural, in fact its transparent to me.

It did NOT get transparent over night!!!!!!!!!!

If you have not lived with a stick most of your adult life then you better get a AUTO, you will be glad you did. I had to give up Sticks on the 1320 because drag racing had advanced and autos started shifting gears faster than I could and that is saying something! I had a trick to my fast shifting. Use a ROUND shifter knob and unscrew it a about 3 turns. Now it would twist in my hand and all I had to do was apply muscle and direction back, right forward and back right again.

GO AUTO, I just ordered my 2024 Rubi with a Auto and I have only had 3 autos in life and not counting my F 350/450 trucks.

Trust me , that Auto is a LOT FASTER and SMARTER than you and me are.

Am I the only one that didn't see the twist coming at the end of that?

 

[Old Jeeper]

Am I the only one that didn't see the twist coming at the end of that?

Like I said, the TRUTH and time marches on!

 

[hoch]

I told a neighborhood kid who was enamored with my manual Jeep, that modern autos were smoother, more efficient, and just as reliable as manuals.

“Then why drive a manual?”

…well, if you know, you know.

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