Offroad Head-Snap/Body Roll

[yokramer]

I believe you answered your own question. 3.45s, a 2.72:1 case and 5.13 first gear is already not much of a crawl ratio. Wheeling obstacles in 3rd gear means you are going too fast.

Rocksports are also pretty soft and they don't control big body motions that well.

Yea that 48.14 crawl ratio compared to my Auto Rubicons 77.24 is going to be a big factor in speed

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[yokramer]

Not so fast !.......... The crawl ratio in my manual is 110.4 : 1

How? 6speed Rubi with 4.88s is 100.137

 

[JT1]

Yea that 48.14 crawl ratio compared to my Auto Rubicons 77.24 is going to be a big factor in speed

And that's in first.. OP mentions keeping it in 3rd..

I wheel with a bunch of autos.. 1st gear always over the obstacle, shift to 2nd/3rd to catch back up, back to 1st for the next obstacle.

I'm on 37's with 5.13s in a 6spd, but I don't ever NEED to hit the gas to crawl up or over anything.

 

[JEEP4U]

I believe you answered your own question. 3.45s, a 2.72:1 case and 5.13 first gear is already not much of a crawl ratio. Wheeling obstacles in 3rd gear means you are going too fast.

Rocksports are also pretty soft and they don't control big body motions that well.

Rockgardens in 3rd gear.....Thats funny.

How? 6speed Rubi with 4.88s is 100.137

5.38 gears

 

[Gorilla57]

I should have mentioned I have the 6 speed MT. Seems tricky to 2-foot drive without being able to feather the clutch or am I missing something?

You should be in 1st or 2nd gear. Then you can lightly hold the brake and not stall it. I learned to wheel in an 85 Toy 4Runner, with the 5spd and a Marlin 4.7:1 t-case. 2 footed it all the time and yes it would stall every once in a while. But you will learn when to let up a little on the brake/give it a little more throttle and it will keep going. Takes time and practice.

 

[mtbjeep]

I believe you answered your own question. 3.45s, a 2.72:1 case and 5.13 first gear is already not much of a crawl ratio. Wheeling obstacles in 3rd gear means you are going too fast.

Rocksports are also pretty soft and they don't control big body motions that well.

I have 4:56 gears

 

[RubiSc0tt]

Is this your first Jeep?
Have you ever done any off roading before?
serious questions not meant to shame or belittle.
It sounds like you need to learn to drive Manual transmission off road. Very similar to how I started out. I started out with a 98 TJ sport: 4.0L, manual transmission, transfer case low range in first gear is 2.72:1, axles were 3:73, with 33” tires. Lots of clutch dumps and stuff when rock crawling.
Learn how to use the clutch, where the engagement/ disengagement point is; only depress the clutch there to fully stop the Jeep.
Use your manual transmission like a gear selector. Don’t shift like you do on the street. First gear is crawl, second gear is general trail, third gear and up is flat ground, dirt roads, sand, etc. Put the transmission into the right gear before the obstacle. If you have to shift midway, it’s going to require some learning of clutch finesse. It’s tough to describe.

Additionally, your body positioning is key. You want your butt/back against the seat as much as possible when driving, unless trying to see over the hood. Hands on the wheel and/ or gearshift, don’t hook your thumbs. Use your arms to stabilize a bit. heels planted on the floor, feet firmly on the clutch/ throttle/ brake. You might have to side foot the right foot a bit. It’s almost like riding a mountain bike or motocross bike. You need to prep your body to take the impact and sort of flow with it. Hope this makes sense, because I don’t think I’ve ever typed it out before.

 

[JEEP4U]

I have 4:56 gears

You will need more tire and suitable shocks. If you are top heavy........a Hellwig rear sway bar will also help.

 

[mtbjeep]

I'm on 37's with 5.13s in a 6spd, but I don't ever NEED to hit the gas to crawl up or over anything.

I wonder if this is possible with the sahara transfer case, 35's and 4.56 gears. I an heading out Thursday and will try this approach. All the big obstacles are primarily in 1st gear, I don't spend the entire day in 3rd obviously.

 

[JT1]

I have 4:56 gears

That changes things quite a bit..
In 3rd gear at 1500 rpm it looks like you are at about 8mph. That seems faster than what I would want to run in a rock garden.. I normally keep mine in 2nd at about 4mph +/-

 

[JT1]

I wonder if this is possible with the sahara transfer case, 35's and 4.56 gears. I an heading out Thursday and will try this approach. All the big obstacles are primarily in 1st gear, I don't spend the entire day in 3rd obviously.

Mine is a 2.72:1 case. Mine will actually walk right up waterfalls. I can even hit the brakes and drag it down to about 500rpm and not stall it.

 

[mtbjeep]

Is this your first Jeep?
Have you ever done any off roading before?
serious questions not meant to shame or belittle.
It sounds like you need to learn to drive Manual transmission off road. Very similar to how I started out. I started out with a 98 TJ sport: 4.0L, manual transmission, transfer case low range in first gear is 2.72:1, axles were 3:73, with 33” tires. Lots of clutch dumps and stuff when rock crawling.
Learn how to use the clutch, where the engagement/ disengagement point is; only depress the clutch there to fully stop the Jeep.
Use your manual transmission like a gear selector. Don’t shift like you do on the street. First gear is crawl, second gear is general trail, third gear and up is flat ground, dirt roads, sand, etc. Put the transmission into the right gear before the obstacle. If you have to shift midway, it’s going to require some learning of clutch finesse. It’s tough to describe.

Additionally, your body positioning is key. You want your butt/back against the seat as much as possible when driving, unless trying to see over the hood. Hands on the wheel and/ or gearshift, don’t hook your thumbs. Use your arms to stabilize a bit. heels planted on the floor, feet firmly on the clutch/ throttle/ brake. You might have to side foot the right foot a bit. It’s almost like riding a mountain bike or motocross bike. You need to prep your body to take the impact and sort of flow with it. Hope this makes sense, because I don’t think I’ve ever typed it out before.

Thanks for the response. 51 years of age, manual driver my whole life. First jeep. Started off-roading this year. The manual certainly makes it more interesting!

 

[mtbjeep]

Mine is a 2.72:1 case. Mine will actually walk right up waterfalls. I can even hit the brakes and drag it down to about 500rpm and not stall it.

Wow. I guess it's decades of feeling the slow speed in the seat of your pants and seeing the low revs that makes my MT brain unhappy.

 

[JT1]

Wow. I guess it's decades of feeling the slow speed in the seat of your pants and seeing the low revs that makes my MT brain unhappy.

It's a bunch smoother over obstacles at idle too.

 

[mtbjeep]

You will need more tire and suitable shocks. If you are top heavy........a Hellwig rear sway bar will also help.

When you say more suitable shock could you please expand your thinking? I currently have MC rock sports.

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