manual trans

keep the peace · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:09 pm

okie doke, so hopefully in the next couple of weeks im going have my libby sitting in my parking space outside =D I'm semi new to offroading, especially with a manual transmission...

I've read a couple of things saying that it's not good to touch the clutch while offroad, why??
Also if you are going at a slow speed, like 3-5 mph, don't you run the risk of stalling out? wouldn't you have to ride the clutch at least lightly??
i've read that you should start off in 3rd gear when going through mud and muck, true or no??
also read someone saying they put the 4wd in 4lo and just let the car idle over rocks, how?? must not have been a manual??

im extremelly excited to get my libby and im an outdoors fanatic so this rig will probably see as much nature time as it does highway!!! If anyone has any good tips for a (kinda) off-roading newb, im totally receptive to them =D

thanks for the answers ahead of time, i'll be checkin back later!!

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:22 pm

When you put the kj in 4low, along with the low gear of 1st in the manual tranny, it will crawl like no other.

The best reason I can think to start out in 3rd while in mud is so you do not loose traction. Once you loose it, its gone and you just spin..

Im not to sure on letting off the clutch while offroad? I know you not supposed to push in on the clutch while its in water. Im not to sure how to explain or what exactly happens, but it sucks water into something that doesnt need water sucked into.. lol :wink:

keep the peace · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 3:39 pm

Jeepjeepster wrote:

When you put the kj in 4low, along with the low gear of 1st in the manual tranny, it will crawl like no other.

The best reason I can think to start out in 3rd while in mud is so you do not loose traction. Once you loose it, its gone and you just spin..

Im not to sure on letting off the clutch while offroad? I know you not supposed to push in on the clutch while its in water. Im not to sure how to explain or what exactly happens, but it sucks water into something that doesnt need water sucked into.. lol :wink:

thanks for the fast reply, but with the 4low thing, would the clutch have to be pushed in or no, becuase i know that if i were in my car and i wasn't moving and i let off the clutch, BAM, a nice lurch foward and a flustered face at a stop sign :oops:

EDIT: also i had read someones signature and it said never put a power trax locker in the manual trans., why??

hooperswish · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 4:49 pm

I am a recent owner of a new '06 6 speed. When I put it in 4 lo and 1st gear, it crawls at a super slow speed.So in theory, you do not need to use the clutch. Just idle along at a slow go and take the terain as it comes. (The rubicon Wrangler has an even lower gear crawl for even slower going). If you do have your baby stall, no worries. The six speed has a cluth default when in 4 lo so you DO NOT have to engage the clutch.(This can be hairy when teetering on a rock and you need to push in the cluth for a restart.) Just start her up with your foot off of the clutch and she will slowly lurch forward and you are on your way.(This feature does not work in 2x or 4 hi, only 4 lo.)
I love the manual....Good luck!
Steve

keep the peace · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:05 pm

interesting, im gonna have to try this out when i get it!!! Im super excited and i really cant wait, my wife has a manual wrangler that she takes out and i drive it once and awhile, but im too scared to really play around cuz it's her daily driver

moose · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 5:58 pm

The 4LO is so low that you may find yourself cruising along at 10mph in 4th gear on open flats. When you get to rocks, go back to 1st and be patient. It will idle up and over; you just give it a little gas when you think it will stall. It you ride the clutch, you will smell the clutch burning out (you'll wish it smelled as good as smoking breaks!).

Also, water gets into the trany when you throw the clutch when it's under water. You should be fine in 12" or less, but more than that and you just need to go slow in 1st, and plug on through (better to go at hight rpm in 1st and slow down if you need to than decide in 18" of water that 2nd is just too fast...)

keep the peace · **Posted:** Sat Nov 04, 2006 6:00 pm

thanks for all the helpful info guys, im totally gonna try this out tomorrow with the wifey's wrangler....

EDIT: any idea why i shouldn't use a lunch box locker w/a manual trans?? I dunno if it's true or not, just something i read :twisted:

spoonplugger1 · **Posted:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 11:36 am

I don't think you get anymore water in the tranny by using the clutch, what you get is the same thing you get with your brakes and water. When you have water on all your friction surfaces, you have less brake efficiency. Same with the clutch, you engage it in the dry, you go into the water and it runs in thru the cracks and the clutch fork opening in the bell housing, but the clutch is forced against the flywheel and stays dry or at least drier till you open the gap and let the water in between the surfaces.

wendell · **Posted:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:11 pm

The best advice I can give you, is to play with it. It's hard to tell someone else how to drive over the net. Experience is the best teacher. My liberty is an auto, but my ranger that I wheel is a manual, there are times you have to ride the clutch a little, limit it as much as posible. As you drive offroad you will develope your own driving style and learn what to do ,or not do and how to use the clutch to your advantage. Slow and low are your friends, slow speeds and low range in the tough stuff. Now on open logging roads or better trails you can speed it up to high range. It will come to you as you do it, you'll get a feel for your jeep and it's limitations and your own as a newbie driver. The more experience you get, the more things your jeep will do.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:35 pm

wendell wrote:

The best advice I can give you, is to play with it. It's hard to tell someone else how to drive over the net. Experience is the best teacher. My liberty is an auto, but my ranger that I wheel is a manual, there are times you have to ride the clutch a little, limit it as much as posible. As you drive offroad you will develope your own driving style and learn what to do ,or not do and how to use the clutch to your advantage. Slow and low are your friends, slow speeds and low range in the tough stuff. Now on open logging roads or better trails you can speed it up to high range. It will come to you as you do it, you'll get a feel for your jeep and it's limitations and your own as a newbie driver. The more experience you get, the more things your jeep will do.

Nicely put..

Ive also heard that its best NOT to have a locker with a manual.. Not to sure why though..

keep the peace · **Posted:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:56 pm

awesome, thanks so much for all the info, we were able to try it out today and worked like a champ! never knew it would idle so low and crawl over rocks all by itself :mrgreen:

now all i have to do if find out why not to put a locker in a manual trans... :cry:

wendell · **Posted:** Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:37 am

Lockers arn't for everybody, manual trans or not, if you do 90% of your driving on the street, you'll find a good lsd like the detroit tru-trac will be kinder to you. Lockers can have nasty street maners, slick roads can be a trip. LSD's and a set of good tires can take you most places you want to go, locker are for hard core extreme wheeling. Being a beginer, you may want to learn to walk before you run as they say. Street friendliness can be as important as trail worthiness for a daily driver.

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