Opinions for Off-Roading Automatic or Manual

[cru9]

Post up your thought and reasons

[DOUG]

Folks that have manuals support them, and same for Autos.

I have a great respect for those that can operate a manual trans in sticky situations.

But Auto is by far the better choice for the dual purpose rig.

- Auto allows for a higher level of success for the novice and the experienced in some cases.

- Auto overcomes some gearing issues with the torque/stall converter.

- Auto allows more focus on the spotter in tough situations.

- Auto allows for an easy application of power, more smoothly for most.

- Auto does not put the clutch through hell on the trail if you don't have low gears.

Manual also has benefits, but none that benefit the driver so much, especially the novice or  //OLDSKOOL//.

[Lhub36]

I personally will have to say manual. With some of the off camber and precarious situations you are bound to face an auto would quit pumping fluid.

[Matt]

I wheeled mine with a manual for years and felt very comfortable with it, however sometimes I would kill on some hard bumps, and having to restart in a sticky situation sucks. Also I would sometimes get more throttle than I wanted, opposed to riding the clutch. I made it work and would have kept it that way, but I drive it every day in traffic, so I swapped to an auto with the engine.  Im getting old and this is alot easier to drive on the highway and offroad. I feel that most manuals are probably more reliable mechanically, not as much stuff on the inside to screw up.

[unwantedstray]

Having a manual currently, I would say that it is not easy at all! After a day of hard wheeling my legs hurt! I wish I had an auto just to cut down on some of the stress that driving a manual can cause.

[Mortalis5509]

Auto. Reason comp people use auto and the auto has a tq converter thats of great help.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[kvom]

I had manual on previous Jeep, auto on this one.  Auto is much easier in most situations.  Shifting from neutral to 1st with a manual when in a nose-up situation on a hill takes coordination or a strong e-brake.

And no danger of burning the clutch when learning. 

For harder-core wheeling, a reverse manual shift pattern allows hitting reverse from 1st almost instantly, something that can prevent a rollover.  That's why almost every buggy and rock racer you see had this.  The auto parking brake is almost always superior to the stock Jeep e-brake.

[BigJerm]

Auto. I drive a manual, love it, wheel it nicely but it's just easier with an auto geared correctly. The clutch doesn't mess with concentration or being able to pay attention to a spotter because the clutch is 2nd nature like a brake or gas pedal to people who use it everyday. Still it's 1 more thing to deal with. I do like being in 4Lo, 1st gear and the jeep just drives itself and going down a hill it will crawl without any brakes needed. The end of it is simple, outside of pro, manual or auto is personal choice and 1 really isn't that better than the other with 2 skilled drivers compared


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[cru9]

I drive a manual everyday so shifting and clutch work doesn't bother me. There is a big price difference between manual and auto Jk's

[tcdawg]

Both have lots of pros and cons, many of which have been touched above.  I have wheeled both, and drove both around town. It comes down to personal choice and driving style.

I have ended up with the fact that a properly set up auto is for me. Geared low with a low TC, it crawls great. Keeps me smoother on the obstacles and allows me to concentrate on my spotter and the obstacle and too just have fun!  It is a hobby after all and a manual to me(at my age) is just a little more like work.

In 2wd on the road it is just easier to drive while at the mall. It's hard to drink my mochachino double latte half cafe while picking up soccer moms AND shift gears.

[jc79]

down a hill it will crawl without any brakes needed.

Auto will do this too when shifted manually into 1st gear...

[LR Max]

As much as I love a manual, go auto. If I ever buy a rock crawler/rock bouncer/dedicated trailer queen, it'll be auto.

A manual can be just as good if you have a strong engine but overall Autos are smoother.