Off-Roading w/a 5-Speed

[KJ zGal]

Anything special I need to know as far as taking my KJ out on the trails with the manual transmission? I already know the deal with 4Lo and being able to start it up without the clutch if it's in 4Lo, but as far as driving in 4Hi, is there anything in particular I'll need to remember? I've only taken it out a few times, and only in first gear. It seems like it would hurt the engine to keep running it at high RPMs like that, but I don't know a whole lot about engines, hence why I'm asking =]

 

[JeepJeepster]

You can shift into other gears with it in 4low, max speed in 4low is 25mph but Ive never been close to that. Anything faster than that is not good for the tcase.

Ive been offroad with a 6speed a few times and its really a handful when you start climbing rocks and stopping on ledges. I could smell the clutch the entire day. Thats when you want it in low in 1st gear.

Its doable but youve got to be good with holding it from rolling back when youre stopped and cant roll back. It will shorten the life of the clutch, thats for sure.

 

[tommudd]

why are you running it at high RPMs in the first place? You pick a gear and speed that will allow you to climb over slowly what ever you are going over, sometimes more speed is needed to make it over , maybe need a crash course in off road driving.

 

[KJ zGal]

I don't run it at ridiculously high RPMs--I just meant that I wasn't sure whether I should be shifting into 2nd or not or just leaving it in first. Some people told me to keep it slow and in first, so I'm just checking.

 

[JeepJeepster]

If youre going down a hill and want it to hold you back, need to crawl really slow up a hill, starting out on a ledge, etc, then 1st is great.

With my automatic Ill let it go into 2nd and sometimes 3rd. I never let it go into 4th though.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

Word of advice: If you haven't already, learn the position where the clutch will not let the vehicle roll back but the engine will keep running. You'll need to eventually anyway. This (as mentioned before) will help offroad. I'm not sure if NY is very hilly but some parts of Michigan are and that's certainly necessary.

This is pretty much the reason why ******** offroaders use automatic transmissions.

 

[ms5490renegade]

automatic isnt all its cracked up to be. i have way more control of my vehicle with the 5 speed. you can let the car idle in 1st and it wont cut off. in 4hi make sure you dont ride the clutch like i did and burn it up. being a smart a$$, i tried all 5 gears in 4lo to see what each ones feel was. probably wasn't a good idea. make sure you know how to keep the car from rolling back and spinning your tires when starting up hill. 1st gear will get you going super slow down a hill but it really helps with keeping the car in control in questionable situations. i usually use second gear most when i off road. have your clutch checked every now and then so it doesnt just go out like mine did. be prepared to replace it at any time. the first 2 times off road i murdered my clutch. also make sure to have your t-case, transmission, and differential fluids changed if you go through alot of water.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

automatic isnt all its cracked up to be. i have way more control of my vehicle with the 5 speed. you can let the car idle in 1st and it wont cut off. in 4hi make sure you dont ride the clutch like i did and burn it up. being a smart a$$, i tried all 5 gears in 4lo to see what each ones feel was. probably wasn't a good idea. make sure you know how to keep the car from rolling back and spinning your tires when starting up hill. 1st gear will get you going super slow down a hill but it really helps with keeping the car in control in questionable situations. i usually use second gear most when i off road. have your clutch checked every now and then so it doesnt just go out like mine did. be prepared to replace it at any time. the first 2 times off road i murdered my clutch. also make sure to have your t-case, transmission, and differential fluids changed if you go through alot of water.

I agree with ya! A manual gearbox is Superior off road.

 

[Prospect62]

Speaking from actual experience...first gear and 4-LO will crawl and crawl and crawl all day long, up steep grades, over rocks, over ledges, over everything. Your tires (aggressive vs. sissy) will determine how far you actually go, but it will not stall. One little-known feature in the KJ is that when placed into 4-LO mode, the engine computer recalibrates to provide better idling and compression. It's evident when crawling in 4-LO. If you don't mind going slow, just put it in first and 4-LO and enjoy the scenery. You won't need to touch the gas pedal. If you find you need to speed up and the RPMS are getting too high, just shift into second or third, whatever you need. Just because you're in 4-LO doesn't mean you can still shift gears.

Marlon was right, if you aren't yet familiar with your clutch "feel", don't get too serious off road. Knowing how to control the vehicle using the clutch and brake should be second nature to you before you go too far into the woods. Good luck, and don't be afraid to beat it up a little...they can take it.

After wheeling my Liberty with the 5-speed, I wouldn't have it any other way!

 

[KJ zGal]

Thanks for the advice! I'm pretty good with keeping it from rolling back on hills now, as I've been driving a manual for well over a year now. As for trying all 5 gears in 4Lo--WTF?! Lol--isn't 4Lo for LOW gear and under 25mph? That was one of the first things I was told...so yeah, don't have to worry about me trying that. I was also under the impression that manual transmissions don't have transmission fluid--is that true? I don't intend to get extreme with the off-roading, but it's nice to have the knowledge anyway. I really would just love a few good mud puddles--we have 37 acres of land and NO MUD. I don't get it =[

 

[Prospect62]

As for trying all 5 gears in 4Lo--WTF?! Lol--isn't 4Lo for LOW gear and under 25mph? That was one of the first things I was told...so yeah, don't have to worry about me trying that.

I've done it. Well, haven't gone as far as 5th gear...yet. That's how you learn, by trying goofy sh*t on your own, not by listening to people talk. Even us "wise" ones.

 

[Marlon_JB2]

No, manuals don't have fluid. What's inside of a manual is a thick oil.

My post was more of getting familiar with your clutch/vehicle rather than being with driving a stick in itself. Anyone can learn to drive a stick but from my experience each and every individual car is different. I remember one day at work (I work valet) and I drove two identical BMW M5s. The first one was smooth as butter, the second one was hell. I just couldn't figure it out. Ah well at least I made it to the garage.

 

[JeepJeepster]

Thanks for the advice! I'm pretty good with keeping it from rolling back on hills now, as I've been driving a manual for well over a year now. As for trying all 5 gears in 4Lo--WTF?! Lol--isn't 4Lo for LOW gear and under 25mph? That was one of the first things I was told...so yeah, don't have to worry about me trying that. I was also under the impression that manual transmissions don't have transmission fluid--is that true? I don't intend to get extreme with the off-roading, but it's nice to have the knowledge anyway. I really would just love a few good mud puddles--we have 37 acres of land and NO MUD. I don't get it =[

I would be glad you dont have any mud, I hate the stuff.

Manual trannies do have oil in them but it doesnt need to be changed as often as an automatic ****** fluid does.

Its really a gear oil.

 

[tjkj2002]

automatic isnt all its cracked up to be. i have way more control of my vehicle with the 5 speed. you can let the car idle in 1st and it wont cut off. in 4hi make sure you dont ride the clutch like i did and burn it up. being a smart a$$, i tried all 5 gears in 4lo to see what each ones feel was. probably wasn't a good idea. make sure you know how to keep the car from rolling back and spinning your tires when starting up hill. 1st gear will get you going super slow down a hill but it really helps with keeping the car in control in questionable situations. i usually use second gear most when i off road. have your clutch checked every now and then so it doesnt just go out like mine did. be prepared to replace it at any time. the first 2 times off road i murdered my clutch. also make sure to have your t-case, transmission, and differential fluids changed if you go through alot of water.

I'd highly beg to differ.......................

The torque mulitplication a TC gives you is far better then a clutch.A manual you will have "shock loads" which will break parts(u-joints,ring gears) which a auto will never see since the TC absorbs this type of shock before it can reach the driveline.

No granted a manual will always give you a lower crawl ratio but unless your running 40"+ tires and running a 2L I-4 engine you don't really need that 120:1 to even 200+:1 crawl ratio's that can be acheived with a manual trans.90% of the time a crawl ration of 40:1-60:1 is well more then enough and can be acheived very easily by both a auto and maunal trans.


A well maintained auto will also outlast a manual trans before needing any major service.And a auto trans will 99% of the time be stronger(handle more torque) then a comparable manual trans.

 

[Ry' N Jen]

I'd highly beg to differ.......................

The torque mulitplication a TC gives you is far better then a clutch.A manual you will have "shock loads" which will break parts(u-joints,ring gears) which a auto will never see since the TC absorbs this type of shock before it can reach the driveline.

No granted a manual will always give you a lower crawl ratio but unless your running 40"+ tires and running a 2L I-4 engine you don't really need that 120:1 to even 200+:1 crawl ratio's that can be acheived with a manual trans.90% of the time a crawl ration of 40:1-60:1 is well more then enough and can be acheived very easily by both a auto and manual trans.


A well maintained auto will also outlast a manual trans before needing any major service.And a auto trans will 99% of the time be stronger(handle more torque) then a comparable manual trans.

That is BS dude.
That only applies to somebody who doesn't know how to drive.
At the end of the day, a professional driver will opt for a manual over an automatic transmission.
Look at motor sports.
Baha, Paris Dakar... Etc, Etc.
Get real.

 

[J-Thompson]

hand throttle is the only way to fly with a stick
if you dont have one get one
I have wheeled both autos and sticks off road
auto is better the "more control" thing is is some one who does not know but thinks they do
I can walk to the point of almost touching a tree turn sharp and just graze it with a tire
all the while on a 50* slope ,up hill with rocks
sure every now and then I hear my fan kick on due to trans temp
but that is why I wired it up like that
and like it was said no shock loads
I would say 85% of the axles and U-joint I have seen brake are due to shock loads

 

[Ry' N Jen]

hand throttle is the only way to fly with a stick
if you dont have one get one
I have wheeled both autos and sticks off road
auto is better the "more control" thing is is some one who does not know but thinks they do
I can walk to the point of almost touching a tree turn sharp and just graze it with a tire
all the while on a 50* slope ,up hill with rocks
sure every now and then I hear my fan kick on due to trans temp
but that is why I wired it up like that
and like it was said no shock loads
I would say 85% of the axles and U-joint I have seen brake are due to shock loads

I am disabled and it is very difficult to operate a clutch pedal(manual transmission) there for I own an automatic propelled KJ (which totally *****!)
But.. at the end of the day, a manual gearbox is the best.

 

[tommudd]

great debate that has been going on for years and years which is the best, have done both over the last 30 plus years of 4 wheeling and give me an automatic anymore

 

[Ry' N Jen]

great debate that has been going on for years and years which is the best, have done both over the last 30 plus years of 4 wheeling and give me an automatic anymore

Again, it's personal preference.
Just like ABS.

 

[KJ zGal]

Yeah...Not having ABS is annoying when you live in NY and near a crapload of hills =[