manual vs. auto for off roading?

[brian2sun]

I know there's a poll out there for who likes auto or manual better, but this one is specifically for off roading. I would take a 5 speed for normal everyday driving hands down, but I don't dislike my slush box on the trails one bit. I've had manual 4x4s before and they're still great off road too, but I actually prefer the "golf cart" - push the pedal and go effect for off roading. It's especially nice on steep hills.

Of course, in many situations a 5 speed with dual t-cases will allow you to leave the clutch out without stalling so you don't have to work 3 pedals at once and this is ideal (to me), but in stock 4x4 form, I choose the auto.

 

[dk27]

Choose 5 spd/manual because it's what I've gone offroading in. Had a Mazda B4000 that I took to a couple of parks and had a blast. In low range it really isn't bad at all starting out. I could see auto being nice but I'm just not sure.

 

[Toy4ever]

I think first and foremost it depends on what the "operational definition" of offroading is. If I am rock climbing the automatic just feels safer and more reliable in terms of action and reaction. If i am in mud than a manual has the rocking ability versus the automatic which doesn't realllllly. Overall my vote goes to automatics for reliability, expectations, comfort, and safety :art:

 

[brian2sun]

I think first and foremost it depends on what the "operational definition" of offroading is. If I am rock climbing the automatic just feels safer and more reliable in terms of action and reaction. If i am in mud than a manual has the rocking ability versus the automatic which doesn't realllllly. Overall my vote goes to automatics for reliability, expectations, comfort, and safety :art:

I agree, both have their +'s and -'s. We'll have to make it a vote on overall performance in all catagories combined. I personally try not to rock back and forth in a stick either because it doesn't help the life of the tranny/t-case, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. But, rocking back and forth between D and R while in 4wd in an auto can be disasterous!

 

[t4r4life]

Auto is nice so you can mostly concentrat on the trail and not the clutch

 

[Mr. Leary]

All my off road vehicles have slush boxes. I like knowing that The_Mrs. can drive it off road without diverting her attention from the trail.

I have had both types in the past. The ability to hold a gear(like "L" or "2") with an auto IMO replaces most of the benefits of a stick shift. Also, if you can get a torque converter lockup, you have the best options of both.

 

[Rockdawg84]

I agree 5speed with dual cases is the best all around for off road no matter the situation. But I still voted 5speed in stock form because to me the control and durability are key. I have seen to many guys crawling get bound up and because they have an auto they simply give it more gas and then things go boom. I like the control of the manual as well it does take some skill to learn to 3 foot it but totally worth it in my opinion and I like to be able to put in the clutch and roll out of steep down hill stuff when the need arises

 

[XJeepguy]

Agreed ! Long as you have a low range in your transfer case , automatic is the ticket.

Auto is nice so you can mostly concentrat on the trail and not the clutch

 

[2000runr]

Auto for offroad all the way. My manual is a BMW, for taking tight corners and turns, on road, where the manual is most fun!!

 

[theizzardking]

i've rocked auto's back and forth for years when stuck in the mud, never blew anything and if you do you're not paying attention or just an idiot, be careful! skill over power and speed! and to me that's why i prefer the auto is the ease of which i can get un-stuck from deep mud and how easy it is not to be juggling 3 pedals at once, you can partly power brake as well to help in a lot of situations , not to mention how much nicer it is just to be in an auto for life, you know?

i like sticks for speed and tight turns as well auto for everything else , and to be honest if i'm doing hard core rock crawling it's not going to be in my 3rd gen 4runner.......

 

[brian2sun]

i've rocked auto's back and forth for years when stuck in the mud, never blew anything and if you do you're not paying attention or just an idiot, be careful!

I'm talking about shifting back and forth from D to R in 4LO without letting it come to a stop in-between. If you do that, it won't take long to grenade the t-case and/or tranny if you're in 4x4. If you're rocking with just momentum but not shifting, that's ok.

I agree that the 3rd gen does NOT make a good hard core rock crawler and what it takes to make it one, costs way more than just buying another used vehicle that already has solid axles and a roll cage.

 

[glenyoshida]

Manual is better if you get torque lift and need to dump the power in the transmission to drop the front end.

I'll have to try dropping it into neutral to see if that's fast enough to help relieve the torque lift. Lots of momentum in an engine when fractions of a second can make the difference of "that was close" to "I can't believe I rolled it."

 

[snivilous]

Not another one of these discussions/arguments :bash:

And old thread revive much :flipoff: lol

 

[sn0wrunner]

For reference this is glen's post from earlier today in the locker or winch thread. Better to revive an old thread than start a new one on a dead beat topic! Lol

I had a 1994 4runner with a manual transmission, 1" lift, ARB Bull bar, rear lights, sleeping platform, cargo box, laptop mount, GPS hardware, and 142,000 miles on it. It was very clean and as hard as it was to take the loss on it and spend all the time modding up the new rig it was completely worth it. In the end I got a better rig that is more capable and it saved me thousands. I bought my current rig with 49,000 miles on it and it had an auto transmission.

I know that Oklahoma has some good rock crawling down there so if you are in one of those areas consider an auto transmission for your new rig or budget in for dual cases if you go manual. I'm a manual transmission guy for just about everything else other than rock crawling and I understand you are giving something up when you go auto but it's just not possible to get the same kind of control with a manual transmission.

Before you manual guys start flaming me I don't disagree that there are also advantages with manual transmission both are different and depending on your preference one is not necessarily better than the other.

Here's a thread on Manual vs Auto to keep this thread on topic. Post here if you want to debate

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/68663-manual-vs-auto-off-roading.html

Post in the above link if you want to talk more about Manual Transmission vs Auto transmission.

Oh keep in mind that if you do the conversion you are committing yourself to that rig even more. Besides the additional cost it's not exactly comforting to buyers knowing that it's been converted. Assuming you are a stand up guy and you would disclose that information.

 

[541joseph]

i Have to say that i really prefer my 5 spd took my spouses auto out today and i hate that if it shifts into 2nd more then 2mph in lo it and it is rough as Sh*t if it shifts. i love being able to put my 5spd into 2nd or 3rd and just go when in lo

 

[Snowy21]

Just put it in 2 to start and shift to drive if you're going fast enough to warrant 3rd in low range

 

[Skidmarcx]

For general offroad fun I'll take an auto

 

[TRD 4RNR]

If you're rock crawling - I say 5 speed
but for run of the mill off-roading - I'll stick with my auto :happy:

 

[glenyoshida]

i Have to say that i really prefer my 5 spd took my spouses auto out today and i hate that if it shifts into 2nd more then 2mph in lo it and it is rough as Sh*t if it shifts. i love being able to put my 5spd into 2nd or 3rd and just go when in lo

Yeah, that hard shifting has always bothered me too. I think I've gotten used to it I don't notice it anymore. I bet it's still shifting hard in low range though.

If you're rock crawling - I say 5 speed
but for run of the mill off-roading - I'll stick with my auto :happy:

That's so funny! I would have said the exact opposite. Not trying to argue, genuinely curious on what your reasons are

 

[541joseph]

Just put it in 2 to start and shift to drive if you're going fast enough to warrant 3rd in low range

I would put it in 2 and it would shift hard from 1 st to 2nd and that how all toyota autos have been in low rage it just bothers me because its harder on thing then they need to be