Using the Clutch Off Road Without Three Feet

I've driven a manual since the beginning. Prefer them. Lately been on some more technical trails/rocks and my clutch work was not great.

Offroading in high school consisted of swinging donuts in the mud with my 87 Mazda B2000. Second gear pinned was how I got around 'offroad', donuts or not. No clutch needed.

02 Tacoma 4x4 4cyl took me everywhere. Most of my off roading was in 4x4 hi. A few trails and hill climbs in 4 low, but that was mostly point and shoot, not rock crawling.

Drove some rock gardens recently and was having trouble staying off the clutch. I wasnt riding it, just using it a lot. No long engagements or burning. Climbing obstacles (from a stop) I would often get to the hi point right as I was getting off the clutch and would have too much momentum, making me want to press the clutch back in. What is the best option to stay in gear? Should I switch my right foot to the brake as the left is working the clutch? Otherwise I felt like I'd fly away more. Pressed the clutch as I came back down most big rocks to avoid too much speed (and damage). Stop and go. Again, didn't burn the clutch, just used it a lot.

I also had a little trouble controlling the throttle. Should I keep a steady throttle right foot and keep left ready to brake? Seems good til you need to push the clutch agin. Damn third foot. It wasn't all bad, made it through frame twister and another rock garden without touching anything but the tires.

Any advice for crawling manual transmissions? Gears and dual cases are a ways off. Looking for more advice on staying off the clutch over tight rocks.

 

maybe creep along in 4low?

 

Was def in 4 low 1st gear. Still needed to start and stop a lot.

 

There isn't.

Eventually you'll learn how low you can let the truck to before it does die. And you'll just ride that edge.

One thing to keep in mind is..killing it..is totally fine. No one cares. If they do. Screw them.

Biggest help will be gears. Or crawlbox if you get that into it.

 

Yeah, I stalled it a few times. That was better than throttling over rocks. Do you left foot brake often while crawling?

 

No. I just use the right foot.

 

Yeah, no easy way to compensate for lack of gearing. E brake can come in handy at times.

 

Should have bought an Automatic ! Just kidding. I would say gearing is your best bet. maybe doing the twin stick mod and FJ Transfer case mod would help.

 

Lower gearing is what you really need. But if you can't do that, then the key is spotting and picking out the best line of attack that will allow you to maintain the minimum speed needed for the gear range you have available.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V_sXJPICX8

watch me^ im doing exactly as you are. feathering the clutch just to the point of still running but not stalling. like evreryone here stated, its hard, but more practice makes better

I stalled twice crossing this creek. my clutch was even smoking a bit. It happens when u dont have that crawl box or lower gears to help u. but its not everyday you are trying to cross something that^challenging.
If u have to let it idle in nuetral for a few minutes to allow the disc and flywheel to cool a bit. I hover right between id say 600 to 1200 rpm when doing harder stuff like that^ these 3.4's love to be bogged down, they handle it well. keep practicing and learn your truck and clutch... takes time

 

Use lo gear. You barely have to touch the clutch, especially in 1st gear/lo. It makes life really easy, and it makes your clutch happy. It's also more forgiving when on the edge of stalling like is described above.

 

he know how to use 4-low.

He's taking about technical rock crawling. Where 4-low is required.

Anyways, I find my self riding my clutch a whole lot since I've very under geared (3.90s, 32" tires, & a tired 22r). I've had it hot a few times, but it's holding up to the abuse well.. I just ride the clutch a little and keep enough gas to keep it alive. Sounds like a tractor, but who cares. I also brake right foot.

Now when I get 5.29s and dual cases with 2.28x4.7s, then I'll learn to brake with the left and gas with the right since it'll be harder to stall and much slower=less throttle surges!

But hey.. when in doubt, throttle out!

 

he know how to use 4-low.

He's taking about technical rock crawling. Where 4-low is required.

Anyways, I find my self riding my clutch a whole lot since I've very under geared (3.90s, 32" tires, & a tired 22r). I've had it hot a few times, but it's holding up to the abuse well.. I just ride the clutch a little and keep enough gas to keep it alive. Sounds like a tractor, but who cares. I also brake right foot.

Now when I get 5.29s and dual cases with 2.28x4.7s, then I'll learn to brake with the left and gas with the right since it'll be harder to stall and much slower=less throttle surges!

But hey.. when in doubt, throttle out!

 

He asked.what to do, thats the answer along with knowing when you're on the verge of stalling and giving it enough gas to not stall. In 1st.gear low you barely have to touch the clutch or brake, just little blips of the throttle. You use the gearing to control speed.

 

try rock crawling like my video and dont hit the clutch^^^

 

i have a harder time with the clutch on road...i pretty much cant crawl in 4hi haha 4lo is muchhhh better.. im on 4.88 gears and 33s

 

Hand throttle. I prefer one that can be set and held, versus one that's a grip style (must hold it the whole time with your hand). Raise the RPMs enough that only the bad binding will stall it out (that's something you'll figure out using trial and error).

That way, you can focus on your two feet on the clutch and brake to control your movement.

Now, I don't know if these 2nd gens use drive by wire or not (never paid attention under the hood to see if there's a cable there). So, this may not be an option.

 

Yeah, gears are definitely in the long term plan. Eventually I'd like to do gears and lockers together. In the meantime I'll finesse it on the easy line

Thanks, nice video. Coming around that right hand corner at the top looked gnarly!

I was a little bogged more than I wasn't, but it did surprise me. Once or twice I thought for sure it would stall but didn't. Doesn't mean it was super smooth though

Was 4-low first gear %100 of the time. Tight spaces in between big-ish rocks. Pushing the clutch in between felt like a necessity or else it was buckin bronco break somethin time.

Throttle surges were the hardest part for me. I was trying to keep a smooth gas foot but was pretty bouncy and hard to maintain steady throttle at times. My buddy spotting said it sounded smooth though. lugged a few times but thats about it. It was def are jerkier throttle than I would like. Time to wheel some more.

Thanks all for your replies

 

I think 2002 was the last year of cable throttles. But a hand throttle would be awesome!

 

Hand Ebrake is what i use. I start letting out clutch with ebrake pulled. when engine begins to pull down (clutch engagement occurring) begin releasing the ebrake at the same time. It takes a little practice but that is all i use offroading and starting on hills.