Manual or Auto for off roading?

The AUto is clearly superior on the trails, its not even close

 

meh..autos for going uphill...manuals for going downhills..if only we could have both.

 

autos have both. i slap shit my auto from time to time. like when i stop on a hill and it’s raining or taking the trailer down to the barn. wear it gets parked when not in use.

 

I've owned and wheeled with both stick and auto... For me personally, with the stick you really get to know the feel of your truck's limitations in terms of transmission and power train. There were times when wheeling with a manual and an open differential that made for a bigger challenge. Not that I didn't like that challenge, but it was just something that isn't there in the automatic. In the automatic you can just drop it in gear and take your feet off the pedals.

So, as to what is "Better" it really comes down to your preference and driving style. Also, you might want to consider what type of terrain you're going to be wheeling on. If you're doing slow navigation, big ruts and rock crawling you might consider an automatic... If you do stuff that is more open and less demanding from a stop and go standpoint, you might think about getting a stick.

Here's another thing to consider- Are you going to use your truck as a daily driver? I drove a stick for years and after spending hours in stop and go traffic in Southern California, the automatic was a welcome change.

 

not really. Manuals have a lower 1st gear. Like autos have to use their brakes a ton going down stuff even in 4lo. Manuals don't. Least thats what i have noticed after riding in both.

 

I've had both (with an e-locker). This ^^^ in a nutshell.

If you only offroad in the flat, no advantage either way. In the mountains, its is a different ball game.

 

haha yea you and i had a good talk about this at the last meet! haha I have had both in open diffs too, but my auto was in an 86 truck. same story really. So soooo nice to not have to worry about a clutch going up and over rocks and stuff. But WOW..was SHOCKED when i got a manual and was going down stuff. i swear in 4lo..i never use brakes..its crazy.

 

Do you guys got any tips for wheeling in a manual? I tend to burn a little clutch when i go out.

 

Just practice really..gotta learn the drive train as best as possible.

 

Everybody says auto trans gives no engine braking in a downhill situation. News flash- you can downshift an auto!

 

Manual with a crawl box = awesomest setup ever

 

yes we know, manuals just have a lower 1st


personaly, i suck ass at manuals and i like being able to focus my attention at the terrain and where im driving and not have to worry about shifting and changing gears. as mentioned the ease of starting and stopping on hills is a huge plus to automatics also the ergonomics for car manuals sucks ass. give 3 controls to 2 feet...why? i ride motorcycles so shifting is so much smoother, easier and effortless, its muscle memory by this point.

 

Are you a prerunner or a 4x4. If you are burning the clutch, you are not in a low enough gear. In a 4x4, this means using 4lo.

 

you can't control when the torque converter is locked.

I agree that a manual with a crawler box is better than everything else.

 

I also ride a bike most of the time. Shifting gears in the truck has also become second nature, I don't even have to think about it.

Also its not that hard to start on a hill without rolling back with a manual, especially in 4lo.

 

Does this aid with shifting "smoother" or just take up the free play in the stick? I've been revving my engine up to Toyota's suggested rpm and push the clutch to the floor but if I don't give it a few moments before actually shifting the stick, the gears may grind a bit. looking for a solution. I'm thinking the previous owner was real rough on the trany.

 

So, I have actually had two '04 Taco's. One manual and one auto. Both x-cab TRDs with minor mods. Far and away, I prefer the auto. I'm a big mountain biker/skiier and offroading for three or fours hours with a clutch absolutely destroys my legs. My whole point in going into the back country is to mountain bike/ski. It's much less fun when you are limping. For the record, my most recent car (auto Taco) is the only auto transmission I have ever owned.

The auto is much easier to wheel, but with only a slight loss of control. If I put it in 1 and 4LO, I rarely have to use the brakes. Keep in mind that I'm not rock crawling, but am wheeling on trails that have scratched the hell out of my sliders

 

very very very good input and real world experience +1

 

You will start getting better and better at it and you wont burn it as much. But when the going gets tough your gonna burn it, no way around it, unless of course you spend 2k or so for a crawl box.

 

I have a manual trans and its fine. Only problem I have is that in the city it can get annoying. An auto would be nice in that respect.
Driving on trails I prefer a manual for sure. I dont see rolling back being a problem if you know what you are doing. Take off with the e-brake on then release it the same time you get your forward momentum.