Pulling w/ A Manual.

Well, this maybe a stupid question but..
Today was the first time I've really tugged on something in my truck. Our Manlift at work got stuck in gravel and I backed my truck up to it, put it into 4low and started to ride the clutch a bit, at least till i felt it start to move out. What do you guys normally do when tugging? ride the clutch, or pop it? Or is there a different procedure i should take.
Just trying to get the most out of my clutch since i'm at 189k on the original

thanks!

 

Try to minimize slipping the clutch.

These aren't motocross bikes where you need to slip the clutch to keep it on the pipe. Plus, it's really easy to replace the clutch on a bike, where it's like an all day affair for a truck, and not something that should be needed routinely.

If you aren't getting enough torque in 4low and 1st gear to pull it out, slipping it isn't really going to help much, imo. For that you need a bigger truck, lol

 

yeah the idea is to ride it as little as possible but I wouldn't just "pop" it either.

Generally if you tow a lot, offroad a lot, etc you end up with a shorter clutch lifespan than someone who only uses their truck as a highway commuting vehicle. Some activities are just plain harder on it, just gotta try and minimize the strain as best you can. The super low range of 4low makes it easier, if you're on the right surface to use it.

 

Yeah, i've been thoroughly impressed with the stock clutch. Its handled my years of abuse on and off road. Just wasn't sure with the "proper" procedure in pulling out something from a dead stop. Wanna get 200k+ from this clutch before putting it on the lift and replacing it.

 

I dunno man, 200k on a clutch seems like a LOT, even for a highway truck...

 

I'll be happy if I get 90k out of my clutch lol. At about 55k right now, but it's seen some hard uses. Not towing but mostly offroading.

200k is a lot for a clutch on most vehicles, though not unheard of on 1st gens. I know some people on here with over 200k on theirs, but usually it's on a truck that only sees easy street use.

I'd say anywhere from 100k - 150k is average lifespan for a clutch, but there are so many factors at play that can lessen or extend that number.

 

I tend to pulse it. Let the clutch out till it drags, give it some gas and let the clutch out more, trying to maximize the torque being transferred and minimize slip. Sometimes I kill the engine, sometimes I break traction, but occasionally you get some momentum.

If you're pulling in a straight line, 4lo it. As long as you're not turning, it won't bind.

 

Offroading is definitely not easy on a clutch. It's like a perfect storm of slippage, dirt and demanding terrain.

 

That's why it's so much fun!

 

Yeah, the smell of burnt clutch is practically inevitable in certain situations if you have a stock clutch especially. Twin sticks with ultra low range would be ideal but, you know...$$$$$ lol

 

Tacobox

 

Well I’m 189k right now only 11k more to go ! I guess no more pulling for me till I get that milestone hahaha

 

Mine passed 200k a couple weeks ago.


I might be pulling a uhaul cross country in a couple weeks.


Time to find a goat and set up some candles.

 

That's impressive nonetheless, I've had nothing but manual cars for the last 16 years and I've only ever had to replace one clutch (the rest got sold before it was needed) and it was right before I hit 100k on a Scion tC I used to have. The shop that did it told me most clutch jobs they do are around the 100k mark. So when I hear about people with 1st gens getting 200k or more, it gives me hope I don't have to worry about that for a long time lol

 

I wonder if truck clutches are heavier duty than car clutches. Or put another way, if you took a car and truck with the same engine, would they have the same clutch?

 

Just put it in first and use the clutch start cancel. Zero wear on the clutch that way.

 

The thing is there is no real right answer almost every extraction is some what different.

Slow and easy is always the best.

This is where a winch makes things easier.

Speaking of clutches mine was just fine till I let a fellow employee just run 5 miles to pick up parts.

 

I had a 06 tc w i/h/e lowered sway and strut bars, tires. I only had it to 32k miles clutch lasted and it def had some hard 1/4 miles on it Lol. That was a fun car to drive.

 

I haul trailers of junk every once in a while. Swapped out my old clutch for a marlin crawler unit. OEM with a little better innards. I have had no problems whatsoever. Never pop it. As stated by Ox above - you gotta know what you are doing and not burn it.

 

Let out enough to feel it grab then all the way. "97" 2.7 206K on the original clutch. I pull a 3,000lb camper a good bit with the "11" 130 K it still feels the same as new.