When in mud or water, which is better to have? I heard that water between the clutch will lose friction. So is my 5 speed not to be taken off road?

 

Jeep would not have installed them if they were not suppose to go offroad,they are fine and I have had them in the water aplenty,I once had one freeze to the pressure plate after it set allnight. Have fun take it wherever you want. As far as which is better,that depends on you and your style of driving,you will get many responses to this. I have had both and prefer the auto for offroading,but the manual works great also.

 

its all a matter of prefrence i think. personally i like an auto when offroad

 

most people rock crawlin and trail riding like auto's cause they dont have to worry about the clutch stuff... but in most cases manuels are stronger and can hold alittle more abuse... to me on the rd 5 speeds the way to go... actually 4low and 1st gear you can pretty much crawl where ever...

 

I like the 5 spd better. the AX-15 was the strongest transmission jeep ever used. You just have to know how to drive it when off road, and know YOUR limits as a driver.

 

Very cool. It does seem a little easier to play with an automatic, but nowhere near as fun!

 

the aw4 is a stout transmission as well. its all personal preference. but in mud with a standard theres always the chance of frying the clutch if you get mud stuck inbetween the clutch and pressure plate. i have never seen this, only heard of it though.

 

i like a manual off road..

and ive had manuals and autos so far under water that the water was coming up over my hood, and ive never had a problem

the reason i like manuals more for off roading, is i feel like im in more control of my vehicle....i know you can put it in just 1st gear in an auto, but i like the manual.....

plus i think it takes a little more skill.....trying to wheel and not use your clutch to much isnt always easy......but ive never smelled a burning clutch while ive wheeled since i know exactly how much clutch to use while stopping and starting on a steep hill or what ever

 

So I guess the AX15 is what one should learn on when beginning off-roading. Might as well start at the top, huh? I can see the clutch giving me problems on the hills. Skills, hope I have some.

 

yea thats a good point......if you can master the clutch on steep hill climbs and going over rocks and things with out smelling burnt clutch, then when you step into an auto, itll be a peice of cake

you may find yourself stomping the floor in an auto where you had the clutch in a manual, forgetting its not there...lol......and no matter how good you get with a clutch on hills and rocks, you will still stall it from time to time, but its better then burning the clutch..lol

when im at the bottom of a steep hill, i just drop the clutch and go.....or, if im tryint to add a little finess into it...like with rocks for example...i let out on the clutch just a little bit in 4 low until i feel it start grabbing, then i take my other foot off the brake and put it on the gas and right away i let go of the clutch so im not holding the clutch half way in while giving it gas...thats when youll start smelling some burning

heres some what of an example video in my YJ.......

itll be on the second attempt, and you wont even here transition reving you get when you push the gas while letting out on the clutch....i just drop the clutch and go...yes i rev it a little, but it was in neatral and i was contomplating how hard i should it it........but when i put it back in gear, i went

 

lfor offroading i would prefer an automatic just because the hassle of shifting. Thats just my 2

 

In 30 yrs of Jeepin, I've had only 1 auto, an Cherokee. I'll take the standard every time. No problem ever in water, although I could see the clutch plate sticking to the flywheel if put away wet in the winter, and it's much easier to rock the jeep back and forth to get unstuck. If your starter goes you can still get the Jeep started and if the battery goes you can still get started. Their stronger, run cooler, are more dependable, last longer and are more easy to service. If you know how to drive a clutch well, you'll never have a problem. I also don't like it when functions are taken out of my control.
If you install a hand throttle on your shifter, you won't have a problem with rolling backwords on a hill...I have one on my Rubicon.

 

Can you post pics of the hand throttle. I have heard of them but never saw one that worked well.

 

x2... i think ive only heard of them for midgets... lol... i dont see how it is any better? i guess so you can give gas without taking your foot off the brake huh?

 

I have had both. I learned how to drive and wheel with a stick. My CJ5 had a t18 4spd. My 1/2 ton GMC had a 5 speed and 4:56 gears and went everywear. My XJ has the aw4 and im not going back. I love it.