I love wheeling with my 5 speed. It may be a little harder but I enjoy the challenge. I dont get a chance to play on rocks much but a 5 speed is super fun in the mud or on the trails. I think it gives you more control over your jeep, allowing you to shift (or not shift) when you want. Its all about personal preference though. Auto's are dime a dozen and manuals seem to be more on the "rare" side.

 

Ya, if they just had those new automatics with the manual shift mode.

 

stick with the auto for offroadin much more efficent and time saving like every else is saying. leave the shifting to all the beaners and muscle guys

 

Yea, manual is better when very low torque is neede when pulling other vehicles out of the mud, some rock crawling etc. My uncle was a die hard manual until he moved up to a Dodge Ramcharger back in the late 80's. Now he dosen't miss all the shifting.
I have always owned automatics and was able to keep up with him off roading in all the different jeeps I have owned over the last 30 years. We found it tough to keep shifting and braking when on steep mountian roads that were slick, steep and snow covered. Also It would be a disaster if someone got hurt off roading and their passengers have no experience driving a manual.