Manual VS Automatic Transmissions Off Road

Off road driving presents it's own set of unique challenges, some of which are handled better or more easily with a manual transmission, when an automatic might be more appropriate for others. For this video, we take a pair of identical jeep XJ cherokees out to compare the auto VS manual in several common off-roading situations.

For street driving, overlanding, and some light off-roading, the automatic offers several advantages. The auto allows basic ease of operation, simple and highly effective left foot braking, and generally smooth driving. It also allows the driver to focus completely on the obstacles ahead, line selection, and take the energy otherwise spent operating a manual transmission and redirect that into other things.

Most hardcore off-roaders and overland enthusiasts prefer a manual transmission for their robust design and simple mechanics. A manual transmission also gives the driver more activity behind the wheel, which many enthusiasts and weekend off-roaders appreciate. There are also advantages traveling down steep hills to locking a manual in gear and using more effective engine braking.

Join us in this video to see all of the differences between manual and automatic transmissions off road, and please add any questions or comments directly in the comment section of the video.

Produced by: Team O'Neil Rally School

Supported by:
Optima Batteries

Hawk Performance Brakes

Ford Performance

Koni Shocks

Monster Energy

AMSOIL

Yokohama Tires

#offroad #overland #jeep

[Teamoneilrally]

Hi and thanks for tuning in! Our YouTube channel was recently switched to a brand account from a personal one and some past comments were lost as a result. Please ask any questions you have and we’ll get to them as quickly as possible, thanks again for watching and please don’t forget to hit like, subscribe, and enjoy!

[akmaverick]

Love how you 2 compared exact. Same model and everything. Roll cages and all. Exact same vehicle just different drivetrain. Good work guys.

[InCountry]

I am in the manual camp for sure.
Something not mentioned in your video is that a manual can be started if you battery is low or dead. This is not that uncommon when you are off roading and using a winch or other electrical sources when in the back country.
Easier to repair
Lighter weight
Doesn't over heat light automatics

[wsantalitz]

I like my manual truck. Speeding while keeping at low rpm to save gas or speed up with high rpm (downshift) to easily overtake. Will stop on a middle of steep climb (plains, rocks, snow, you name it) and resume without backing (by pedal combination) or intentionally back up a little to scare the car behind(it's fun every time) and keep them from sniffing your ars. You can also play the throttle just to hear her etc. etc. you can also keep it from borrowers cause most people doesn't really know how to drive it.

Manual trans=100% control and it needs SKILLS to optimize performance even beyond the limit. Not because you're older means you know better. Skill is like a talent not everyone have it.

[alecmatteson]

My truck is 2wd wtf am I watching this for lol

[johnNYgoesLA]

Wow thank you so much! I recently bought a manual XJ and was not sure if it was the right choice. This cleared it up. Thank you so much.

[BLUESTI]

I don't even have a truck just enjoyed watching this lol Thanks for comparing the exact models as well.

[VAmericanMuscleCar]

I had both and I prefer manual, more fun for me. 😁

[Ben-locy]

Automatic is definitely better for rock crawling. People always hate on me but when’s the last time you seen a pro using a manual. Auto with shift kit would me cool though

[Vazquezable]

2:10 You can use low gears and stay in 1st gear. You can go REALLY slow without touching the clutch.

[druzzyaka]

The majority of automatic transmissions in off road cars have 1, 2 or 3 modes, in order not to shift gears in unappropriate situations

[wildbillc]

I don't mind 4 wheeling with either. Choosing the right gear is the key, waiting till you are flying down a hill with the wheels locked up is a bit too late to worry about shifting LOL.

[TheJared]

My grandfather had a '71 D100 2wd longbed with a 318 and the torque flight automatic. He was able to get into a lot of places he shouldn't have been trying to get to with that truck and proper tires. Compared to his buddies with 4wd manuals. I can see the advantages of a manual. But I prefer the automatic for ease of use (I do know how to drive manual and love rowing through gears), because I'm not as experienced.

[completefemboyr.n.g]

Love my 5-speed Cherokee. They're so hard to find because not many people but standards in the 90s.

[ocjnhjy]

It sounds like the best solution is a paddle shift, manual shift automatic and an easily accessible emergence brake lever, or perhaps dedicated emergency brake pedal where the clutch peddle would be, since most "engine braking" would involve the rear wheels. Or, why not just ride the brake down? It's not like there's a danger of overheating them in those conditions.

[jhkdfg]

Two things not talked about in this video that are benefits of having an autobox while are offroad are that the automatic is much kinder mechanically to the drivetrain components when wheels are slipping and gripping. All that slip-and-grip action tends to get absorbed by the torque converter and not transferred into the iron. The second item is that the torque converter can act as a secondary gear reduction box in a way that slipping the clutch on a manual can, only without damaging or burning out the clutch. Yes, you have to watch your trans oil temps, but it can be danged handy when you're in 1st low crawling uphill.

[ponoxpe]

How about the modern automatic gear boxes that allow you shift gear any time you want? Won't that eliminate the drawback in the automatic transmission you mentioned?

[xadventure_pl]

XJ is great car. We just have bought one and starting our drives with it!

[RickHavok]

1978 Called and asked what hill descent control, ABS, locking torque converters, and computers were.

[jeeper]

there are some small tweaks you can do that make up for the problems you mentioned, and there is a company that makes a shift controller that allows you to lock the auto transmission into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc, good video though, and decent information for new buyers