Auto vs. Manual Transmissions - which is better for 4WDing & Towing! Experts have their say

AUTOMATIC VS MANUAL! 💥 Which one is better in your 4WD & why?

This topic has probably caused more arguments around the campfire than any other!

Both are great to use as a daily driver around your local area, BUT when it comes to towing, off-road capabilities & how modified the rig is, is where you start to see the stress it puts on a vehicle…

With that said - Jocko will go through what upgrades you need to keep them reliable! 😵

Also check out what Shaun, Graham & Jesse have to say about it too 🤭

---------------
Gear list:
---------------

#4wd247 #4x4 #suspension #mechanic #4wd #offroading #adventure #exploring #overlanding #rig #tough #wheeling #debate #bakkie #dualcab #ute #auto #manual

[T.O.]

The only time I find an auto better is when I’m eating a pie!!

[Keegan-]

The exact reason why Graham likes Manuals, like this comment if you want Shorty back on 4WD 24/7 we miss the old girl!!

[ktmhaka]

“Each to their own” would have summed it up in sub 60 seconds 😂

[iantoes]

I have a manual GU Patrol 4.8, but I’ll admit autos have a big advantage in sand that I’m surprised they never talked about. And that is in a manual if you realise you’re a gear too high changing down can’t be done quick enough in a lot of cases where as in an auto it won’t lose any momentum dropping down a gear. With some sand obstacles in a manual you need to take a guess what will be the best gear and commit to that gear.

[Fastrackmc]

I agree what they were saying on this video.
I like manuals gearboxes, because of their durability and flexibility.

[sebastianpiccoli]

My first decent 4x4 was a TJ Wrangler 6 speed manual. I wanted an auto but couldn't find one at the time. A year later I found a similar Wrangler with an auto so I bought it and planned to sell the manual. Fair to say, I didn't realise how much more I enjoyed the manual, especially 4x4ing. I just love the control you have and the extra challenge it brings. Ended up selling the auto a few months later😄.

[craigquann]

As a trucker, I'll 100% take a manual any day of the week, especially in winter (Canada) for commercial heavy trucks. My personal pickup (Ute) is an automatic. I'll take a good traditional auto for my daily driver and for towing my RV. If it's a sports car, I'd prefer a manual.

[braddempsey]

Manual all day everyday for me! All though it kinda sucks a bit when stuck in peak hour traffic having to depress the clutch pedal a couple of hundred times, or at least that's what it feels like sometimes 😂

[davesmith]

I prefer manuals in my 4wd but in saying that I haven't had the opportunity to take an automatic off road to compare it, I do like the ability to clutch start if need to

[jordancoulton]

Good to see rocket back on the channel

[task]

How good is it to see Rocket Rod back!!! Now to get him back on the tracks with the boys 🙏

[mmorgz]

I have both, mostly wheeled manuals but my last 2 daily 4wds have/are both been auto and honestly I am glad they are. More relaxing to drive, WAY more control off road, hill climbs and technical tracks, being able to crawl slower and get speed faster is just great.
I had poor mans torque lockup on my last one which was nice for beach driving. My current one does have hill decent but I dont really use it much. Its more of a gimmick imo. Its not hard to hold a brake pedal.
You can still shift gears manually... for some reason people seem to think that once the car is in D, your not allowed to move it.
On the chance I kill a starter motor, I just carry a spare. Its not hard to change one trackside.
I also dont have to worry about killing a clutch in a mud hole or hill climb. I cant say i have had an auto fail on me yet tbh but i have definitly had a few manuals go.
I also find the auto is far more gentle on the rest of the drive train and with my BOTH of my auto cars, I have only broken 1 cv in the last 4 years. My manual 4wd's before them I would have done a dozen+ diffs, axles and CV's all together easily.
My second car is a manual... for now. 🙂

[ducksalot]

Been driving a manual since I learnt to drive at the age of 10 in 1987. I appreciate that autos are easier to drive, although there is no comparison to understanding your engines perimeters by listening to what it what’s!

[Graciegunfire]

I have a newer manual vehicle and it is unable to be clutch started like the older manuals. It has a safety system (electrical) that doesn’t allow the engine to start without the clutch being depressed. Needs jump starting if battery is flat too as the ecu’s disable starting if the battery voltage is under a particular threshold. Also can’t perform a hill stall recovery the traditional way due to the need of a clutch depress, and can’t turn the starter over to align gears if needed in a stall recovery (ecu won’t allow it). Newer 4wd’s are a different beast to learn.

[Bushbro]

Manual all the way, so much more fun and satisfying to drive. Auto's are so boring. I love using my left foot and arm while driving

[JSH]

My auto has had hill decent system for 20 years & started in the same vehicles 25 years ago. Works flawlessly & and is very controlled 👍

[Jacobtheunwise]

Autos better for everything except manual is much more fun

[christopherharris]

Awesome video as always Jocko and Crew.

[dawnhoughton]

New vehicles have transmission fluid temps? WOW. Still won't give up my old manual 4x4.

[dazza]

Ive had both autos and manuals in various 4wd's. Never had an auto fail yet. Yet had manuals fail and they stall all the time in high range on tough tracks.