Maybe this is a dumb question/request but honestly before I actually start doing more serious offroading than easy trail driving etc. I'd like to know how to deal with my 6 Speed.

First off, I've been driving standard all my life. Most of that time my standard has been attached to a fast car not a Jeep. I've seen videos of WayofLife etc. who I know uses a 6 Speed when they are rock crawling.

So my question is what is the proper use of your clutch in most situations. I haven't spent a ton of time in 4L but if you find yourself stopped on an incline working over some rocks how do you best deal with the clutch. Slip it hard, pop it, etc. etc. I know it may sound dumb but I'd rather know w/o "testing" in 4L in a shakey situation.

 

You will find for the most part you will put it in 4 lo and just let it crawl.....try this. Get on a parking lot or an open field would be better, someplace where you can let it go straight and you won't have to turn the wheel. Put it in 4 lo and 1st gear.....now try and stop it with your brakes....you will find that it is very hard to kill the engine in 4 lo, so you can use your brake to keep you slower if needed.

Play around with it. If you do kill it on the rocks, just put a foot on the brake and hit the starter in 1st...no clutch.

 

Yea I thought I had heard people say the no clutch thing before. Guess I just gotta get it out in my playground near the office and toy with it more.

 

wheeling with a 6-speed and in extreme conditions takes a bit of practice but it's not impossible and in some cases, more capable in my opinion.

1. don't be afraid to stall - try NOT to use the clutch when in low and allow your jeep to crawl over everything. as mentioned, you should find that your jeep will just want to go when in 1st and in 4LO and if anything, you will be using your brakes to slow you up.

2. your hand brake is your friend - if you stall out or are starting up a steep climb, use your hand brake to control your speed. before you start, pull your hand brake all the way up and leave your hand on it. then, give your jeep some gas (just a bit - DO NOT rev it high) and slowly start letting up on the clutch. as you feel your jeep build up torque, slowly lower the hand brake just enough to let your jeep move forward. continue to slowly give gas and let out on the clutch and slowly lower your hand brake using it to regulate forward movement. this is a delicate process and the trick is to NOT let out on everything all at once or abruptly. once you get going and are under control, you can let off on the clutch and hand brake completely.

the number one thing that people do wrong when wheeling a manual is that they tend to ride the clutch to no end. a close 2nd is that they tend to be impatient and be heavy on the skinny pedal. as mentioned, stalling is not a crime and taking on obstacles should be done slowly and under control. if you follow these step, you will find that your jeep is every bit as capable as an auto and you will prevent burning out your clutch or worse.

let me know if you have any other questions.

 

good advice, i'm the one that gets pissed off and uses the skinny pedal.

I use the hand brake on everything, it works great!

 

Thanks for the advice, I just took my 6-speed out for the first time over he 4th of July weekend and quickly realized it doesn't like to shift in 4-lo. I found myself choosing a gear before attempting each section and then I had much better results.

Great advice on the hand brake I'll try that next time out!

 

when shifting into 4LO, you need to be moving a bit - something like 3-4 mph. as you are rolling, push in your clutch or throw your stick into neutral and then pull down on the t-case shifter. it should shift with ease.

 

hmm i never knew you could start in gear without the clutch in 4lo. i knew you didnt need to clutch it. but then again i rarley use 4lo

 

I think I get a huge prize for still learning how to wheel with a manual It's been two years, the hand brake has become my friend more these days, I stall all the time but don't really care and still am learning throttle control. Can't wait to get real gears someday!!!!

 

LOL!! you're totally getting it and as mentioned, it's something that takes practice. of course, a 4:1 t-case helps out a lot too. i have been wheeling manuals for over a decade so it comes a bit easier for me - but, as you know, i still stall all the time