i picked up an auto unlimited sahara last year and just traded it in for a rubicon unlimited 6 spd because i couldnt take the auto anymore. I consider myself a fairly good manual driver. i drove a manual alero for 2 years and also ride a 6 spd sportbike. i have never hit the trail with a manual tho and have a few questions about crawling bigger rocks from a stop correctly. i was in a parking lot yesterday and took a few pictures up on a few rocks and quickly realized im gonna need some practice. A few pointers would be a good start rather than frying my clutch.

when stopped in front of a big rock whats the preferd technique to get up it slow and controlled without riding your clutch or stalling?

i tried reving it up a bit and letting the clutch out quickly but that was to rough.

next i tried to just let the clutch engage slowly with no throttle and it was going to stall out ( keep in mind i was at full tire pressure)

lastly i featherd the gas and clutch simultaneously and it worked better. im thinking this is the best way just takes practice to get it down smooth

just looking for a few tips or pointers from you more experienced guys, thanks

 

The issue you are having is lack of gearing. The 2.7x:1 4-low in your Sahara is very hard to crawl without slipping the clutch. Simply because the gear reduction isn't there. I run a Rubicon with a 6spd and 95% of the time crawl everything with no gas and no clutch slipping, let it out and let it do its thing. I wouldn't expect you need too much practice, it's going to require a good amount of clutch slip no matter what you do.

I highly recommend looking for a 4:1 Rubi transfer case, manual rock crawling is very controlled and efficient. Someone else thats running the same transfer case you are may have some other advise. 4:1 is the cats meow for a factory transfer case on a manual

 

i do drive a rubicon with a 4:1. My sahara was auto so i cant compare. at first you said you dont slip your clutch 95% of the time then you said whatever you do its going to take alot of clutch slipping.......

 

Sorry i was reading the sahara part. I'm assuming you just need practice then if you have the rubicon, little throttle on some parts. Have any pictures of what you are trying to drive over? How i drive my rubicon is either just release the clutch and it crawls. Or light throttle, release the clutch to get moving and rely only on the gas to keep my momentum. Couple trys and you'll get it down. Took no time at all for me..

 

just a small ledge with a rock in front to help me the climb, so you think just slowly letting the clutch engage would just crawl up that? 4hi or 4low?

 

absolutely 4-lo. maybe a small amount of throttle to get up that. You'll get better at it the more you mess with it. Done this a couple times at my job....that sucker will crawl! Pure vertical concrete there.

Another question is did you have the front sway bar disconnected? looks like you did but just asking


\

 

yah i had it disconnected. thats sweet pic

 

Completely agree!!! My TJ had the 4:1 Rubicon t-case and 4.88 gears with 35" tires and i had the 5-speed. i could easly let off the clutch in your situation and it would start to move and i would then give it VERY little gas and up it went.

The JK also has the 4:1 t-case and 4.10 gears with the 32" tires all summer for wheeling and i was able to do the same (although the low end torque was no where near as good as the TJ). Because of the lack of low end torque (what keeps it from stalling when under load and low RPMs) in the JK I now have 5.38 gears with the 4:1 and 37" tires. I will see how well it works but I now have a 96:1 crawl ratio (I think) and it seems like the results will be vaforable.

Again, depending on your gearing now you may want to invest in a re-gear as it makes the WORLD of difference off-road and can provide more "power" on the highway.

 

just went out to fuck around on some loading docks, now i see what you mean, even engaging the clutch away from your object a few inches and braking hard right before it so you just nudge up it works great to, i was really surprised how hard i can hold the brakes and how slow she goes untill she wants to stall.

 

Love the picture!!!
Every time I drive my new Rubi, I keep looking for curbs or banks or something to crawl. My fear of a ticket or a visit from a local Lawdog keeps me on the road in the town though.