Stick or Auto?
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 234
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, TX
Going ot buy new JK soon, I still can't decide, I want the manual for the speed on the roads with these hill climbs in CA but am afraid of problems while rock crawling.
To top it all of, I've never really driven a manual vehicle, so it will be that much harder for me to learn on the rocks. What do you think??? Is there a solution to make the manual easier on rocks? Is everyone who say's it's hard to wheel a stick on the rocks over-exagerating?
To top it all of, I've never really driven a manual vehicle, so it will be that much harder for me to learn on the rocks. What do you think??? Is there a solution to make the manual easier on rocks? Is everyone who say's it's hard to wheel a stick on the rocks over-exagerating?

I don't think there is a solution for you. I mean, if you don't have much experience or know how to drive manual, then its gonna be hard for you. You'll end up riding the clutch and pressing the pedal too much and then screw up your JK.
But I'm just a newbie at rock-crawling, and its hard for me to wheel on the rocks. If you do some easy rock-crawling, then I don't think it would be that bad. I've been driving manual ever since I could drive.
When climbing rocks, you are generally crawling up the rocks in first gear. You shouldn't be doing a lot of shifting anyway. I don't see a lot difference between a manual and an auto except that you have to use both feet when shifting or braking with a stick. I have used both but prefer the manual for increased control of the rpms.
Drove semis for 10+ years, so getting a stick-shift was a no brainer. That, and I have this belief
that all Jeeps should have a gear pattern on their shifter knobs, lol. Those that say manual transmissions suck in heavy traffic don't know how to properly drive a stick. I barely apply the brakes in stop & go congestion; let the engine braking slow you down. Just work with the RPM and simply modulate the clutch.
that all Jeeps should have a gear pattern on their shifter knobs, lol. Those that say manual transmissions suck in heavy traffic don't know how to properly drive a stick. I barely apply the brakes in stop & go congestion; let the engine braking slow you down. Just work with the RPM and simply modulate the clutch.



