Manual vs Auto off-road

[Saxj]

You can stall the torque converter. I've done it a couple of times when I have forgotten to engage low range. The revs pick up, but you go nowhere.

[XJ Junkie]

You can stall the torque converter. I've done it a couple of times when I have forgotten to engage low range. The revs pick up, but you go nowhere.

That’s called neutral. Mine does it as well

[XJ Junkie]

Also read the section about brake biasing and descending a slope backwards. On less steep slopes not an issue but I have seen people on steeper slopes start rolling backwards on brakes alone, get a bit panicky with the speed they are moving and stomp on the brakes. Front wheels lock easily and now they have no directional control. In some earlier ABS equipped vehicles this lead to the brake system releasing all the brakes with disastrous consequences. I drive an early model Everest which is known to let this happen on occasion. later ABS system are supposed to be better but I don't have any experience with them

Try pulling the handbrake up during the decent. It adds stability & reduces the risk of the rear darting.

[Wooky]

Try pulling the handbrake up during the decent. It adds stability & reduces the risk of the rear darting.

yep... that would also put the brake bias back on the downhill wheels again.

But I think we have wondered somewhat off topic though

[Saxj]

You can stall the torque converter. I've done it a couple of times when I have forgotten to engage low range. The revs pick up, but you go nowhere.

That’s called neutral. Mine does it as well

No, in gear. It's not called neutral, it's called stalling.

[XJ Junkie]

You can stall the torque converter. I've done it a couple of times when I have forgotten to engage low range. The revs pick up, but you go nowhere.

That’s called neutral. Mine does it as well

No, in gear. It's not called neutral, it's called stalling.

You stalled an auto? How?

[Chris Stoffel]

For most people the auto / manual question is only answered by personal preference when it comes to offroad driving.
They will both do what the other can with slight modifications to driving style/technique.

To answer the original question... In what respects is a manual better?

1/ The ability to "rock" the vehicle forward and backwards is easier with a manual
2/ A failed hill climb recovery is easier with a manual (less "pucker" factor too)
3/ Manuals give a more "connected" driving experience
4/ Manuals run at cooler temperatures than auto boxes - therefore less radiators and associated plumbing as well
5/ Manuals are cheaper to repair when things go wrong
6/ You will be more likely to be able to repair a manual box in a 3rd world country than an auto
7/ Can't Tow / push start an Auto

Sure there is more....

This is a very very good post!

[Reenen]

N vragie vanaf n 4x4 noob ivm brake bias:
N voertuig het brake bias in voor wiele, reg?
Veronderstel jy is besig om te 4x4, op styl helllings waar jy sou stall, dzn is jou voertuig seker in 4x4, en as jy n awd het, sou jou crntre diff seker gelock wees. As jy die hilux tipe 4x4/4x2 bakkie het, is daar nie n centre diff, so dit is “gelock” as jy 4x4 is.
Is daar dan nog rem bias? Werk voor en agter remme nie dan maar almal saam met mekaar deur die drivetrain wat gelock is?


N eenvoudige voorbeeld: my trekkers het geen “remme” in hul voor wiele nie, maar hulle rem wel met sy voorwiele. As jy in 4x2 ry, en jy trap rem, engage die trekker automaties 4x4, wat veroorsaak dat die voor en agter wiele almal rem.

Net so, as jy bv afdraend reverse beweeg, sal die voor wiele se sterker remme, dit deur die propshafts verplaas na agter wiele. Of verstaan ek dit verkeerd?

[ThysleRoux]

100 % reg Reenen

[Wooky]

Thanks Reenen.... that is a good point.

I have experienced the issue with a 4x2 and have always driven accordingly but never really thought about the front and rear being "locked " together through the T.case until you mentioned it.

[Saxj]

N vragie vanaf n 4x4 noob ivm brake bias:
N voertuig het brake bias in voor wiele, reg?
Veronderstel jy is besig om te 4x4, op styl helllings waar jy sou stall, dzn is jou voertuig seker in 4x4, en as jy n awd het, sou jou crntre diff seker gelock wees. As jy die hilux tipe 4x4/4x2 bakkie het, is daar nie n centre diff, so dit is “gelock” as jy 4x4 is.
Is daar dan nog rem bias? Werk voor en agter remme nie dan maar almal saam met mekaar deur die drivetrain wat gelock is?


N eenvoudige voorbeeld: my trekkers het geen “remme” in hul voor wiele nie, maar hulle rem wel met sy voorwiele. As jy in 4x2 ry, en jy trap rem, engage die trekker automaties 4x4, wat veroorsaak dat die voor en agter wiele almal rem.

Net so, as jy bv afdraend reverse beweeg, sal die voor wiele se sterker remme, dit deur die propshafts verplaas na agter wiele. Of verstaan ek dit verkeerd?

This will be true until you reach a cross axle (assuming no diff locks), then the bias will be what ever it would be in 2wd, not braked through the drivetrain.

[Reenen]

N vragie vanaf n 4x4 noob ivm brake bias:
N voertuig het brake bias in voor wiele, reg?
Veronderstel jy is besig om te 4x4, op styl helllings waar jy sou stall, dzn is jou voertuig seker in 4x4, en as jy n awd het, sou jou crntre diff seker gelock wees. As jy die hilux tipe 4x4/4x2 bakkie het, is daar nie n centre diff, so dit is “gelock” as jy 4x4 is.
Is daar dan nog rem bias? Werk voor en agter remme nie dan maar almal saam met mekaar deur die drivetrain wat gelock is?


N eenvoudige voorbeeld: my trekkers het geen “remme” in hul voor wiele nie, maar hulle rem wel met sy voorwiele. As jy in 4x2 ry, en jy trap rem, engage die trekker automaties 4x4, wat veroorsaak dat die voor en agter wiele almal rem.

Net so, as jy bv afdraend reverse beweeg, sal die voor wiele se sterker remme, dit deur die propshafts verplaas na agter wiele. Of verstaan ek dit verkeerd?

This will be true until you reach a cross axle (assuming no diff locks), then the bias will be what ever it would be in 2wd, not braked through the drivetrain.

Soos genoem, ek is n noob. Kan jy asb vir my verduidelik hoekom dit op crossaxle sal terug gaan na asof 4x2 en nie meer deur drivetrain sal rem nie?

[XJ Junkie]

Just because the axles are locked in the centre doesn’t mean that brake bias can’t be applied. That’s why the handbrake trick works in reverse.

[ThysleRoux]

Neil, if the axles and transfer case are locked, braking on even only one wheel will result in the force distributed equally between all wheels. If only the TC is locked (difflock or bakkie type TC) the force will be equally applied to the front and rear axles

[david bfreesani]

I found it was more a lack of traction of the wheels in the air that made it feel like you lost braking ability. But then I did not have difflocks, just centre lock

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk