Do many people here have automatic transmissions?

A lot of the racks I see are you buy the rack then buy the basket separately but yours looks to be one piece, did you make it?
 
As I am now tackling harder lines, I can see the reason some choose an auto trans.

I'll keep the manual.

Got guys like Chuck Converse out there rocking a manual for me to look up too. My build has a long way to go.
 
I've been driving manuals since before legal driving age.
My TJ has a 5 speed manual, 5 to1 Atlas, 60-44, 4.88's on 35's.
It's slow and cool. And when bumping against rocks at an idle, it just climbs without effort.
No need for the 2 feet/foot rubber band driving style that autos have.
The 4 speed Atlas, "backed with a manual", guys know this too.
Try getting out more... like to competitive hardcore rock crawling events like King of the Hammers where the competitors can afford to run whatever they want, manuals or automatics. Then you'll learn a few things by noticing that few run manual transmissions and those on the podiums are running automatics. I've been to such events dating back to 2002 when John Currie won the first ARCA US Grand Championship with his automatic-equipped Fireant TJ.

He won with this automatic equipped Fireant TJ... I shot this and many more photos that day John won the US Championship.

2002_0921_141722AA.JPG


Then while I was manning check points several years at King of the Hammer that replaced the ARCA series, I honestly don't recall any manual equipped competition vehicles passing by me.

The more experience a TJ owner has with hardcore extreme-level trails the more he'll understand why manual transmissions are no longer used in competition where losing will cost you $$$. And why I converted from a manual transmission to an automatic for rock crawling. By the way I grew up on manual transmissions, starting to drive with them in 1964. So I have plenty of experience with them. I'd run a manual in a Porsche or Corvette, etc., but not in a Jeep I was going to take on extremely difficult trails like big rocks live on.

The benefits of an automatic's infinitely low 1st gear ratio and its 2-3X greater low-end torque when compared to a manual transmission are lost on most people but not everyone.

Automatic Shifter Currie KOH Race Car.jpg
 
5spd 4.0 over here. (NV3550)

Autos are better on the trail, no doubt. All that being said you can have my stick shift when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

you can run into some challenges with the autos overheating - not significantly though. If your gearing is not correct they can be quite lethrgic - fix your gearing. For an auto they are fairly strong - but not as strong as a manual.

Manual is great for me, Daily Driver and mild trail use. Using the jeep to tow things and coping with my 3.07 gears. Sometimes have to go faster than I would like over obstacles, but I manage - maybe I will get a lower final ratio eventually, but I don't see myself ever getting an auto.
 
Many of us here are automatic transmission aficionados because they are far better on trails that are far more difficult than many people ever take their Jeeps on. Not because you don't have to worry about shifting, because they provide both an infinitely low 1st gear ratio as well as 2-3X greater low-end torque (true) which really helps when getting up and over big obstacles.

I actually converted my first TJ from its OE 5-speed manual transmission to an automatic close to 20 years ago. That was after a very tough rock crawling trip where I discovered I was the only guy in a big group of rock crawlers running a manual transmission and it wasn't long on that trail before I discovered why. When that TJ was stolen I made sure my replacement was an automatic.

Thanks for the insight! I never knew this but it makes a lot of sense!
 
Do many here have automatics? I noticed some automatics for sale, they seem to be priced cheaper than the manuals and do not sell as fast. I really would prefer a manual but curious how popular the automatics are and how do they hold up?

I once asked something similar here. Got some helpful replies.
 
Try getting out more... like to competitive hardcore rock crawling events like King of the Hammers where the competitors can afford to run whatever they want, manuals or automatics. Then you'll learn a few things by noticing that few run manual transmissions and those on the podiums are running automatics. I've been to such events dating back to 2002 when John Currie won the first ARCA US Grand Championship with his automatic-equipped Fireant TJ.

He won with this automatic equipped Fireant TJ... I shot this and many more photos that day John won the US Championship.

View attachment 393443

Then while I was manning check points several years at King of the Hammer that replaced the ARCA series, I honestly don't recall any manual equipped competition vehicles passing by me.

The more experience a TJ owner has with hardcore extreme-level trails the more he'll understand why manual transmissions are no longer used in competition where losing will cost you $$$. And why I converted from a manual transmission to an automatic for rock crawling. By the way I grew up on manual transmissions, starting to drive with them in 1964. So I have plenty of experience with them. I'd run a manual in a Porsche or Corvette, etc., but not in a Jeep I was going to take on extremely difficult trails like big rocks live on.

The benefits of an automatic's infinitely low 1st gear ratio and its 2-3X greater low-end torque when compared to a manual transmission are lost on most people but not everyone.

View attachment 393447

It's not about me getting out. And now you're talking competitive racing. Bring it back down a thousand jerry.
Or ignore it, IDC.
 
I've got the 30rh, I've had some slipping issues in the past but one quick trip to the transmission shop fixed it, I think it was the filter, my brother is having the exact same slipping issues as well. The biggest argument I could see for manuals over automatics would be freeway driving, after driving both a jeep with the 32rh and 6-speed manual and 4.0 the 6-speed can hold speed on stock gears and 35s much better than the auto can.
 
I think a lot of hate for the auto (or desire for a manual vs an auto) comes from putting bigger tires on and not regearing your axles. @Blake Stamper posted as such just above. "the 6 speed can hold speed longer with factory gears and 35's." You (the Royal you, not specifically you, Blake) really shouldn't be running factory gears and 35's. I get it...not everyone can afford to regear, but those who espouse the manual over the auto and haven't regeared should probably state that they are running 3.73's or 3.08's (gasp) with the bigger tires. It is pertinent to the conversation. Bogging the engine isn't good with any transmission and it will happen more with an auto than a manual.

I used to like the control the manual gave me. I've gotten over it. If I were in a sports car, I would have a manual. I like driving manual transmissions. I DON'T like driving a Jeep manual transmission. The shifter is long throw and sloppy. Its just another step in the process, instead of being something to enjoy as part of the experience. The three pedal tango is annoying vs rewarding. Nothing against you guys that prefer them, but for me, I'm really looking forward to having the auto.
 
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I have owned and driven both manual & automatic in the rocks.
Both work for me.
I currently drive an auto but prefer a stick.
 
I think a lot of hate for the auto (or desire for a manual vs an auto) comes from putting bigger tires on and not regearing your axles. @Blake Stamper posted as such just above. "the 6 speed can hold speed longer with factory gears and 35's." You (the Royal you, not specifically you, Blake) really shouldn't be running factory gears and 35's. I get it...not everyone can afford to regear, but those who espouse the manual over the manual and haven't regeared should probably state that they are running 3.73's or 3.08's (gasp) with the bigger tires. It is pertinent to the conversation. Bogging the engine isn't good with any transmission and it will happen more with an auto than a manual.

I used to like the control the manual gave me. I've gotten over it. If I were in a sports car, I would have a manual. I like driving manual transmissions. I DON'T like driving a Jeep manual transmission. The shifter is long throw and sloppy. Its just another step in the process, instead of being something to enjoy as part of the experience. The three pedal tango is annoying vs rewarding. Nothing against you guys that prefer them, but for me, I'm really looking forward to having the auto.

Agreed. Several of the manual proponents are compensating for poor axle gearing (and insufficient braking). Additionally, from an off-road performance aspect, many are not in a place where the added control and finesse of the automatic provides a meaningful advantage in technical driving. All of which is not really worth arguing much over. This isn't any different than building for good shocks and getting the tuning done. Those who understand get it. I know why am going through the fairly significant effort of the transmission swap along with the supporting modifications. While I enjoy the manual, I will not miss it.
 
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Do many here have automatics? I noticed some automatics for sale, they seem to be priced cheaper than the manuals and do not sell as fast. I really would prefer a manual but curious how popular the automatics are and how do they hold up?

Wife's VW Golf TDI — Manual
My LJR — Manual
Our Grand Cherokee — Auto

(I don't do hard-core off-road; if I did I probably would want an auto.)
 
A lot of the racks I see are you buy the rack then buy the basket separately but yours looks to be one piece, did you make it?

No- its a Garvin Wilderness Rack- It was on the jeep but the paint was faded so I had it coated and painted so it won’t fade easy-

It will fold back to remove the top-

image.jpg
 
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I think a lot of hate for the auto (or desire for a manual vs an auto) comes from putting bigger tires on and not regearing your axles. @Blake Stamper posted as such just above. "the 6 speed can hold speed longer with factory gears and 35's." You (the Royal you, not specifically you, Blake) really shouldn't be running factory gears and 35's. I get it...not everyone can afford to regear, but those who espouse the manual over the manual and haven't regeared should probably state that they are running 3.73's or 3.08's (gasp) with the bigger tires. It is pertinent to the conversation. Bogging the engine isn't good with any transmission and it will happen more with an auto than a manual.

I used to like the control the manual gave me. I've gotten over it. If I were in a sports car, I would have a manual. I like driving manual transmissions. I DON'T like driving a Jeep manual transmission. The shifter is long throw and sloppy. Its just another step in the process, instead of being something to enjoy as part of the experience. The three pedal tango is annoying vs rewarding. Nothing against you guys that prefer them, but for me, I'm really looking forward to having the auto.


Oh yeah I totally agree, The Manual jeep I talked about was my Dad's LJ and the Automatic Jeep is my Brother's, I personally have a 2.5 with the 30rh and regeared to 5.13, I was just saying in the sense of there are a lot of people who can't/wont justify the cost of a regear, and in that case, the manual seemed to handle driving with 35's much better than my brothers did.
 
I personally enjoy the pure simplicity of driving an automatic, you get in and drive and don't have to think as much about driving and that especially is the case offroad, I can focus more on my lines when I don't have to worry about what gear to select, I still can compression brake and things like that and it's just more convenient offroad.