That was an awesome video, Jason! Love my stick shift jeep, could definitely relate. edit: B&M shifter is a must for sticks IMO, really enhanced the driving experience.
Another couple of tips I've experienced that may not affect you in warm sunny Southern California but do for us in the cold Northeast, even if you've warmed up the engine, the manual transmission doesn't really get warm sitting there in neutral. One trick I do is to throw the transfer case in neutral and then put the transmission in gear, I usually do fourth or fifth and then let the clutch out while it's warming up. This spins up the gears and shafts inside the transmission and gets the fluid warmer so the synchros will mesh easier when it's time to actually go. I've also found that if the transmission is cold that double clutching can help until it gets up to temperature.
Absolutely! Cold weather means different warm up procedures. I also use the block heater when I park outside, and a small ceramic heater when I (occasionally) have room to park in the garage. The ceramic heater can warm the engine and driveline where the block heater only warms the coolant.
My dad taught me how to drive a manual when I was 16 years old. I'm almost 63 now, and still love it. I have a 2018 jl unlimited sport s and can't honestly think of ever driving a wrangler with an automatic. Great video and tips for the newbies out there!
Step dad also taught me at 16. Early on he took me to a driveway on top of a hill. He had me pull in and back out to go other way. As soon as I back out he would yell "there's a car coming" just to startle me. Dumped the clutch I think four or five times. Never dumped a clutch again in my life. Finally got another stick today after 15 years of not having one (98 4runner) and already having so much fun.
I learned how to drive a manual on my uncles TJ 4.0 in 2001 and fell in love and haven't turned back since!!! Every car since then had been a manual, even if it meant searching for months. I now have a 23 2door Sport and can't wait to take it off road!!!!
I saw your installation of the B & M speedshifter. My 3rd gear kicks out, too. I was told I needed a new transmission & to drive it till I couldn't anymore. I'm glad to see you still like this shifter years later. I'm about to install mine shortly. Thank you Sir.
I’m still trying to wrap my mind around how this helps. Theory that it just puts a bit of resistance on the wheels with the least traction, encouraging the ones with more traction to have more relative power to the wheels? Love the video - thanks for compiling so clearly.
Awesome video. 35 Years of driving a stick (learned on a dumptruck) and I thought I was doing okay. Now I know even more and I feel like going out and climbing over some snowbanks. Cheers.
Just picked up my first Jeep. It's a 2 door manual JL. I've been all over RU-vid looking for exactly this video. Thanks so much for putting it out. These tips will really help. Subscribed!
Good video for those that didn't grow up with manuals. Even today's manuals are so much better then the old ones.. no synchro, double clutching. I went with 5.13 R&P gears and find that I don't have to slip the clutch nearly as often off road or on road.
I considered going that route but opted to stay 4.88 for highway / city / roadtrip mileage. For more serious off roading, you made the right choice to get the best out of this engine. Marco at OverlandX went 5.13 to tow his camper trailer and is very happy with that performance. You made me miss driving my old 49 Ford truck with straight cut gears... loved that thing.
Awesome stick shift tutorial! I have a six speed manual like yours, not a lot of offroading on it yet. The off-road stuff is definitely good to know because I’m not that experienced with a stick shift off-road. I want figure out how to run my lockers through my sPod like you have. Thank you for the tutorial!
Mahalo for validating the techniques I learned from the decades of manual transmission driving I've done! I miss that "in tune feeling" I had with my cars. Hydraulic clutches were the bomb for me, too! My Hondas got over 200,000 miles each out of their hydraulic clutches. My friend's Jeep had an Iron Duke 4-cylinder with a 5-speed manual and hydraulic clutch. Loved hill climbing in that. Never drove a vehicle with Hill Hold; Studebaker and Subaru had those. Thanks for the great video.
We'll explained! We've got a TJ with a 5 speed and a JKU with a 6 speed. It is surprising how much different they feel when driving, but your tips apply to both Jeeps really well.
This video was really helpful and I learned a lot on what to expect. My dad is planning on giving me his 97 jeep wrangler tj when I get my license, but I'm doing a lot of research. One tip he told me was to not be afraid when driving stick.
Great Video, it just popped up and I gave it a watch. I have been driving manual since I was 12 and I feel it keeps you more in tune as a driver. I have a 2010 JK auto and a 2014 Sahara Manual and it was just cool to see this video. keep up the great content.
So true about missing Pinto... but since her leg surgery... she really doesn't like getting bounced around in the back of the Jeep and the half doors make me nervous with her back there. So she hangs out with me on the trails close the house! Thanks for watching!
Yet another great video with some great tips. I've been driving sticks (that's what she said... right) all my life and I've gotten into the habit of resting my hand on the top of the shifter. My wife enjoyed all your advice on and off road tips.👍
@@AutoEdits We enjoy watching your videos together. You explain things very well. You and I have similar outlooks so we say the same thing. She understands the way you say it though. Haha... Plus, she's seen a lot of your Jeep build videos because I modeled my build after yours. You did a great job!
Great video, Jason! I have a 2 door JK manual I ordered from factory. I now have 85k miles. Just did my rear main seal due to mud ruining it and figured I would replace the clutch while in there. After so many miles, my clutch was only worn .030"! It was almost not even noticeable wear compared to the new one. I thought I was a decent manual driver, but with wheeling and city driving I thought the clutch was pretty cooked. I was happy to see that how I was driving was the "right" way.
@@AutoEdits Stock replacement. Jeep used Sachs and Luk from factory. Mine had a factory Sachs, I replaced with Luk as well as the throwout bearing and slave cylinder. Feels just like new. A little controversial but I did not resurface my original flywheel, it still had factory machine marks in the contact area and no noticeable wear running a fingernail over it.
When did Jeep begin offering automatics? Excluding the Jeepster... I think it was in the mid '70s cj7. Wasn't it? I think the cj5 never had the option.
@@xmo552 They had automatics in full size jeeps and trucks in the 60s. The CJ-7 was the first regular jeep to get an automatic. The CJ-5 was simply too short of a wheelbase to fit in an automatic, every one is manual from factory.
Clutch doesn't need engaged in 4lo, only to change gears. If it stalls in 4lo, no clutch start and go. Can find the video from a jeep event and they explain it to the driver. Suppose to help keep mud and junk out of the clutch if stalled in water.
@@AutoEdits not trying to prove anything it is just another option, thats why starting with the TJs they had it in the owners manual how to disable the feature to have the clutch engaged in order to start it. It is really easy on the drive train in 4 low 1st gear.
Thanks Jasen love watching your build and thanks for giving me an idea on what gear I use in my 6 speed manual going up some hills I have coming up this weekend I used to just do my thing but at 63, I needed a refresh course.Thanks Brother
Alway enjoy your videos! I have a 2015 JKU, I run 35's and 4:56 gears. It's a six-speed manual. It always feels like it has some interference getting into each gear. Never just a smooth transition. I bought it new, has about 92,000 miles on it now. It's never been abused, or rock climbing mostly mellow trails and hill climbs. Thank you for the dragging the brake tip! I'll definitely try that when needed.
Howdy and thanks! Have you ever checked the level of fluid in your manual transmission? I found that my Jeep from the factory had less than half a quart and once I flushed and filled the full 1.6 quarts (plus just a bit) the transmission felt much happier. I did end up going with the B and M shifter and once I got used to that... enjoy it more as well.
@@AutoEdits Thank You, I'll check it out. I've watched your install of the B&M Shifter a few times, I've been kicking it around to do the same. Yours seemed very stiff at first but I'm sure has loosened up since then.
that was a super awesome video Jason. the roll through stop sign is not very well tolerated up here, they hand tickets out for that ;-) I will try the drag the brake technique too. super good information. Looking forward to more clutching tips in 4 low
Oh, I always come to a full and complete stop... that was just an illusion and I was mentioning the technique of putting it into first just before coming to a full and complete stop. 😅
If you give it a small rev before you push the clutch in, will allow it to go into first gear easier. Or got strait to second and then into first. Good advice to folks on being gentle pushing into and coming out of gears.
Hahaha...after 30 years on the internet I learned how to comment on a video I like....haha...this is what I wrote...haha. Love my 6 speed JKU. Looking forward to replacing gears or axles to re gear for larger tires.....So happy to leave a comment f it.... Jason, love your channel. It took me 4 years to learn how to thank you for your content...oof. Also I miss Marge and love to see Pinto. Good choice.
I learned how to drive one on non synchronized transmissions. Those seem to be harder to learn on because you can't just push the clutch in to go into any gear you want. Some of those clutches that aren't hydraulic feel like you're trying to do leg day at the gym.
The Peugeot trans in my 88 Comanche is crying for a swap out. 1st grinds coming out of a stop so coming up to a stop sign instead of going full neutral to 1st.... I'll shift it into 2nd and 1st like you do. That helps immensely. I won't mention all the other probs this transmission currently has.
HA! Thanks, that thing just drives like a dream... even better now... check this video out when you get a few minutes ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4IPG9_IoJ6g.html
Great video! 4Low is such a beast. Climbing steep hills in 4low my Jeep is almost like driving an automatic. I also love the constant steady speed of 4Low going steep downhill - no clutch, no gas just occasional brake. JLUR 6spd 5.13 37's
2010 JKU with a 6sp manual, 5:13 gears & 40s on Dana 44 here… we had 4:88 and 37s for a trip to Moab and being the only ones with a manual we were nicknamed the “reverse ranger” since we usually needed just a stitch more runway to get the jeep into gear before the obstacle- overall we had an absolute blast in our first adventure really wheeling (we live in Michigan, so we have Sandy hills here- that’s about it) I deeply appreciate this video and wish I would have seen it in like august of 2019 😜 Next step will be 6.0L LS + automatic for project Raven. One last note- No wheeling alone! Isn’t that like the first rule of off-roading? 😉
I have an 88 YJ with an AX 15 conversion. When stopped on a steep hill to get going again I installed a hand throttle so I don't have to do the brake, clutch, throttle pedal dance.
Great tutorial! Having a stick makes it a lot more fun on and off-road. I appreciate the advice about keeping foot off clutch. It's something I need to work on, especially since I just got a Centerforce clutch and B&M shifter installed. How well does your parking brake hold the Jeep? I don't trust mine at all and it's an area that worries me when off-road. Maybe a follow-up video on improving it?
I have driven manual since I was 14. (don't ask) My wife learned to drive her new at the time 2001 Special addition Yellow 2001 Saturn SC2. Both of my kids and my nephew have all learned how to drive stick on that same car. It is now my daughters car who started out in the back seat in a rear facing infant seat. Both are 21 years old. It has 300k miles and the original clutch. Anyway after many years of driving an auto 2011 JK i traded it in on a 2016 JKU 6spd. That hill assist takes some getting used to. I keep overrevving it. LOL Yes my beautiful wife, our son and our daughter keep messing with me. Due to having a take home car from work I only drive it on the weekends or days off. I have not taken it off road yet. Unfortunately the day before going to Uwharrie for the last opened weekend, the oil filter housing/oil cooler decided to start dumping oil. So instead that Saturday I spent changing that. I'm sure it will be a learning curve.
Great video! Some future video suggestions: clutch service or ebrake adjustment? :). How can you tell if it’s time to service the clutch? My Jeep manual is coming up on 80k
Thanks for this video. I'm a 1st time Jeep owner, and mine has the 6-speed manual transmission. It's been since the late 1980's since I've driven a stick. I have 35's on my 2 door, and I wasn't sure about running the transfer case in low. That makes sense! I really liked the sound of your Jeep. What exhaust are you running? Thanks again for the vid!
Congrats on your manual Jeep! I’m running the magnaflow exhaust and love it! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oV8w2zQAOHk.htmlsi=e_fYQD5R6o2ySVKc
My Jeep is automatic, and I do know how to drive manual (on the street), but I have been asking myself how to drive manual when off-roading… should you always use 1st gear?, second? When to use each one? How to change gears in a climb? Should you go downhill on gear or neutral? It’s just so different from automatic that I feel I don’t know how to drive manual when off-roading!! Have not seen a video like this before!!! THANKS!!
Welcome to the "man. pedal" club... (man. short for manual, we don't exclude the lady's around here... especially since I know a few that could out wheel me...LOL)
Great tips. But what about getting stuck on a rock or uphill having to hold brakes and quickly releasing to get up hill without rolling back. Need those kinda manual tips. Like the ones you gave but wanna see others
I am having the same issue with the steering especially when air downed . I just ordered the full PSC cylinder assist kit and I was looking for installation instruction video but couldn't find one which is detailed. you make really good and easily understanding installation videos. when are you doing the install for the PSC system ?
I am looking to do the install this weekend and I'll edit and post it as soon as I can after that... maybe by end of next week! Good choice... this kit is such quality components!
That Sounds good. please go in little detail about how to mount the PSC reservoir without cutting the factory air box on jk and how to position the pitman arm correctly on the new box. and where to position the Steering Assist Cylinder on the tie rod side. Thanks
Growing up, CJs and Wranglers were always a vehicle I just associated with manual transmission. Like a muscle or sports car. To me, it feels “wrong” if they’re automatic.
7:10 you should have put a mic in there, you can hear the Clutch grinding a little when you rest on the Clutch pedal. Or maybe that's just me and i need a new one, but yeah, get that foot off the pedal. It's not a foot rest lol.
It’s unfortunate that many of the auto manufacturers are doing away with or severely limiting manual transmission options. It will be the loss of a great driving experience.
I honestly think the right vehicles will still have the manual availability but the sales drive the production so we're stuck with what people actually buy. I'd like to drive the new Bronco with a manual just so see what it's like but I was so happy with the ZF8 automatic in the new JL Jeep that I'm pretty good if that's my only option. Seriously.
Great stuff! I've been looking for something like this. I've been driving a manual most of my life (my dad was adamant that I learn how to drive with a stick shift car). I've never driven 4WD, though, and I recently bought an older 4Runner with both manual and 4WD (love it!). I've done most of my off-roading in 4H and just assumed 4L was to be rarely used. I read a post recently on FB, though, where the guy mentioned using it often and shifting as high as 3rd/4th gear while in 4L, so I realized I've been missing out on some "strategerie." A couple of questions: 1) at 13:50, you started driving in 2nd gear (in 4L) from a dead stop. How did the car not die? Is that a 4L thing that allows you to have more clutch "grace?" If so, I could have used that going over some large rocks on a hill recently (I was in 4H and kept stressing the clutch trying to get enough gas to lift me over) (finally backed away after some serious lugging). 2) what are the recommended MPH and RPMs (in general) for switching gears while in 4L (I don't see a reference to that in my owner's manual). Looks like a great place to wheel, BTW. The lake in the background is really cool. Thanks!
Howdy and thanks! For your questions, 1) the lower the gear the more leverage the engine has over the drivetrain and 4L 2nd is plenty low. 2) the rpms dictate what gear you should be in. Most vehicles are set up to run through the gears in 4L at a top speed of 15-20 mph and then 4H for faster then that. The best thing is to just get out and practice in all the gears and see what you get comfortable with!
@@AutoEdits makes sense. I just changed the gear oil in my transfer case and drove around in 4L to lubricate the gears, and I ended up in 3rd gear around 15mph based on engine torque and RPMs. Seemed so strange, but I can see that being very helpful when maneuvering. Thanks for the reply!
i have a 2015 JKUR 6speed, 2 questions if your off-road, on anything more than a groomed gravel road, are you in 4Lo? have you ever experienced any binding / ill effects of shifting through the gears below 20mph in 4Lo? @@AutoEdits
Hi Jason! I love this video, I was wondering if you have had any issues with your B&M shifter lever? I had had the two shoulder bolts break twice on mine and the lever starts to spin. I’ve seen others complain about the same issue, just wondering if there is something we are doing wrong or anyway I could keep that thing lasting for years rather than 1 single year. Thanks for your help!
I did break one of those but they sent new ones on request and I’ve been on them for a couple years now. Wonder why they keep breaking on yours… e-mail them and ask.
I finally might be buying an ultimate Dana 44. I am beyond ecstatic at the idea of upgrading my Jeep! I wonder how much I can sell a Dana 30 with 3.73s, maybe 10 grains of dirt? 🤔
Hold off on that UD44 purchase for a bit... depending on how much lift you have... I might have an even better recommendation. When I was was at 3.5" lift it was perfect but now that I'm at 4.5" it feels like the track bar mount is not quite high enough to eliminate bump steer. It's pretty dang good, as you can tell from this video, but I'm very picky when it comes to that stuff. So, I'm doing some deep dive research right now and finding the Fusion Elite 44 has a few more features than the UD44 but it is a bit more expensive. So if you can wait, I'll do a side by side comparison.
@@AutoEdits I’m around 3.25 inches of lift on my 2 door. From my Metal-cloak 2.5. Does the UD44 allow for more caster than a stock axle? I like a bit more caster angle for the steering feel but of course my drive shaft does not like over 5.5 caster. Regardless I look forward to seeing the comparison!
@@AutoEdits awesome! Yeah, the UD44 is on sale on Amazon for a pretty good price so I’ll probably be going that option. I still would like to see the comparison video!
Yep, it’s in the Amazon store as well but here’s the video Jeep Wrangler JK Transfer Case Shift Handle Swap How To - B & M ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--vlZ5huJjCY.html
@@AutoEdits I had a XJ with 4.0 and manual transmission, long gears (3.07) and 32 tires, and for me that was a ideal config for all my tasks. Im very agree with you about emotions and feelings of the vehicle with stick, It can give you moree freedom, but asks for experiense
You don't need to be stopped or in neutral to go from 2h to 4h. I recommend going under 35mph and coast (not under acceleration or load on the driveline) and shift the transfercase handle from 2h to 4h. You can be stopped as well but not necessary.
@@AutoEdits All I know is the turn signal stays on for the DRL (in white not amber of course). Would look cool, still waiting on a response from JW about it.
Your rear driver's side shock sits more towards the bottom than centered top to bottom. Will checking the nitrogen pressure to make sure they are equal top and bottom fix that?
What is your t case shifter? I have a 13 jlur built similar to yours, but with a tremec 4050 hd 5 speed swapped in. I also have a psc titan steering box without an external ram. Do not overdo the braking to control wheel slip, I broke parts on a yj doing that !
About to get a manual 2016 wrangler, just wanted to know how hot these manual transmissions get when on the trail. I know a guy who says his middle console (where the shifter, cup holder, etc) feels like it’s going to melt because of the heat coming from below. Any truth to that?