Manual Transmission Club

[basicGlad]

yep, that video was a very candid shot of my driving. I'm still getting used to the truck. I'm too used to Miata and Honda transmissions that have direct shifters on their transmissions. Shift by wire i'm not as good with.

I'll make a new video night after work when the parking lot is empty on more, "features".

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[chrcal14]

I never turned mine off. Forgot all about it. Tonight I shall!

Well, I did it.

Definitely notice it from starting on any kind of grade. You will drift if you don't mind what you're doing. Did it on purpose just to see.

That said, I drove good few manuals that didn't have any sort of hill start, so it's not needed. Let a bit of clutch out until you drag the engine a bit, hold while moving to gas, pedal in, pedal out. No big thing.

I'm not sure exactly what triggers hill start to engage, or if it always does from a standstill, but it definitely felt like starts were easier. Uphill starts definitely were, not fighting both the hill and the hill start.

I can't say I noticed any difference after getting moving.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

@Berserker556 just for you

I know it's not the greatest video but you can see what I do well and what I struggle with in this video.

I learnt manual on old Hondas without rpm gages. My own manual cars have been a 2008 VW new beetle (shift by wire) and a 1990 NA Miata (not shift my wire).

dude, that is a great video! I loved the 3k rpm tire burn, I lol'd.
So yeah this seems like it drives pretty normal to me. The way people went on I was expecting it to really bog down in 3rd. Seemed like it had plenty of power as well.
Looking forward to more from ya!

 

[Up venture]

@Berserker556 just for you

I know it's not the greatest video but you can see what I do well and what I struggle with in this video.


I learnt manual on old Hondas without rpm gages. My own manual cars have been a 2008 VW new beetle (shift by wire) and a 1990 NA Miata (not shift my wire).

Nice video but I'm just going to throw this out there but it's really not recommend to drive in 4wd on dry pavement.

 

[basicGlad]

Nice video but I'm just going to throw this out there but it's really not recommend to drive in 4wd on drive pavement.

Thanks for the info

 

[basicGlad]

@Berserker556

Here's some more details. I know it was dark after work but my go pro is finally working. I hope the commentary makes up for what you cannot see.

 

[Elwenil]

Yeah, the 4WD systems in a truck or something like a Wrangler or Gladiator are not like the AWD or hybrid 4WD/AWD systems in some of the other Jeep vehicles or other SUV/crossover type vehicles. The Gladiator is a direct transfer case with no center differential so you can easily bind up the transfer case by using it in 4WD on a high traction surface like dry pavement.

Also, your comments about "shifting by wire", I assume you are talking about the disconnected feel of the shifter in a front wheel drive vehicle that uses cables going from the shifter to the transmission. That is not the case with the Gladiator's 6 speed, which is a "top-loader" transmission, meaning the shifter bolts directly to the transmission and controls the shift rails and forks inside through direct contact. The "chushy" feel is usually the result of the shifters having a rubber bushing inbetween the stub that engages the transmission and the actual shifter handle that you manipulate to shift the transmission. I am only assuming that is the case here since I have not driven one yet, but it is pretty standard practice with Chrysler and other manufacturers to use a shifter like that to keep people from damaging the transmission by forcing it into gear. This can be tightened up by using an aftermarket shifter that uses a single shaft for the shifter like the one B&M makes for this transmission. That will give the transmission a more direct and "clicky" feel where you can more easily feel the detents in the shifter rails as you shift. Not quite as clicky and clacky as my old granny gear NP435 truck 4 speed, but a lot better feedback than the typical cushioned shifter used these days.

Either way, thanks for the video and the insight on how the Gladiator with the 6 speed shifts. If nothing else, I am more convinced that I want a manual when/if I order mine.

 

[chrcal14]

dude, that is a great video! I loved the 3k rpm tire burn, I lol'd.
So yeah this seems like it drives pretty normal to me. The way people went on I was expecting it to really bog down in 3rd. Seemed like it had plenty of power as well.
Looking forward to more from ya!

It won't bog in 3rd revving as high as he was. In fact it doesn't bog anywhere if you really wind it up, 4, 5, 6k,... but you can watch the dollar bills flying out of your pocket into the gas tank doing that, at least with 37s! Aim is to go fast slowly.

My experience with 3rd bogging is when you're just puttering along, not running very high to keep MPG higher. 3k is actually about where I found the 2 to 3 transition likes it as a minimum. Still, that's high compared to the 2500 my brain and gut was conditioned to shift at. I never shifted by the tach, but I've been looking as I get used to this new transmission. All the other shifts do just fine around 2500.

It's not a big deal one way or the other, I've got my head around it now. Early on though I was dogging it pretty bad.

 

[basicGlad]

@Elwenil

Thank you for those details. I'm glad to know more about how this 6 speed asain works. In my video you can tell, it's candid, I really thought it was shift by wire. Must be that bushing, it's not notchy like my Miata or OLD Hondas. Also I've only put it in 4hi on straight aways, I knew that much. I was told just to do it quick for a little gear break-in.

So far my jeep truck runs and drives perfectry bar user error. Vehicles are tough and can take a bad shift here and there, dropping the clutch and 4hi on pavement. Part of my problem driving the JT is I drive 2 other manuals still need to tune into the JT

@chrcal14
Yep I'm breaking in the engine so I'm trying to vary the rpms in every gear and not going over 4000. I'll give 2500 > shift a try today. My VW likes 3000 > shift, my Miata likes 4000 > shift.

 

[chrcal14]

@chrcal14
Yep I'm breaking in the engine so I'm trying to vary the rpms in every gear and not going over 4000. I'll give 2500 > shift a try today. My VW likes 3000 > shift, my Miata likes 4000 > shift.

Part of my problem driving the JT is I drive 2 other manuals still need to tune into the JT

No criticisms, just observation of shift points relative to the 2-3 gap. I've been doing the same here and there to run the engine around a little. Highway ramps are usually my target run it all the way up moments!

Most important thing is it looks like you're having a hell of a good time with it!

 

[chrcal14]

Almost forgot one other science experiment with the Hill Start disable.

Decent uphill grade by our office, stopped on it, Hill Start off. Nothing crazy, but definitely your average everyday driving uphill red light or stop sign kind of grade.

4.10 gears and 37s as a baseline, other models might behave differently, but...

I was able to idle out the clutch reasonably quickly, no gas at all, without stalling.

I won't be turning Hill Start back on. Thanks for the reminder to try it @919Jeep

 

[hawkijon]

@Berserker556, i came across another tuber that has a manual with big plans... the video is unnecessarily long, but at the end he explains that he has a few videos of the Gladiator to come after they install the Fabtech lift...

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

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@Berserker556

Here's some more details. I know it was dark after work but my go pro is finally working. I hope the commentary makes up for what you cannot see.

nice info there! The hill assist seems like a nice feature. my automatic car has it as well and it works identically.

 

[RavensEyeOffroad]

It won't bog in 3rd revving as high as he was. In fact it doesn't bog anywhere if you really wind it up, 4, 5, 6k,... but you can watch the dollar bills flying out of your pocket into the gas tank doing that, at least with 37s! Aim is to go fast slowly.

My experience with 3rd bogging is when you're just puttering along, not running very high to keep MPG higher. 3k is actually about where I found the 2 to 3 transition likes it as a minimum. Still, that's high compared to the 2500 my brain and gut was conditioned to shift at. I never shifted by the tach, but I've been looking as I get used to this new transmission. All the other shifts do just fine around 2500.

It's not a big deal one way or the other, I've got my head around it now. Early on though I was dogging it pretty bad.

This is my concern. EVENTUALLY I want to go 37's but im thinking you would nearly have to regear for the manual unless, like you said, you just want to have your funds go out the tailpipe. I know the auto you can go back and adjust gear ratio and things, maybe even shift points I dunno. It just seems like the auto may be better when going beyond stock tire size.

 

[hawkijon]

This is my concern. EVENTUALLY I want to go 37's but im thinking you would nearly have to regear for the manual unless, like you said, you just want to have your funds go out the tailpipe. I know the auto you can go back and adjust gear ratio and things, maybe even shift points I dunno. It just seems like the auto may be better when going beyond stock tire size.

I've come to the same conclusion based on manual vs. auto owners experiences. I think overall between both tranny's one should expect a decrease in fuel and power efficiency after installing bigger tires. Having 2 more gears in the auto does allow for better selection of gear for a continuous powerband throughout the speed range, resulting in not having to pay attention to selecting the proper gear to keep from bogging as you would with a manual. The auto is still going to have its work cut out for it searching for gears, especially if you dont recalibrate for tire size. Unless youre paying absolute attention to the auto shifting, you probably wont notice the auto gear searching as much. Both are at an advantage for increased tire size if you have the max tow or rubicon package with the 4.10 gears, but 37"+ you may need to start planning for upgrades if youre worried about maintaining fuel and power efficiency. Its a truck, and its a jeep...neither have great history of fuel economy, though the efficiency trend is upward in recent years. Us MT's gotta accept the fact that manual means "work", and it will require mental/physical work to maintain efficiency when driving...just more of it if you change any dynamic over stock. That's part of the fun...right?

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