What limits towing on manual transmission?

[NachoRuby]

I've just read the manuals in these aren't very reliable

Nah, just the clutch. I don't think I've seen trans failures. I'm sure someone has blown one up somewhere, though. Some folks have had clutches wear out early. I haven't experienced any signs of that though (18000 miles). Some others really don't like the clutch, even if they haven't had a failure. but that can be changed with better aftermarket parts. Some folks also don't like the gearing (it's not a close ratio transmission). No trans issues here. I'm honestly as happy as can be with the transmission and the shifting quality. Full disclosure: there are occasional sympathetic rattles in the dash at about 3000-3400 RPMs. I think that's the "marbles sound" referred to earlier. That's the only issue I've had. It's not coming from the trans itself, but it's a resonant vibration in the dashboard. Hard to describe until you hear it. A few people have experienced this, myself included.

If the clutch ever wears out, I'll probably put an aftermarket one in, but I don't have any issues with the stock configuration. But I do understand the clutch is the weak link, so I won't put the same one in if it slips.

Again, do you. And if you have heavy crap to tow, obviously, don't go with the 4000-4500 lbs. capable manual. Get an automatic, maybe even a max tow. But I just don't have heavy stuff to tow, and it's what I like, and am comfortable driving.

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[JET_83]

Nah, just the clutch. I don't think I've seen trans failures. I'm sure someone has blown one up somewhere, though. Some folks have had clutches wear out early. I haven't experienced any signs of that though (18000 miles). Some others really don't like the clutch, even if they haven't had a failure. but that can be changed with better aftermarket parts. Some folks also don't like the gearing (it's not a close ratio transmission). No trans issues here. I'm honestly as happy as can be with the transmission and the shifting quality. Full disclosure: there are occasional sympathetic rattles in the dash at about 3000-3400 RPMs. That's the only issue I've had. It's not coming from the trans itself, but it's a resonant vibration in the dashboard. Hard to describe until you hear it. A few people have experienced this, myself included.

If the clutch ever wears out, I'll probably put an aftermarket one in, but I don't have any issues with the stock configuration. But I do understand the clutch is the weak link, so I won't put the same one in if it slips.

Again, do you. And if you have heavy crap to tow, obviously, don't go with the 4000-4500 lbs. capable a Mt. Get an automatic, maybe even a max tow. But I just don't have heavy stuff to tow, and it's what I like, and am comfortable driving.

You make sense, I just love how smooth the automatic shifts in these and I always just go max tow just in case, never know...

 

[Hipbilly]

I've got a Centerforce on the way (any day now?), for two reasons.. One (and I suppose the main reason) is to increase the towing capacity. The other is to definitively alleviate the "recall" problem...
In both cases, if the factory clutch starts slipping at highway speeds, fire is a possibility...
What I don't want to happen is t completely loose my clutch on the boat ramp.
I also re-geared to 4.56 to give it a fighting chance, but that's a pricey decision most folk's would avoid if possible.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I do not own a manual but I test drove one, as I recall reverse gear was really tall, could make backing up a trailer painful. If set on a manual I would get a Rubicon or Mojave so you have the 4.10 gears.

That's one of my main reasons for automatic in my trucks - be it Ford, Chevy or otherwise. Backing into a narrow or complex area with a stick is no joy. Reverse is always too high and you have to feather the clutch or do too much back and forth while I can back anything with an automatic in a fraction of the time with no risk of overheating anything.

what do users enjoy about manual, the automatic gearbox in these are among the very best in the industry, manual are among the worst.

Really young without much experience in life or driving or people, eh?
For me, it's the mechanical motion of "doing". I need something to keep me busy. It's a necessity.
I've run tractors with hand brakes, hand clutches, timing lever, gas lever and more - and loved every moment of it, including using the rope to trigger the plow at the end of the field, while turning and clutching and braking. I need the mechanical involvement with machines. It's a must for reasons I know you could not possibly understand (few people do, maybe 7 to 10% of the population would)

I have zero against automatics. A good one is stronger than most manuals, but then I watched a guy snap off the input shaft of the automatic in his GTO, too............. Rare is the gear that gets broken in an automatic and yet the parts I've had to replace in manual transmissions is amazing in a way.

Backing a trailer into complex spaces (especially where I live and where my trailer is kept) is all but impossible with a stick - you'd burn the clutch up and it would take a lot longer.

One thing I'd say is that in bad weather, I actually prefer a stick as I've been caught more than once with an automatic shifting and me shouting NO, not now! at the danged thing - with a stick I can more easily control things. I guess I need to get used to manual mode in these automatics. And these automatics often want to change 2 gears at a time, instead of going from 5th to 6th, they jump right to 7th, or from 7th clean down to 5th - not always a great thing on snow pack or ice.

 

[JET_83]

That's one of my main reasons for automatic in my trucks - be it Ford, Chevy or otherwise. Backing into a narrow or complex area with a stick is no joy. Reverse is always too high and you have to feather the clutch or do too much back and forth while I can back anything with an automatic in a fraction of the time with no risk of overheating anything.




Really young without much experience in life or driving or people, eh?
For me, it's the mechanical motion of "doing". I need something to keep me busy. It's a necessity.
I've run tractors with hand brakes, hand clutches, timing lever, gas lever and more - and loved every moment of it, including using the rope to trigger the plow at the end of the field, while turning and clutching and braking. I need the mechanical involvement with machines. It's a must for reasons I know you could not possibly understand (few people do, maybe 7 to 10% of the population would)

I have zero against automatics. A good one is stronger than most manuals, but then I watched a guy snap off the input shaft of the automatic in his GTO, too............. Rare is the gear that gets broken in an automatic and yet the parts I've had to replace in manual transmissions is amazing in a way.

Backing a trailer into complex spaces (especially where I live and where my trailer is kept) is all but impossible with a stick - you'd burn the clutch up and it would take a lot longer.

One thing I'd say is that in bad weather, I actually prefer a stick as I've been caught more than once with an automatic shifting and me shouting NO, not now! at the danged thing - with a stick I can more easily control things. I guess I need to get used to manual mode in these automatics. And these automatics often want to change 2 gears at a time, instead of going from 5th to 6th, they jump right to 7th, or from 7th clean down to 5th - not always a great thing on snow pack or ice.

for me it's just limitations and the fact the automatic is superior

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I've got a Centerforce on the way (any day now?), for two reasons.. One (and I suppose the main reason) is to increase the towing capacity. The other is to definitively alleviate the "recall" problem...
In both cases, if the factory clutch starts slipping at highway speeds, fire is a possibility...
What I don't want to happen is t completely loose my clutch on the boat ramp.
I also re-geared to 4.56 to give it a fighting chance, but that's a pricey decision most folk's would avoid if possible.

I have never understood while reverse in manual boxes is so STUPID highly geared! What's up with that? Winning a reverse race or something? Why? Need to back out of the garage FASTER? Really?

That's my biggest beef and it seems to have started mostly in the 80s with the likes of the T5, etc. I literally have to drive my SX4 down the driveway, turn around and then park it because reverse is impossible. 120 feet in reverse at the gearing those things have - just stupid.

 

[snowbear]

Wife can't drive a stick; too much stop-and-go traffic for me to enjoy one.

 

[NachoRuby]

Wife can't drive a stick; too much stop-and-go traffic for me to enjoy one.

I guess since it's all I've ever driven, it's all I've experienced, even in stop and go traffic, so it doesn't bother me even then. I don't know any better haha. My wife couldn't drive one when we met, but she learned, and now she's set on them too. The only thing she won't drive is my old bug. and that's because the last time she drove it, our daughter was born the next day, so she's convinced the muscle action required from having no power steering caused her to go into labor! We'll keep driving them until we get a Rivian or full electric jeep.

 

[Frank...]

That's why I don't understand why anyone would go manual...

Because nothing makes me happier than rowing my own gears, priceless!

 

[kev]

I'm very much the opposite. The only reason why I could fathom buying a JT automatic would be for the higher towing rating. But I downsized from a Ram 1500 to gladiator because I really don't need that big of a vehicle and very rarely tow anything larger than my 5'x10' utility trailer.

I love this truck because it is so fun to drive. I like having to navigate the proper gear for hills, etc. It's just all around more enjoyable. It's not fast and smooth like my hemi ram was, but it's just fun. I don't know how else to describe it. It's like driving my old Honda 200x 3 wheeler when I was a kid.

 

[NachoRuby]

My towing would be for weekend Scout camping trips once a month or so. It's a cargo trailer that's estimated to be around 3500 lbs (no one knows for sure). I'm in flat land, but it would be highway driving for a few hours each way.

I understand this would be near the limit for a manual. What I'm trying to understand is, what am I going to be beating on? If towing near the limit will take years off my clutch life, I'm OK with treating it as a consumable and replacing it early. Maybe upgrade it to a Centerforce at that point. But if pushing the towing limit is going to shorten the life of my transmission, that would be a problem.

If you're set on manual, I'd go Rubicon or Mojave. That gives you a little more headroom. 4500 vs 4000 lbs. Also, 4.1 final drive vs 3.73, which will make towing much easier on you and your clutch.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Wife can't drive a stick; too much stop-and-go traffic for me to enjoy one.

My wife could technically, she knows how, but her handicap really prevents it being wise, and, she's got a restriction on her license that says "restricted to automatic transmission".
So out of respect, anything that could require her to drive it, or if she would need to, or anything happen to me........ I don't want to get her into a situation where it would be either worthless for her or illegal should she get hit by some other idiot and have to show her license to law enforcement.

If anything happens to me - I did keep an automatic transmission and pedal set for the SX4 as she seems to like that car but most likely, she'd sell it. She LOVES her Grand Cherokee.

 

[NachoRuby]

I'm very much the opposite. The only reason why I could fathom buying a JT automatic would be for the higher towing rating. But I downsized from a Ram 1500 to gladiator because I really don't need that big of a vehicle and very rarely tow anything larger than my 5'x10' utility trailer.

I love this truck because it is so fun to drive. I like having to navigate the proper gear for hills, etc. It's just all around more enjoyable. It's not fast and smooth like my hemi ram was, but it's just fun. I don't know how else to describe it. It's like driving my old Honda 200x 3 wheeler when I was a kid.

Seconded. This is by far the most fun vehicle I've ever owned. I love it! It's not the fastest (not even close...) But it is the most fun.

 

[Hipbilly]

...It's not fast and smooth like my hemi ram was, but it's just fun. I don't know how else to describe it.

THIS.
Plus, with 4.56 gears on 315BFGs, I'm banging through gears like a dump truck to get up to speed, it make it feel more fun. I could probably take off in 2nd, and I'm cruising in a 40mph zone in 4th, but it feels so much more "trucky" this way... especially with the "high and covered canvas load" look my twill topper gives. hahaha
Not everyone has practical requirements for their belongings.
I've gone WAY out of my way to be able to tow with the 6MT, instead of swapping to an auto. I very nearly traded to a diesel (obviously with the auto), but I'm glad I didn't.

 

[mmaddired18]

I do not own a manual but I test drove one, as I recall reverse gear was really tall, could make backing up a trailer painful. If set on a manual I would get a Rubicon or Mojave so you have the 4.10 gears.

The gearing is even worse in the Rubicon or Mojave when paired to the manual. If you're going to tow frequently, get the auto.

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