If you expect it to be some kind of a high performance experience that gives you a 'wow' sense of acceleration, you are going to be disappointed. If you accept the fact that it's a very sturdy, highly versatile 4wd truck with a very moderate-sized-medium-performance engine and you prefer the sense of engagement and connection that only a manual offers, you won't be disappointed. I fall in category 2 and am not at all disappointed.
The gearing of this transmission sucks. It's clearly geared for getting the best MPG on the EPA circuit. No one is expecting high performance "wow" out of Jeep truck. I do expect it to do 30 MPH uphill in third gear and maintain speed, it can't. I expect it to be able to back out of my driveway with out stuttering and stalling, it can't. We have two other manuals in the house and they are fine with the same task. The gearing in the JT is absolute crap for anyone that lives where there are hills. It's tough to admit that your $45k trucks transmission sucks but it does. Anyone saying otherwise lives in flat lands or doesn't want to admit it.
The gearing in 4L is no better then the JK which had an actual 3rd and 4th gear unlike the JT which combines the two. The extra OD gear (6th) is of little use in in 4L as it's about the same as 5th. The only reason it is geared as it is is for MPGs. Going forward up a hilly driveway is no problem but reverse is a whole other issue. The JT can't do it, god forbid there is a load in the bed. I'm glad you like your JT and are willing to live with the compromise of the gearing in the manual. I'd love my JT for what it is but the gearing is crap for on road driving.
Interesting comments. I live at 7,000 feet and mine does fine. Easily pulls steep hills in 3rd at 30, 40, 50, mph. Just finished an overlanding trip with a full load and two guys and it did fine at 9,000 passes. And this was on 35s.
Well do a search on the JL forum and you'll find a few threads like this about reverse. Wish I had researched it more before I decided to go manual. https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/reversing-up-hill-and-clutch-smell-6-speed.6776/Umm. Point of order. The JT has a deeper reverse than the JK did. I'm no fan of the new forward gearing either (bought the auto) but the JT should be deeper geared than the JK in reverse.
I don't actually give a shit. The 8 speed was my choice after looking at gear ratios before I ordered. If you're unhappy with the gearing in reverse on the JT/JL it's not the gearing was and is my only point.
It definitely is the gearing, reverse is way to tall. Should not have to use 4 low to reverse out of my driveway. Not an issue with any other manuals we've owned in the past. Enjoy the auto, sure wish I went with one.
