For Those with a Manual... Care to Comment?

[Puttyandnapalm]

In my manual overland, I got about 21mpg on a 4 hour trip yesterday, mostly 60mph in 5th or 6th gear. Not bad for only 200 miles on the truck.

of course today I’m putting on all-terrains so I expect that number to decrease

Sponsored

 

[BK_Hanfield]

I've an Overland MT. I typically leave the center display on the MPG screen so I know what the vehicle is averaging. I've been driving secondary highways and city - average is around 23mpg (about 1400 miles so far on it). That can change very quickly if I hit the interstate or drive aggressively. It does well at highway speeds; not MPG wise but keeping a constant speed. This past week has been more of a challenge as the wind has been rather high. I bought mine more for cruising and going places. I might have went with an auto had I test drove one. I'm happy cruising the byways with what I have.

Like others, I've had MT's in my past - '46 CJ2A, '64 J-300, '66 International, '66 Impala, '95 Silverado, '04 Silverado, '08 Cobalt, '13 Sonic. ​

 

[LongTimeListener]

I've an Overland MT.

Looks gorgeous in Hydro. I had a Hydro JKUR and loved the color.

 

[hjdca]

I have approx. 800 miles on my Gladiator Rubicon and my girlfriend and I are loving the manual. Average fuel economy starting since mile 3 has been 15 mpg. both city and highway. My driving habits had been purposely aggressive for motor break-in purposes. I have a total of 4 stick shift cars - sports cars, classics; and this Gladiator Rubicon is fun to row. The motor is quiet at low rpms which may effect people when using the clutch, but, the sound wakes up at higher rpms. I like the gearing on the Rubicon with the 33 inch tires.

The absolute worse thing that I hate with a passion is the engine turn-off when I let off the clutch. Good think it stays running if you have the clutch in, and it will start when you press the clutch again. I have to get used to hitting the override button every time I start the car. I wish there was a way to permanently defeat that feature. However, it is still better than the automatic which turns off every time when you stop. Whoever invented that feature should be drawn and quartered.

 

[BK_Hanfield]

I have approx. 800 miles on my Gladiator Rubicon and my girlfriend and I are loving the manual. Average fuel economy starting since mile 3 has been 15 mpg. both city and highway. My driving habits had been purposely aggressive for motor break-in purposes. I have a total of 4 stick shift cars - sports cars, classics; and this Gladiator Rubicon is fun to row. The motor is quiet at low rpms which may effect people when using the clutch, but, the sound wakes up at higher rpms. I like the gearing on the Rubicon with the 33 inch tires.

The absolute worse thing that I hate with a passion is the engine turn-off when I let off the clutch. Good think it stays running if you have the clutch in, and it will start when you press the clutch again. I have to get used to hitting the override button every time I start the car. I wish there was a way to permanently defeat that feature. However, it is still better than the automatic which turns off every time when you stop. Whoever invented that feature should be drawn and quartered.

There is an ESS 'device' that can be inserted into the wiring harness to keep the ESS disabled. Pricey but it does work, simple to put in. I've been running it for a while, haven't noticed any issues. It's listed on the forums here.

under General Discussions
Why do you like or dislike Auto start stop (ESS)?
Post #112
https://armorautoparts.com/products...2020-gladiator-3-6l-v6?variant=29499722301518

 

[guntrust]

I did not like the manual in my Rubicon JT very much until I got the mopar catback exhaust mod.

That simple job totally changed the experience, improving low-end torque and the extra noise helps with shifting in first gear.

 

[solfrost]

I'm sitting at a little over 300 miles on mine, I'm at about ~20mpg overall between a bit of city and a lot more highway. I've stalled a couple times in 1st getting used to the clutch and the very short gear but I seem to be pretty used to it by now. On the highway, I'm easily able to maintain speeds around 60-75 in 5th and 6th gear, I live in MD so it's not flat (though the areas I was driving in are not particularly hilly). On slower roads I can easily maintain 50 in 5th.

Personally I think the manual is fine, even good. Maybe not great. I'm coming off of a third-gen Miata that I daily drove for the past six years -- the shifting on there was clearly more direct and shorter and I'd say I certainly enjoyed that transmission more but the Gladiator's transmissions is fine, I still look forward to hopping in and driving it every day since I've taken delivery.

I think I might slap on an aftermarket exhaust though, just to get a little more sound out of it, I think that'd help the experience as some have mentioned.

 

[hjdca]

I took the Gladiator Rubicon manual wheeling for the first time at Hungry Valley OHV. I aired down to 22 lbs and I have the mud terrain stock tires and the upgraded rims. I have approx. 800 miles on the truck. Some observations:
1. Suspension is great - especially on washboards -- very comfortable. I am very, very impressed with the suspension -- but, I am used to an FJ62 - which has leaf springs.
2. Low lock is extremely low. No clutch required. You can almost stand still. I took a hill in low lock 3rd gear and it was still moving pretty slow at 4K rpm. Very impressive low lock.
3. Going from 4WH to 4WL is just as tricky as my older trucks. Goose it a tad from stop, put in the clutch while it is barely rolling and pull it down to 4WL. Much smoother than other techniques.
3. Steering stabilizer reconnects at 16 mph automatically.
4. I touched the hitch on some dirt, so, the longer wheelbase does effect your approach and departure angles, but, it is manageable.
5. I got into a couple of off camber situations and the Gladiator is very stable, it does not lean.
6. I did some hot running in 1st and 2nd gear in 4WH in the sand and the Gladiator is a blast. Plenty of power to give you a rush. Just like the commercial. lol.

I think a Stock Rubicon Gladiator with 33 inch tires can do all the "medium hard" (square blue) trails at Hungry Valley without trouble. Maybe the rear hitch will rub in a few spots. I did not try any jeep difficult trails (black square). It is too new for me to be that aggressive.

I am still loving the manual. Get out and wheel it !

 

[chrcal14]

I have approx. 800 miles on my Gladiator Rubicon and my girlfriend and I are loving the manual. Average fuel economy starting since mile 3 has been 15 mpg. both city and highway. My driving habits had been purposely aggressive for motor break-in purposes. I have a total of 4 stick shift cars - sports cars, classics; and this Gladiator Rubicon is fun to row. The motor is quiet at low rpms which may effect people when using the clutch, but, the sound wakes up at higher rpms. I like the gearing on the Rubicon with the 33 inch tires.

The absolute worse thing that I hate with a passion is the engine turn-off when I let off the clutch. Good think it stays running if you have the clutch in, and it will start when you press the clutch again. I have to get used to hitting the override button every time I start the car. I wish there was a way to permanently defeat that feature. However, it is still better than the automatic which turns off every time when you stop. Whoever invented that feature should be drawn and quartered.

There's not nearly enough hanging, drawing, and quartering these days. Seems it would be a good motivator.

 

[Mark Doiron]

With one exception (my anniversary edition Trans Am), all I've ever owned were manual transmission vehicles. And, my 2007 JK has been a bit of a disappointment. The shifter is mushy feeling. I did install a Centerforce clutch, and I really like the feel of it. As for the Gladiator, however, the shifter is amazing. Nice notches and resistance at the perfect points. The best I've ever driven in the past half century. The clutch, however, is the opposite of that. It's too light, with insufficient pedal pressure to make it easy to hit the right engagement points. And the engagement/disengagement is a rather short part of the throw. Taken together, that makes avoiding stalls a bit tricky in unusual situations like going in reverse up a steep hill. And getting started on slippery surfaces, it's easy to break tire traction. And, the very quiet interior and exhaust does not help. To be honest, I'm eager for the throwout bearing to fail so I can put a better clutch and pressure plate in that should provide a remedy. And there may be an aftermarket exhaust. I love the Dominion Off-road on my JK. In the meantime, I still love driving this vehicle. Well, except for shifting into 4WD-low--that rascal shifter does not want to move!

 

[hjdca]

I took the Gladiator Rubicon manual wheeling for the first time at Hungry Valley OHV. I aired down to 22 lbs and I have the mud terrain stock tires and the upgraded rims. I have approx. 800 miles on the truck. Some observations:
1. Suspension is great - especially on washboards -- very comfortable. I am very, very impressed with the suspension -- but, I am used to an FJ62 - which has leaf springs.
2. Low lock is extremely low. No clutch required. You can almost stand still. I took a hill in low lock 3rd gear and it was still moving pretty slow at 4K rpm. Very impressive low lock.
3. Going from 4WH to 4WL is just as tricky as my older trucks. Goose it a tad from stop, put in the clutch while it is barely rolling and pull it down to 4WL. Much smoother than other techniques.
3. Steering stabilizer reconnects at 16 mph automatically.
4. I touched the hitch on some dirt, so, the longer wheelbase does effect your approach and departure angles, but, it is manageable.
5. I got into a couple of off camber situations and the Gladiator is very stable, it does not lean.
6. I did some hot running in 1st and 2nd gear in 4WH in the sand and the Gladiator is a blast. Plenty of power to give you a rush. Just like the commercial. lol.

I think a Stock Rubicon Gladiator with 33 inch tires can do all the "medium hard" (square blue) trails at Hungry Valley without trouble. Maybe the rear hitch will rub in a few spots. I did not try any jeep difficult trails (black square). It is too new for me to be that aggressive.

I am still loving the manual. Get out and wheel it !

Gladiator Rubicon Manual Sea Gray first wheeling day pics at Hungry Valley OHV. Tons of fun, nothing crazy yet.

 

[dbclinton]

I have had my Gladiator for about 5 months now. The shifting did take a little getting use to ( I stalled it more than a few times when I frirst started driving it). But no issues not. I got 23mpg on an 8 hour raod trip last month. My only negative, and definately not a big one, is reversing up an incline. To me, the gearing is gearing is too high. It really wants to stall out unless I give it lots of gas.

 

[hjdca]

I have had my Gladiator for about 5 months now. The shifting did take a little getting use to ( I stalled it more than a few times when I frirst started driving it). But no issues not. I got 23mpg on an 8 hour raod trip last month. My only negative, and definately not a big one, is reversing up an incline. To me, the gearing is gearing is too high. It really wants to stall out unless I give it lots of gas.

Yes, I agree. I reverse the JT down my long driveway which is a slight incline. I used to clutch it all the way.... Now, I start earlier, let the clutch completely out, let the JT come back down to idle with the clutch out, and feather the gas pedal to keep the truck just above idle until I get there, then, I clutch it again the last few feet or so.

An easy way to stall it is to turn the wheels all the way right or left, be on a slight incline, and start reversing - trying to let the clutch out early. I think this takes more clutch than I anticipated because you are coupling three things together -- "incline start" (which has the brake on), higher reverse gear than first, ---- and, a great turning radius with a long wheel base, while trying to back up, puts more resistance on the front wheels.

Sponsored