Jeep Towing + Manual Transmission = HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT

[Jlavo]

I learned recently from going through some of these threads the max towing on the manual JT is 4,000lbs or 4,500lbs on the Rubicon. Not sure what they were thinking here, huge disappointment for folks who want the 6 speed.

Why would they do this? Other than not wanting to invest in a better clutch is my guess?

I went to the Twin Cities Auto show yesterday and asked the product "specialist" for Jeep and I asked the question and they didn't know and were surprised by it after confirming for me, they all assumed 7,000 + lbs..

I am tempted to see if they will address this maybe in the following year(s) model?

I was 100% going to purchase one of these mainly for the manual transmission and the "best in class" towing (eye-roll).

I need to tow my boat and trailer which is 4,900 lbs I am sure it can safely tow (just extra wear on the clutch), but for legal reasons it could pose an issue if you were ever in accident.

Would love to hear from someone with Jeep on why they thought this was a good idea.

Ok...End rant.

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[5JeepsAz]

Same issue with Max Tow. I'd buy it with manual as priority, but want wide track more. Good thought on later years maybe it becomes available, though it was pointed out in another thread that manuals are being discontinued in other brands.

 

[megamucho]

I think waiting for a future model year for any improvements to anything related to manual transmissions is a flawed idea. MT is going away from automobiles in general. Electrification will eliminate passenger car vehicle transmissions overall, so there is little incentive for any manufacturer to continue to invest in R&D.

 

[homerun]

I think waiting for a future model year for any improvements to anything related to manual transmissions is a flawed idea. MT is going away from automobiles in general. Electrification will eliminate passenger car vehicle transmissions overall, so there is little incentive for any manufacturer to continue to invest in R&D.

In the words of Metallica “sad but true”.

 

[steffen707]

In the words of Metallica “sad but true”.

got to see them in Madison last year, best concert i've ever been to. I think they played Sad But True.

 

[drogers]

There are several threads on this already, and it’s pretty simple - manual transmissions make up a tiny percentage of buyers, and manual tranny buyers who need to tow a lot are an even toner percentage, so it’s not worth the development effort to put a different clutch and tranny in the JT than is in the JL.

Yeah, it sucks but it does make sense..

 

[WXman]

Yes, you're lucky you get a manual transmission option at all.

It's difficult to get a manual transmission to meet requirements for heavy towing. You need a very robust gearset and clutch and then the size of the transmission becomes a problem for packaging reasons.

For 2020 there won't even be a single full size truck sold with a manual transmission, as far as I'm aware. As towing numbers increase, it's just more and more difficult to make it work and with so few people choosing manuals anymore there isn't a business case for them to try.

Truth be told, even without towing FCA replaces clutches on new Jeeps all the time because so many people have no idea how to drive them properly. They probably would like to get rid of the option for the Jeep line totally.

 

[Ichthus]

Truth be told, even without towing FCA replaces clutches on new Jeeps all the time because so many people have no idea how to drive them properly. They probably would like to get rid of the option for the Jeep line totally.

Unless they can turn it into another profit generator...which was the mindset of the local dealership that claimed my rear-main-seal failing at 10k miles was caused by a failing clutch. The clutch, they say, was failing because I took the Jeep off-road and manuals aren’t supposed to do that. They wanted $1400 for a new clutch, because that’s a “wear item, like brakes”. Can’t say that dealer wants my business anymore, after the review I left them. the dealer that fixed their mistakes got a better review. Might be worth mentioning that that same clutch is still going strong 65,000 on-and-off road miles later (including some towing)

 

[remote]

I share the frustration here. Fine-print marketing at its worst. And sorry, but we’re not “lucky” to just have a manual option; when you charge $60k for a mid-size truck for off-roading, I’m not “lucky” to have a manual with half the specs. Manuals may not be as efficient, but if Jeep is selling a lifestyle brand around fun, they’re making a mistake on this one phasing these out. Mark my words, the manual isn’t going anywhere for a while—they’ll be bringing these back as “legacy” or “classic” and charging more for the privelage soon.

 

[5JeepsAz]

I just had this thought: what if an overland with manual transmission is less than a sport Max Tow. Man. That is a choice. Wow. I might go overland throw gears if same or lower OTD

 

[WXman]

I share the frustration here. Fine-print marketing at its worst. And sorry, but we’re not “lucky” to just have a manual option; when you charge $60k for a mid-size truck for off-roading, I’m not “lucky” to have a manual with half the specs. Manuals may not be as efficient, but if Jeep is selling a lifestyle brand around fun, they’re making a mistake on this one phasing these out. Mark my words, the manual isn’t going anywhere for a while—they’ll be bringing these back as “legacy” or “classic” and charging more for the privelage soon.

When you consider how small the percentage is of vehicles that even give you the choice for a manual transmission, yes you are lucky that FCA continued to offer the stick shift in the new generation of Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator.

As far as charging more for manuals, that is already the case on some vehicles. I've seen it myself.

My first truck at 16 was a manual. My second truck in college began life as a manual. I've had a couple of Mustangs with manuals. I had a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with a manual. I'm driving a Mach 1 with a manual trans. to work right now actually. I understand the love some guys have for shifting their own gears. But unfortunately, two things are true:

1) The manual transmission is slowly going away and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

2) In the Jeep JL/JT, the 850RFE is superior to the D478 in every single conceivable category. It's more convenient, it's more heavy duty, it'll have lower maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle, it gets better fuel efficiency, it's safer on and off road, it has better resale value, it's more comfortable to drive because you can use a dead pedal, it's more resistant to water crossings, it allows for options such as remote start, and it can still be manually shifted.

 

[homerun]

and it can still be manually shifted.

That doesn’t count.

Also please stop talking so much truth about my beloved m/t.

 

[HONCHO]

With the low torque of the 3.6 you would not like towing. or going off road . with Man .

 

[homerun]

With the low torque of the 3.6 you would not like towing. or going off road . with Man .

Have you driven that set up? Most who have say 1st extremely low, as in almost a straight up granny gear with lots torque. I don’t plan on towing but I will be off road. I realize this is just one opinion but it differs from what I have heard and gives me anxiety, lol.

 

[JTRUBI]

When you consider how small the percentage is of vehicles that even give you the choice for a manual transmission, yes you are lucky that FCA continued to offer the stick shift in the new generation of Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator.

As far as charging more for manuals, that is already the case on some vehicles. I've seen it myself.

My first truck at 16 was a manual. My second truck in college began life as a manual. I've had a couple of Mustangs with manuals. I had a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with a manual. I'm driving a Mach 1 with a manual trans. to work right now actually. I understand the love some guys have for shifting their own gears. But unfortunately, two things are true:

1) The manual transmission is slowly going away and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

2) In the Jeep JL/JT, the 850RFE is superior to the D478 in every single conceivable category. It's more convenient, it's more heavy duty, it'll have lower maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle, it gets better fuel efficiency, it's safer on and off road, it has better resale value, it's more comfortable to drive because you can use a dead pedal, it's more resistant to water crossings, it allows for options such as remote start, and it can still be manually shifted.

Wait, you can get it with remote start? I thought that wasn’t an option for it?

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