Jeep Towing + Manual Transmission = HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT

[hjdca]

If Jeep send a new clutch for the recall with a better plate quality, do you tink it’s possible to see a more towing capacity?

No, I do not... The manual setup is done... They will fix the recall and all the specs will stay the same...

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[WXman]

If Jeep send a new clutch for the recall with a better plate quality, do you tink it’s possible to see a more towing capacity?

Towing capacity will always be capped by the rating the manufacturer stamps on it from the factory. Doesn't matter which parts you change.

It's possible that in the future an aftermarket company might make a much stiffer clutch rated for a higher load capacity and that would allow towing without slippage, but it's not going to change the legal rating.

 

[whiteglad]

In addition to a clutch that would tolerate more slipping without glazing, you would want a transmission with a very low granny gear to get the load moving and an overdrive to keep rpm down for some reasonable mileage. I just don't see the huge, heavy 10-speed Road Ranger transmission going into a Jeep, lol.

 

[LostWoods]

Towing capacity will always be capped by the rating the manufacturer stamps on it from the factory. Doesn't matter which parts you change.

It's possible that in the future an aftermarket company might make a much stiffer clutch rated for a higher load capacity and that would allow towing without slippage, but it's not going to change the legal rating.

Dealerships can replace that stamp as part of the recall much like we used to have to issue updated emissions stickers when we did a reflash... I wouldn't get my hopes up but there's definitely the option for it.

 

[Puttyandnapalm]

Dealerships can replace that stamp as part of the recall much like we used to have to issue updated emissions stickers when we did a reflash... I wouldn't get my hopes up but there's definitely the option for it.

maybe if enough of us make noise....

 

[LostWoods]

maybe if enough of us make noise....

Nope.

The root of the problem is that the transmission is woefully inadequate and it's more than just the clutch. I try to avoid talking shit about MTs among Jeep people becuase everyone gets defensive (and hey, I love them too) but this was seriously a bad decision by Jeep.

The ZF 850RE 8-speed AT is rated for 500Nm (370ft-lbs). Aisin rates the AL6 6-speed MT to 370Nm... that's just 272 ft-lbs behind an engine rated for 260ft-lbs. and 95% of its rated capacity.

This is a transmission intended for a light SUV, not a pickup towing over its own weight. You guys will get your new clutch that will be a bit tougher but the root of the problem will always be there. There's just no margin of error for the transmission to handle the stresses that come with towing that kind of weight.

 

[Blade1668]

It's got a factory 3-on-the-tree, talk about a 'Security Feature' LOL

One of the first vehicles I drove was a 3 on the tree.
My LJ is rated for towing up to 5000 w manual transmission (6 speed) the Getrag tranny it tows good as a Wrangler can. The Army went away for manual transmission (2 1/2) due to youth joining could not drive them. Now there's a option for ya. I still love to have one. FCA is using sound logic and logistics and at least still offering a manual transmission. Someone not really able to drive a manual then hooking up a trailer would be a lot of blown engines, tranny's and or clutches. Manual transmissions have been lighter duty in non commercial vehicles for quite some time especially in 4×4 vehicles and in the USA. Not sure about Africa and Middle East Countries though.

 

[Daeyis]

One of the first vehicles I drove was a 3 on the tree.
My LJ is rated for towing up to 5000 w manual transmission (6 speed) the Getrag tranny it tows good as a Wrangler can. The Army went away for manual transmission (2 1/2) due to youth joining could not drive them. Now there's a option for ya. I still love to have one. FCA is using sound logic and logistics and at least still offering a manual transmission. Someone not really able to drive a manual then hooking up a trailer would be a lot of blown engines, tranny's and or clutches. Manual transmissions have been lighter duty in non commercial vehicles for quite some time especially in 4×4 vehicles and in the USA. Not sure about Africa and Middle East Countries though.

Look at Australia at Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan. All of the manual transmission options are at the top of the tow ratings. 7000+ lbs. Its only in he US on domestic (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Ram) trucks are the manual transmission tow ratings so much lower. Mind you those are primarily with Diesel engines, a combination completely unavailable here. In Australia and most of the rest of the world they use their mid sized trucks to do what we use full sized half tons to do. Little room and huge expense for the massive full sized trucks we have.

Hell my 2011 Frontier was rated to tow 6300lbs with the manual and it was only slightly heavier clutch to this one.

It doesn’t have to be 3rd world countries. Most of Europe people drive manuals. Middle East and Africa primarily manuals. Even South America is mostly manuals.

Automatics everywhere is a lazy American phenomenon not mirrored by most of the rest of the world.

Hell even in Australia he Wrangler is rated to tow over 5000lbs. I know that’s with the automatic but that’s all FCA exports there. But here it is only 3500lbs.

 

[LostWoods]

Look at Australia at Toyota, Isuzu, Nissan. All of the manual transmission options are at the top of the tow ratings. 7000+ lbs. Its only in he US on domestic (Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Ram) trucks are the manual transmission tow ratings so much lower. Mind you those are primarily with Diesel engines, a combination completely unavailable here. In Australia and most of the rest of the world they use their mid sized trucks to do what we use full sized half tons to do. Little room and huge expense for the massive full sized trucks we have.

Hell my 2011 Frontier was rated to tow 6300lbs with the manual and it was only slightly heavier clutch to this one.

It doesn’t have to be 3rd world countries. Most of Europe people drive manuals. Middle East and Africa primarily manuals. Even South America is mostly manuals.

Automatics everywhere is a lazy American phenomenon not mirrored by most of the rest of the world.

Hell even in Australia he Wrangler is rated to tow over 5000lbs. I know that’s with the automatic but that’s all FCA exports there. But here it is only 3500lbs.

The Tacoma shares the same base transmission with the Hilux so they have a crazy amount of headroom. That's why the entire V6 lineup has the same tow rating. If anything the Hilux is limited by its transmission as well because it only get an extra 1k or so towing capacity despite having 25% more torque in a much more usable range.

Also each country rates tow capacity differently so it's likely the Aussie model is more friendly towards small SUVs like the JLU than what we do in the US.

And automatics being the standard in the US is the product of technological development. They're more efficient and better in nearly every way at this point. At best manual transmissions are situational but more typically they're either personal preference (guilty here) or a dick swinging contest to make some car guys feel better about themselves.

 

[Blade1668]

Daeyis
During my time living in Europe I do know that "most" drive manual transmission. Well that's kinda correct, now about them being able to tow. Ha you've not been on Autobahn stuck behind them towing or cargo vehicles. most of the vehicles are grossly under powered compared to American /Canadian vehicles until you go to military vehicles. Nothing like stuck on a 5 plus KM hill behind them down to first or second gear, and one thinks "he" can go 1 km faster and blocks left lane too. Not that I know that I only lived in Europe for 7 years. One of the funniest things is seeing the dreaded look from car drivers when I would start passing coming up on a hill in my MJ. Not even losing speed 4.0 I drove a VW Golf D.F. stick quite a lot during that time to it couldn't hardly get out of it's own way. So the transmissions are as strong as the power plant in front of it. In Middle East I seen quite a few solid vehicles that had strong manual transmissions... "Toyota" or other Japan made vehicles. Not that Jeep is dumping in massive power engines in now, other than the V8 days of old. A cast iron transmission and heavy duty clutch is past due to CAFE requirements. A lot of big rigs are even going to automatic transmissions.
A lot of it falls on liability here on vehicle MFG.
LostWoods... I think that you have called it correct on the last part.. kinda of why people get a new vehicle and screw up the muffler ECT then add sewer pipes to make it louder than flipping M1 Abrams tank..... S.D.S or ego problem.

 

[DreamedofaJeepSomeday]

It doesn’t have to be 3rd world countries. Most of Europe people drive manuals. Middle East and Africa primarily manuals. Even South America is mostly manuals.

Automatics everywhere is a lazy American phenomenon not mirrored by most of the rest of the world.

City buses in the USA were automatic back in the 1960's. Recently in Japan I was amazed that city buses were still stick shift.

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