Automatic Wheelin

[Adam N.D.J.]

Welp, went wheelin today, was going to take the real offroader, but it decided not to play today and tossed a wheel bearing. So rather than ditch the plans to go out with the crew, loaded up the 83 and headed into the mountains.

I do have to say that on the mild stuff the auto is pretty nice. Was actually kind of a relaxing ride, specially on the twisty's.

But, when we got into some pretty heavy stuff, the infamous slushbox reared it's ugly head, the tranny slipped way too much to actually make it up serious obstacles, and the transfere clutch for the rear output slipped pretty bad too, couple of times I was only spinnin one front tire. Good thing I got a 5spd laying here waiting to go in there. Sure will be nice when I can put all that power to the ground.

On a side note, it's been a long time since I've wheeled a stock Roo, and it sure is a completely different character than the monster that is the 82!!

 

So, in short, if you've got an auto in your rig, and want to really wheel it, swap it out for a manual, you'll have a much better time. Nothing sux more than getting stuck on some piddly little obstacle!

[bushbasher]

well when people calc crawl ratios, for autos they usually muliply by 1.4 for the torque converter slip. So having an auto in front of a t-case might theoritically not be too bad, some people like autos for wheeling, some prefer manuals.

 

For not having a low range, the 4eat in my turbowagon didnt do too bad. Comparing it to a manual in high range, I was probably able to do hills that would have been a serious pain otherwise. If the rear output could be locked up and a tcase put in there, it would make a good wheeler.

[Rooinater]

uhhh.... still don't think it will do that well. john had one in his hatch. it was a newer and better one. and the torque converter is so small from what i saw it really liked to slip and not hook up the rear output. but it did do the job.

[bushbasher]

Yeah, I had instances where, with the welded rear end and one front wheel way up in the sky, 1 front wheel would turn slowly, and though I could feel it pushing, it wasnt enough. If the rear could be locked up, or a pushbutton 3spd used, which I think is straight 4wd, it would be a good alternative for someone who likes autos more for wheelin. I love manuals, driven a few different auto 4x4 rigs and hate the slippy feeling of autos off-road.