Anyone use an auto offroad?

[Grantw]

What are the pros and cons of haveing an auto for offroad use? I thought that the uphill crawling ability with the front locker would be excellent but the downhill not so good... Has anyone got experience using them offroad??

[Bitsamissin]

There was a really good thread going on Trail Talk about this.
The auto (in standard guise) is superior to a 5sp for very low speed work as you can inch your way over stuff without stalling.
But for everything else the 5sp is better IMHO.
The biggest thing I don't like about the auto is it starts off in 1st gear then shifts upwards not good for mud as you can dig yourself in very quickly (too much power transmitted) with a 5sp you can start off in a higher gear.
Also it will only start in park or nuetral, don't like that at all, sure you can rewire it to start in any gear but you are bypassing a safety feature. Some auto's have a switch to allow it to start off in 2nd or 3rd gear a good feature for mud/snow driving but the Mitsi one doesn't.
A 5sp with our 2.85 t/case gears would be Mitsi heaven I reckon

[Allan Mac]

My Paj does have the switch to allow takeoff/hold in 2nd gear (NL). This discussion came up recently & Jim Kennedy (4x4 driver trainer) from 4WD Victoria said auto was the way to go. Greater control etc especially if you can left foot brake. Showed me a technique that allows the auto to go down a hill slower than a manual diesel; amazing.

He wanted to upgrade from his diesel cruiser (auto) to a 4.2 ltr diesel patrol, but because the 4.2 ltr patrol doesn't come in a auto, he will stick with the cruiser.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[springer]

Showed me a technique that allows the auto to go down a hill slower than a manual diesel; amazing.

so what was the technique?

I have an auto and its brilliant offroad, except downhills.

cheers

[jbell]

i have an auto to and the only place i have trouble
is on steep down hills specially in mud this is the only
draw back i find with an auto
just touch the brakes in mud can get you in all
sorts of sh$t

[Ian Sharpe]

hope its not the stick the auto in reverse while going down the hill trick

[Thor]

i have found our nl 3.5 auto perfectly suited for the occasional weekend warrior, and LLc first (L) fine for basically all applications. although after saying that, it does tend to run away a bit down hills

[-Mick-]

Showed me a technique that allows the auto to go down a hill slower than a manual diesel; amazing.

Yeah but everyone knows about winching

Seriously though what you talkin about? It's not the reverse thing is it?

[DougH]

Seriously though what you talkin about? It's not the reverse thing is it?

Couldnt be, the engine would stall big time.

You can stall a auto pretty easily if you work the truck the wrong direction of the tranny. If your in drive on a really steep incline, and you let gravity back you up too much by slacking off on the gas, you will stall usually.

[bazzle]

Some autos sense wheel direction thru the ABS.
If you use reverse to go down a steep hill forward then the ECU will stall the engine givng NO power steer and NO brakes

bazzle

[Bitsamissin]

Yeah it's called "driving through the auto" they teach it at the Paj Club driver training sessions.
Basically it is controlled left foot braking while gently accelerating going down steep hills. This method is an attempt to compensate for the auto's lack of outright low range gearing.
It does work particularly in the dry, I've seen auto Paj's go down very steep hills as slow as a manual without locking up the wheels. It's a different ballgame in the slop though and it takes a skilled driver to prevent wheel lock up.
The whole thing is savage on the brakes though.

[Allan Mac]

Sorry for taking so long to get back. Yes it is the 'reverse' thing, but with a slight difference I think.
Firstly you would not want to doing it over a huge distance. The hill I went down was about 30mtrs. The trick was to get out of low range & use high range. Ist time stopped going up, put in N then 4H, then 1st. Slowly added power when releasing brake (left foot) It was then a matter of throttle control to allow vehicle to move back down inch by inch. It was in the dry, but was told will work on slippery surfaces also. Auto does get hot though.
Also used technique as explained by bitsamissan which also works well.

Cheers
Allan Mac

[Grantw]

After all that I have bought my new rig and yes its auto.. Most of our offroad is hillclimbing and with the front airlocker on order I cant wait to giv it a go. Its a daily driver also so the missus is better off with the auto... I think its a matter of getting used to it!