Thread: new 70 series

Originally Posted by norsk

I have been running auto 4x4s for almost 20 years.If you want to creep forward you put your left foot on the brake,increase the revs a bit and slowly release the brake.Gives way more control than trying to slip a clutch.Auto box is better all round for off roading/towing/driveability.

No way I would go back to a manual.I honestly looked at a autobox for my Unimog when I decided to upgrade the gearbox that was in it.The reason I didnt was because I couldnt get any reliable info on what the conversion was like.

Fark no, just no. Auto boxes for towing with the modern electrically selected 4wd systems that you can't put into L4 with the front hubs disengaged are just arse. As soon as you try and reverse a heavy trailer up and around a corner (especially starting off in that condition) you're almost duty bound to have it stall on you. The VW's with the 10-speed box were the absolute worst for this, so high geared in reverse.

At least with a clutch you have the option of punishing the poor little grabby thing to get the job done, but the problem here is the modern dual mass flywheels really take to that sort of treatment. Mechanics friends, those things. This is the issue with modern gear, the older auto's were garbage for shifting and performance but usually had a half decent reverse ratio. The older manuals were fitted with tougher clutches and flywheels, and usually came with manual freehubs which gave the option of L4 tractor mode (as long as you were gentle with the axles). Compounding the problem, the older utes were usually running a 2500kg tow rating vs 3500Kg on the newer options.