Just, a question, what are some things to remember when mudding with a manual? I've only experienced automatic... do i need to let the clutch out slower? faster? when going through a section of mud, do i need to just goose it? not just floor it but sorda just gas it and let off, gas it, let off? I just really wanna know what are some things to remember when trailing, and mudding with a 80's Tacoma 4x4 Manual.... Im not an experienced driver when it comes to a manual,i can get from A to B , taking off on hills get me kinda edgy and dodgy cause i dont like rolling back without meaning to , any tricks,tips,hints, advice i dont care, whatever you guys can tell me from experiance are some things i need to watch out for ! Thanks again guys

 

all i can remember is weare, nh on a ne4roc run. 4 trucks, all stuck!

just keep it to the floor until you stop. then off the gas asap as to not bury yourself. after that, try rocking it (with a manual, on the clutch, off the clutch, etc. etc.). if that doesn't work....try to get any momentum you can and keep inching forward. if you can't....come-a-longs, pushing, or a pull from someone not stuck.

 

You dont need to floor it. I have never had to floor it in mud, but you do need to give it some throttle. keep the rpms up, but dont red line it. Momentum is key though. If you get stuck, saw your tires left and right, try to get the fronts to bite. If that doesn't work, try to back up. back up as far as you can or need, and then try to get enough momentum up to get past where you got stuck.
when your on a hill, you can pull your ebrake if its not that steep to help keep you from rolling back, get your clutch in, get your rpm's up to about 1500-2000 and let the brake out and that will keep you from rolling back.

 

here are some pics of that experience:

the last half of these:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/...91027177HfvvKn

and these:
http://photobucket.com/albums/y278/O...20trip%207-05/

 

^^^That looks FUN!

 

that was a mess!!!

that trail took 6 hours! 1 on the way in.....5 on the way out!!!!

that green tacoma has about 3" of lift, 5spd, and mt's. you know you're in for a long day when he gets stuck real good. LOL!

the red 4runner had revo's and is an auto. needless to say....he did not do so well. lol. that was the first time the benefits of a 5spd really showed.

 

While busy posting pictures of my Taco stuck in the mud Flooks forgot to mention his eternal shame, on that day of greatest need, he didn't have a tow strap!
The problem that day was that we had come down a lot of hills so we were in the bottom of a valley or something. To get out, we had to drive up the hills, but everything was so wet and muddy that there was no traction at all. Amatoer10, in the green taco was able to climb out of most of it. In the red Taco I was able to climb out with a little pushing, but the 4runners both required a come along and a lot of pushing, ESPECIALLY the automatic! Pulling someone up a huge hill with a come along is tedious, you know, the thing pulls in the slack and has about 2 ft or less of actual pull. It would have been ok if it had ended there, we got stuck, it took forever to get out, it was a good story, now lets go home. We were all covered in mud from trucks flinging it around and standing in it to push and tired as hell. Then we turn a corner and find a mud pit about 30 ft long, of course, I don't mean a watery mud puddle, I mean, thick nasty claylike mud about 1.5 ft deep, then a short steep hill that stopped everyone, needless to say it was miserable at that point. Makes for a great story now though!


I think I am still finding that mud on random places on my body, same with my truck!

Now that that is out of the way, haha. In mud momentum is key, but too much tire spin will make you lose traction and slow down, so I pulse the gas a bit to allow the tires to grip, I use the same technique in snow with good results in both places. Really though, mud requires tires and lift to get you up and out of it, rather than skill.

 

if it weren't for that day, the running boards would probably still be on! LOL! i damn near ripped the drivers side off on a boulder. haha

 

No such thing as an '80s Tacoma, that would be a 4WD pickup. How to get through mud depends on the type of mud. Sometimes you can crawl through when there is a firm base down below a layer of mud. Other times you need to bump up the wheel speed enough to get the lugs to clear themselves of mud. That will depend on the style of tread and the consistency of the mud as well. For using the clutch on hills, learn how to start the truck in gear. I do this all the time on the trail. In low range, 1st gear, you should be able to just turn the key and hit the gas and go; no brakes, no clutch.

 

starting the car in gear? what does that mean just push in the clutch while in first gear and push the gas and let the clutch out?

 

No put the truck in gear put it in 4 lo leave the clutch out and turn the key the starter will get you going and start the motor then just hit the gas

 

Yeah Bamboo, he's referring to the technique that lets the starter pull the truck in first gear, 4Lo. Your model should be equipped with a clutch start cancel switch, but older models should start without the clutch anytime. Leave the clutch alone, turn the key over, and your vehicle will pull forward under the power of the starter. It's pretty cool. Very quickly the engine will catch and you'll need to be ready with the gas pedal to keep it going. Great technique. (edit: just what SilverTruck is referring to above)

 

I am by NO MEANS an off road driving expert, but here is what has worked for me with MT in mud:
- AIR DOWN. Quite a bit more than normal.

- Use the clutch as absolutely little as possible. Never on a downhill. In 4Lo, you can brake almost to a complete stop without stalling it.

- As 4Crawler said, it depends on the mud, but I have had good luck with "pulsing" the throttle - a little spin to clear the tires, then let them catch. Gotta keep with it - can't lose momentum!

- You want to be careful to not be in too low a gear - more torque=more wheelspin. In the really sloppy mud last weekend, 4LO+2ND was the ticket.

- Momentum is definitely key. Do not "rock" the truck - this will only serve to build a bigger mound in front of the tires with no momentum to get over it. Back up a ways and come at it again with some momentum to get you over the hump.

- Once again, depending on the mud, you may want to stay out of the ruts if possible. With the little available traction, you sure don't want to be dragging axles around.

 

yeah we kept it in 4lo and, it did have the clutch start cancel engaged, it was pretty sweet , i did pretty good, when going down hills i would just ride in neutral. and goign through mud pits, i went through it pretty quick, and then i was like, i wanna test the limits, so sorda just slowly went through it it made it a lttle hardder but it was alot more fun, and i learned a little bit

 

i wouldnt get in the habit of pushing the clutch in/taking it out of gear and riding the brakes down a hill...it's better to leave it in gear and let engine braking control your speed on descents, it is much more controlled, and if you stall, you'll stop there rather than roll at the hill's will.

 

Mud = Bad Its definitely fun, but mud/water really cause problems. It takes a long, long time to get everything clean. I do not like mud.

 

Driving to work causes problems too. Playing on rocks causes problems. Wheeling in general causes problems. Welcome to owning a four wheel drive vehicle.

Hints for mud:

1. GO BUY A TOW ROPE YOU CHEAP BASTARD. :pat: No, seriously a good quality tow rope is a MANDATORY trail tool. In my club you will not even be allowed on an outing if you don't have one. Don't forget front and rear tow points as well or you will find that the ones you pick will cause expensive fixes. The trusty shovel and come-along are good too but it sounds like you got that part down though.

2. Tires. "Allterrain" tires mean that they are good for all types of pavement. There is not even any point in learning the techniques for mud unless you have tires that have a chance in mud. EWAYota, 4Crawler, and tc have done a pretty good job of laying out the basics for you but all the technique in the world will not save you from a 31" Allterrain.

3. Wash your truck immediately after getting off the trail. Yes, I know that it is fun to drive around town and show everyone how dirty you got but trust me it is FAR easier to wash off that mud when it is still wet. If you let it dry it will turn to concrete and is next to impossible to get off. Also the mud will trap moisture against the metal causing it to rust faster.