Thoughts on a rental Expedition Vehicle with a manual transmission

[CTDJeeperman]

I was wondering what everyone's thoughts were on renting an expedition vehicle with a manual transmission. The vehicle would be a built 1 ton cummins Ram (4th Gen) with a lot of the standard overland gear, but I'm really just wondering for all types of Expedition Vehicles (Jeeps, Tacomas, Rams, etc...) I've noticed more and more people I meet, have never driven a manual transmission vehicle and/or simply don't have the skill/practice with one to be anywhere near comfortable with one; especially to take it on any off highway adventures.

Would you rent one? Would other friends you travel/explore with?

If not; why not? Can't drive a manual? Not comfortable with it? Rather just be lazy for the auto?

Is a vehicle like this a stupid idea for a rental?

I know the auto vs manual debate goes on forever, but I think with a rental vehicle, especially in this overland type market; a lot of people would appreciate something with more control and they are just fun. But I'm not sure. Thoughts?

Thanks

 

[IdaSHO]

From the owner side of things, the one that is renting such a rig, a manual transmission is an obvious no-no


All it takes is one monkey behind the wheel to burn up a clutch.
And not everyone knows how to drive a manual, so you instantly limiting your ability to rent such a rig.

Auto trans is MUCH more user friendly, harder to do harm to, and is why you would be hard pressed to find ANY full size truck, van, or medium duty (like large U-hauls) with a manual trans.

 

[Regcabguy]

Yeah,the 4th gens share my trans and come with a dual mass flywheel clutch that a novice can burn up pronto.
I've only brought mine into the dealer once since Oct.'06 and I cringe bringing it in for the Takata death airbag recall.I can see the tech riding the clutch.
Luckily with EFI I can hit the switch and set it at stock power in seconds. But then the tech can easily set it to #5.

 

[Ducky's Dad]

I may be old school, but my feeling is that if you don't know how to drive a stick, then you don't know how to drive. Get off the roads and trails and leave them to me. Thank you.

 

[ExplorerTom]

Ever wonder why renting a normal car with a manual is impossible?

And then you want to potentially put that manual transmission vehicle into an environment where the driver will need to be really good with the clutch to avoid burning it up? At least a JK Rubicon has a brake lock that keeps you from rolling back while you engage the clutch.

Driving a 1-ton manual Ram is "fun"? I don't find driving manual trucks to be fun. Sports cars, yes. But not big trucks.

And no, I would never rent any kind of expedition vehicle. Why? Because I want to be familiar with that vehicle (how it drives, how to work on it.....) when I'm somewhere outside of cell phone coverage. Personally yes, I think it's a stupid idea.

 

[rayra]

Premise presupposes there's ANY market for rental 'expedition' vehicles in the first place, much less manuals. As the lessor, I certainly wouldn't want to sink my capital into manual off-road vehicles or off-road vehicles at all. The maintenance / repair costs would devour my profits.

 

[Petrolburner]

I wouldn't want to rent a vehicle to someone that couldn't drive a manual transmission. How sheltered would that person have to be? What other critical life skills would they be missing? All that being said, automatic transmissions are harder to hurt so that's what I'd put in my fleet.

 

[CTDJeeperman]

Thanks for the replies, I pretty much agree with everyone. It's a shame so few vehicles can be found with a manual these days, and even more of a shame that so few people even have that skill anymore. I got to thinking about this question because I've had friends ask to borrow my truck for all types of things and when they find out it's a manual they mostly get scared off. Then I wondered if anything remotely close to an expedition vehicle could be rented and if so could it be had with a manual. I found a few mildly built JK Rubis for rent @ Ouray/Telluride with the 6 spd manual, but that's all I could find. So I guess my first guess at this being a stupid idea was right. That said though, if I was going to fly in somewhere and rent some type of rig I'd prefer a manual, but I don't see that happening.

:smiley_drive:

 

[4x4junkie]

I would rent one if I was in a position of needing a rental (and knew that it was available)... WITH ENOUGH GEARING I feel they offer much more control than an auto, particularly when descending something steep (which the deep 1st on the six-speed behind a Cummins seemed quite adequate in the gearing dept when I drove one).

However I have to agree with the rest here that a manual trans in the wrong hands (especially one behind a Cummins) indeed can quickly lead to broken items, smoked clutches, and other repairs. It's an unfortunate reality for sure, as I prefer a manual myself, not just for the level of control it offers, but for it's long-term reliability too (a good manual trans is not likely to need a rebuild for it's entire life if maintained and driven respectfully, most it might ever need is a clutch, which is almost no further than simply R&R'ing the trans from the engine + cost of a clutch).
But the risk of damage due to driver incompetence seems too great these days to make economic sense as part of a rental fleet.

 

[justcuz]

Most public agencies fleet vehicles are now automatics for a few reasons;
Driver experience, longevity of components and ease of operation.
The decline of manual transmissions have diminished the driver pool of young people capable of driving them.
Clutches in fleet vehicles take a beating, many different driving styles accelerate wear.
Automatics are easy for everyone to drive, and generally deliver less shock load to the driveline.

 

[2025 deleted member]

I've owned a few 1 ton dodges with manuals. No thanks. Maybe a gt3 rs or a z07, but not a 1 ton

 

[86scotty]

I may be old school, but my feeling is that if you don't know how to drive a stick, then you don't know how to drive. Get off the roads and trails and leave them to me. Thank you.

I'm with you Ducky.

A few years ago I rented a 6 speed Jeep in Ouray Colorado and did the Alpine Loop. I was quite surprised they had and rented manuals, and boy was I happy. I drive trucks for a living, big ones with 18 wheels. Now our company is buying automatic tractors. Blasphemy.

I drive an automatic Ford Expedition these days for commuting and my wife long ago traded her manual Honda for a Mom friendly slush box, so I'm not a diehard or anything, but if I'm going exploring or overlanding then I'm going driving and if I'm going driving I'd much rather be driving a manual.