Who actually off-roads their 7MT?

[APG12]

It is so much fun off-roading with the 7MT! A good number of the guys I wheel with also have the manual. I do find it interesting that most of the manuals are also 2-door, but that's neither her nor there.

I'm a founding member of Tri-State Broncos and we do some pretty gnarly stuff. The actual founder also has a 2-door 7MT. Another founding member is getting rid of his 4-door auto and buying a 2-door manual.

I promise you'll love it! Also, since you're in NY, check out Tri-State Broncos. We do a good number of trips every year and get enough turnout so we can have multiple groups hitting the trails. Start off with the easier group and then when comfortable, move up to the intermediate/advanced group.

I had already joined the Facebook group so I’ll be following, thanks.

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[Oilbrnr]

I drive mine off-road every time I leave my house. It is a great desert runner, but would I take it on my typical 5+ day outings here in AZ or UT over my 80 Series Land Cruiser or Power Wagon? Um, no. SFA/Auto > IFS/MT off-road (desert racing being an exception with IFS.)

 

[CalvinT]

Crawler gear makes it possible to get out of your Bronco and walk along side it while steering.

I bought an on board storage bad for the driver's side door to protect the door if I had to take it off and lean it against a tree.

Ford's part system said it wouldn't fit. That's because I didn't order all four bags and the onboard storage rack when I bought my Bronco. It fits quite nicely.

The part number is M2DZ-10C744-A for the 4-door and M2DZ-10C744-G for the 2-door.

 

[Quicksilver98]

I have a 26 Badlands 7MT on order and just curious on feedback from those who actually off road with it.

I learned to drive on a manual and many of my daily drivers have been manual over the years. That being said, I have basically no off roading experience with a manual. In all reality, my Bronco will mostly be a pavement princess, with the exception of navigating my treacherous driveway in NY winter storms.

But I’d love to hear some honest feedback and any tips or tricks anyone may have for when I do decide to venture out.

 

[Quicksilver98]

I recently did a few hours of off road fun in Virginia driving my manual transmission. I did not need the crawl gear as it was a lot of mud/rut trails with some rocks on a mountain trail. I was mostly in second gear, and generally coasted over obstacles down hill. I may go back and again and try the Crawl mode on a rock area. I was on stock Dueler HT tires and never lost traction at all in a stock Base 2 DR. I will say the crawl mode is nice if you get into some nasty stuff as the vehicle will not stall and it goes really slow over technical stuff providing brake assist to power the wheels where needed. The short wheelbase made it easy to get around. As far driving manual on trails, I like it. Gives you a little more to do. I just need to remember anything technical the crawl mode can handle and going slow is the best way to protect the vehicle. Having 30" tires makes my off road work really about tire placement as I do not have the height to just power through things like a bigger tire can offer. I am upgrading to AT tires this week, worth it for the trails I go on for side wall protection.

 

[Phil James]

I have a 26 Badlands 7MT on order and just curious on feedback from those who actually off road with it.

I learned to drive on a manual and many of my daily drivers have been manual over the years. That being said, I have basically no off roading experience with a manual. In all reality, my Bronco will mostly be a pavement princess, with the exception of navigating my treacherous driveway in NY winter storms.

But I’d love to hear some honest feedback and any tips or tricks anyone may have for when I do decide to venture out.

Yup. Stock manual BaseSquatch on steep dirt roads summer and winter, sometimes in snow. Rear locker helps. Front locker not so much. Crawler gear is amazing.

 

[nx40yrs]

I have a 26 Badlands 7MT on order and just curious on feedback from those who actually off road with it.

I learned to drive on a manual and many of my daily drivers have been manual over the years. That being said, I have basically no off roading experience with a manual. In all reality, my Bronco will mostly be a pavement princess, with the exception of navigating my treacherous driveway in NY winter storms.

But I’d love to hear some honest feedback and any tips or tricks anyone may have for when I do decide to venture out.

A couple of spots in the SOCAL Desert near Death Valley. I love the manual trans and have been many places with it and never had a problem. Enjoy my friend, Gordon

 

[UncleBrad]

I wonder why the question "Who actually off-roads their 7MT?" was even asked. The vast majority of Bronco Internet content out there excludes the MT in the context off-roading. The OffRoadeo training excludes the MT entirely. Perhaps there is an element of incredulity in the question?

 

[Blksn955.o]

I love the MT in our 21 badlands. I admit I hang out in 4H too often because the simple drop to the C gear is a nice go between going to 4L. 4L is where the crawler gear really turns into a damn mountain goat and just walks or more accurately crawls up things. My only gripe is the 4L crawler becomes very input sensitive regarding the throttle. Its not bad but I do find myself taking a moment to make note to slow myself down and have more finesse.

So far have done the below


MO
Glade Top: (Have not gone on that much down there but they were fun).

Tex Plex at Fox Creek: 2 times mostly around the parameter trail as I was by my self and the 2nd time I broke my drivers side axle (from over extending the lower a-arm putting on the 6100's...F@c% those factory studs on the stockers). Still made it out without both times on my own.

Vandy's: Went with a neighbor a few months ago and a cool laid back place.

Lost Creek: more of a gravel road that runs thru a creek section but super cool in the fall.

CO
Webster pass
Chihuahua Gulch
Radical Hill
check out the Penn mine annually for about 8-9yrs now checking its state
Handcart Gulch
Saints John
Williams Peak
Bill Moore Lake
Red Elephant
Cottonwood Pass

UT
Fins & Things

 

[swimpunk]

23 MT BL 2D in CO
Lots of fun off-road. I use sway bar disconnect all the time off-road. Still figuring out when and where to use Front & Rear lockers but basically turn them on only if I'm slipping, otherwise off. I have noticed if I stall, sometimes I will miss the warning when starting in 4L and it magically goes back to 4H, so watch for that.
Pics this summer from Mosquito Pass and Argentine Pass.

 

[orion]

Almost every weekend.

I wanted a base 7mt sas but was inpatient and got the black diamond with the T-Case upgrade... It's a long ways from stock now...

 

[White Zombie]

I would have to say that the main reason the question was even asked is because most people have absolutely no idea what a manual transmission is or even how to drive with one. Also, they dont even have the desire to know what one is or how want to learn how to drive with one.

The manual transmission is a dying tool. Even in the trucking industry, most new trucks have auto slush boxes in them and even then the drivers are pretty incompetent.

I wonder why the question "Who actually off-roads their 7MT?" was even asked. The vast majority of Bronco Internet content out there excludes the MT in the context off-roading. The OffRoadeo training excludes the MT entirely. Perhaps there is an element of incredulity in the question?

 

[RedBeardoh]

Nothing too exciting yesterday, just a fun run around some forest trails. All the more interesting trails are either on trails

fire or very fire adjacent currently

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