Manual or Automatic?

I have a buddy with a 94 dodge auto. Bone stock, and doesnt tow all that much. But, he has 270,000 miles on the original tranny. True story. burnout

 

IF you weren't running the VA box you probably would have gotten 1-40K more out of it, if I had to bet.

 

Manual with a South Bend Clutch Con OFE....Just dont like an auto for towing.

Rick

 

Nah, I have tender feet . 4wheeling did more wear on it since there was no lock up at slow mph. Thats where I always saw the highest temps.

 

Tender feet doesn't do a lot from what I know. The low end quick torque is what tears them up, not higher RPM horsepower. The harder you push the throttle the more line pressure that will be applied to the lockup clutch and clutch packs, little throttle and the line pressure drops, making it harder for the clutches to hold.

I have heard that the trans stands better off with a moderate foot that keeps the line pressure up, even though the motor is making more power. Vs. little throttle and lower line pressure. Keep in mind, this is just information that I have read from different threads about this exact issue, so it's "grain of salt" thing.

 

Well first the VA is the easiest on stock trans. In early 01 I did the same as you and read about everything I could on power enhancements. I talked to a lot of guys that had these trucks to try and make my "best" decision. The VA was rated best for towing (at the time) for a stock trans. As I stated before, the transmission wasn't gone. When it was pulled for core exchange everything looked good and could have gone a lot more miles. I changed it out at 90K+ because I wanted a trans that locked up in 1,2, 3, and OD. Towing in mountains where the roads don't allow you to keep up RPMs while climbing steep grades, other than 2nd where there is no lockup, caused temps to climb. That was also true of me using it in 4wheel. Also towing in OD isn't recommended either, and there are times that I wanted to do this. I now have a trans that I control the lockup and can get it to lockup at 12 MPH. It also stays locked up. I can now also run an exhaust break. Something else I couldn't do with the stock. You are correct on line pressure. Thats why I couldn't get lock up in some of the above examples. This would have occurred however without the VA also.

 

OK, sounds like you've read some of the same stuff then. I would agree on the lockup. I also have a modified 47RE with the works but no controller to manage lockup.

 

Were you shifting first through sixth or what? You can skip 1st all together on a stock truck and I shift 2nd, 4th, then 5th and thats it. If you start out in first then yeah I can see the 20 second thing...

 

Did it both ways, faster skipping a few gears of course but still wasn't a close ratio manual or anything. I would have gotten the manual if I towed more than 7,000 pounds which isn't anything for one of these trucks.

 

depends on the truck. Chevy has the good allison and ford has torqshift but dodge i would get the standard.

 

in the pickups i lie an auto. simple, easy, and you have the TC workign for you to always have power.
if the truck is big enough to have a 9 speed or larger i prefer the stick over the auto. i just dont think the 5 or 6 speeds have enough gear to fit the way i like to drive. my opinion.

 

I've always been a fan of the Manual, we tow 5-15K regularly though.
If you don't like "rowing" a dodge 5600, get the BD short throw kit. I think I'm gonna.

 

I prefer (and voted) manual but ended up with an auto in my '05. It seems like early 05's had the NV5600 but the later ones got the G56. If it had been an NV5600, I would have bought it, but since it was the G56, I went auto.

I test drove both, and loved the 6 spd... until I got it out on the interstate and saw it spun 2300rpms at 70mph vs 2000 with the 48RE (0.79:1 O/D ratio vs. 0.72:1). I've heard nothing but good about the 48RE and couldn't justify 10% more revs at highway speed.

 

I think the 48re is a plenty stout and strong tranny, I just dont like thier shift points. On Dodge I prefer the manual, on GM and Ford I think auto.

 

48re is pretty good until you start bombing the truck with anything that adds more than 60 hp or so. Then the engine just overwhelms the TC, and you will be shoppin for a new one quick.

 

Ive got a dodge with the manual and it wears on me around town, but when i hook up the toyhauler thats when i remember why i went with the manual...

 

I voted Manual because I have a slight preference for them. But a lot of it depends on what I am doing. Prefer Manuals in my sports car, motorcycle and in an offroad rig (which I currently don't have). Currently I have an automatic in my pickup because I got tired of rolling backwards down steep hills while trying to get the truck/trailer rolling forward. Always afraid I would run someone over. Nowadays with the new computerized Manuals I would seriously think about one in my next tow rig.

 

Go with an manual

 

I have more time than money. clutch is cheaper than auto rebuild . I think I can shift plenty fast enough for what I do with the rig. I enjoy the feel of being in control . Take off in 3rd when not on hill ( I have 410's ) then 4 and 6 . Loaded you can go through the box. Only question is are you loaded with money? and are you too lazy to shift?

 

for some its not a question if your to lazy but if you have someone other than yourself driving the truck for example my wife who cant and wont learn to drive a manual or if you live in really hilly country that having a manula would be a draw back in like rolling back.With Fords TorqShift you can go for a manual shift when you click Tow/Haul and if I remember right you can do the same with the Allison.Right now the autos are keeping up with the manuals not the same twenty or thirty years ago but the big three have had to improve the quality of there autos and now the amount of gears Chevy and now Dodge have six speeds and Ford a five with spilters you could go to twelve or ten speed auto that companys like Gear Vendors are putting out.Thats alone I think will equal better fuel economy and longer tranny life and yeah clutchs are cheaper to replace but what about the gears in a manual they can easily run as much as a rebuilt auto.Yes I miss my manual like crazy but in traffic the auto is much better which I now deal withto and from work.