Stick or Auto

[mjncad]

Dark gray would be my choice. White looks like every other contractor's truck out there.

I forgot to mention the other nice thing about a stick...few people will want to borrow it.

Until 2005, my 58-year old wife was a die hard stick fan, then she switched to an automatic due to a back problem.

I've had my truck for 9-years and in that entire time my wife has never wanted to drive it due to its size and truck tranny. After we bought 35-acres for our future abode, she wanted to try it when we last went out to the property together. She did well with the truck on the back roads; but I could tell she really doesn't like driving it.

 

[Renze]

I have seen way too many burnt clutches on the ramp.

Burnt clutches is what you get when letting the clutch do the work of the reduction gear.. !!

with a 2 speed reduction, as used on most 4x4's this doest have to happen. Some people might need to have a closer look at the operators manual

People shouldn't be using SUV's for serious hauling anyways.


In Europe, an auto transmission was something for old people and unmarried school teachers. When 90% of 1960 to 1990 USA cars had auto transmissions, in Europe it was the other way around: 90% of the 1960 to 1990 cars had a manual transmission.

The 2006 Mercedes Sprinter van, standard comes with auto transmission. With the modern auto transmissions, with greatly reduced friction, and converter lockups, they are getting closer to the fuel consumption of a manual transmission. especially in city traffic, an auto transmission can even -save- fuel because when the driver gets fatigued, he doesnt shift at the correct time anymore, and drives up fuel consumption by rev-ing the engine higher than necessary, rather than to shift to lower rpm where the engine is more efficient.

In the long haul, with a skilled driver, a manual transmission is still more efficient because an auto has more power loss.

I was under the impression that it is hard on the syncro's (or something) to shift without using the clutch?

Thats my thought too. I find it harder to shift without clutching on a synchro transmission, than on a non synchro tractor transmission. In a Zetor Crystal, you could just feel it on the stick when it was time to shift, without ever hearing a gear grind. (too bad most of these disappeared from western European fields, because people from the Eastern states offered more money for them than most models of western tractor makes )

 

[the_sandman_454]

The dealer I went to today is in a larger amount of traffic and the auto was much easier to handle, it also is very smooth, it has been beefed up for the 6.7 cummins, with it you just watched the traffic and did'nt have to worry about watching what gear your in or watching the tach.

You don't have to watch the shifter or the tach, if you've driven it a few miles. At least I've never had to do that. Just listen to it and feel it, it'll tell you when it wants to shift without ever having to look at either item, and you should eventually get to where you can simply put a hand on the shifter and tell what gear it's in by shifter position.

I recommend the stick if you can operate one. In fact I special ordered my '05 because I couldn't find a 4 door long bed with 4wd and a manual transmission.

I can't speak to how the new manual (G56 I believe) holds up. The NV5600 in the slightly older ones seems to hold up ok.

With regard to shifting without the clutch, I'd much rather replace the clutch than have to get the transmission torn apart and rebuilt when the synchros wear out or whatever.

 

[Ryan03]

You don't have to watch the shifter or the tach, if you've driven it a few miles. At least I've never had to do that. Just listen to it and feel it, it'll tell you when it wants to shift without ever having to look at either item, and you should eventually get to where you can simply put a hand on the shifter and tell what gear it's in by shifter position.

I recommend the stick if you can operate one. In fact I special ordered my '05 because I couldn't find a 4 door long bed with 4wd and a manual transmission.

I can't speak to how the new manual (G56 I believe) holds up. The NV5600 in the slightly older ones seems to hold up ok.

[With regard to shifting without the clutch, I'd much rather replace the clutch than have to get the transmission torn apart and rebuilt when the synchros wear out or whatever.]

The only way you will break a synchro practicing clutchless shifting is if you are trying to shift beyond your skill level, {dont know what you are doing}. If done correctly, most light truck transmissions can be shifted with only very light pressure exerted from the pointing and middle finger, with no grinds, or jerks. Doing this correctly takes just the right balance of road speed, throttle input, and timing with your shift. If done correctly, this will result in a smoother shift than using the clutch. The exception, at least for me, is when trying to accelerate very quickly and fly through the gears, I then use the clutch on a little truck. As far as road tractors being non synchroed, most Eaton Fuller road rangers that I am familiar with are synchroed in all forward ranges, and still the preferred way by most professional drivers to shift them is clutchless.

 

[RobertN]

I wish I had a stick. My '01 Ram2500CTD has an auto; it has been flawless so far, and has towed many heavy laods. I got it after my wife had knee surgery(she drives it fequently). One, she drives sticks fine since then. Two, she could've then.

I like to drive manuals. We just got a used PT Cruiser with the turbo and 5 speed. Tons of fun to drive I drive a fire department water tender now and then. Detroit V8 with a 10 speed . TONS of fun to drive!

Too bad I can't fit(or afford...) that 10 speed behind my Cummins. I like the torque curve on the Cummins a lot more than that Detroit...

If I got another truck, it'd be stick shift!

And, off road... stick for sure. I grew up in and around Jeep's with sticks. Only way to go off road...

If it were'nt for the cost, I'd swap wy truck to a manual.

 

[Charlie175]

I'm still trying to figure out how to shift without the clutch....I guess I need to research it.

 

[Foothill Rancher]

When your acclerating and you let of the gas it will come out of gear and you can feel it into the next gear, it just kind of sucks it in, use to do it years ago but not sure I could feel my way around with these new trans.

 

[unreconstructed]

My wife, daughter, and son all drive sticks as do I. My wife bought a Toyota Highlander a while back and although she likes the car, she still complains about not having a stick.

Never burned up a clutch in my life (knock on wood-there's always a first time).

Had on old '56 Mack gasser mixer truck. That thing was unforgiving. Duplex if I remember right.

Stick for me. I think its just a personal preference deal.

 

[QRTRHRS]

The only way you will break a synchro practicing clutchless shifting is if you are trying to shift beyond your skill level, {dont know what you are doing}. If done correctly, most light truck transmissions can be shifted with only very light pressure exerted from the pointing and middle finger, with no grinds, or jerks. Doing this correctly takes just the right balance of road speed, throttle input, and timing with your shift. If done correctly, this will result in a smoother shift than using the clutch. The exception, at least for me, is when trying to accelerate very quickly and fly through the gears, I then use the clutch on a little truck. As far as road tractors being non synchroed, most Eaton Fuller road rangers that I am familiar with are synchroed in all forward ranges, and still the preferred way by most professional drivers to shift them is clutchless.

Having more than just a few miles under my belt with RR's and more, I can shift my Dodge just fine without using the clutch.

I used to follow the Ram boards alot but I do not anymore so I cannot recall any particulars. I was hoping that someone more versed would chime in here. Meanwhile, when I am driving my Dodge, I will use my clutch and when I am driving a RR, once I get moving, I won't.

 

[schmism]

any transmission with a torque converter to burn up = not the truck for me.

i dont care how many gears it has, or how fancy the electronic control bs is on it.

manual transmission= clutch slips so bad it doesnt move.

auto = torque converter blew up, electronic control BS crapped out, valve body solenoids died, friction discs burnt up, oil cooler hose blew spewing all the automatic trans fluid all over and now doesn't move, i could go on....