2002 2500 final decision or Please help the undecided

[ulhpilot]

I've thought about it and researched it to death. It's time to walk the walk. I've decided on a 2002 2500 4X4 SLT QC SB (excuse me if I make a mistake with the abbreviations)Patriot blue, grey mist, HD trans case, etc. . . But one thing I still can't decide: HO/6 speed or auto and what gears to go with either combo. I will probably be towing a TT loaded about 7K to 8K lbs. I'm leaning toward the auto, but I could be swayed to the 6 speed ???

Mick



PS Ford was never in the running. Duramax was done in by V-8, alum heads and IFS front end. Like the Allison, though.

PSS This is one great forum!

 

[chuck3]

If that as heavy as your going to tow I would (did) go with the auto. I tow about the same wt and mine does fine. Now then you would need to decide on what rear gears? 4. 10 or 3. 54s, you will get a lot of different opinons here. :-{} . I like the 3. 54s myself but you will need to decide what is best for you. good luck. chuck.

 

[Rcpilotlv]

Go with the six speed Ho..... I had a 99 with the auto and liked it but traded it for what i have now. . No regrets at all and believe it or not it would pull circles around the auto(stock for stock)... Get the 3. 55 rear end and you wont have to shift like a dirt bike either... . Oh heck buy two of them one auto and one standard

 

[LSMITH]

If you buy the auto and want to pull well you will need to upgrade the transmission at about $1500 + installation labor, 8-10 hours worth. It will pull OK as is but the HO/6 speed will run circles around a stock auto and needs nothing to do it, it is great right out of the box. If you don't like shifting and have the extra money an auto can be made really nice. I bought an auto and regret it nearly everytime I drive it, it is just mushy sluggish and wastes a ton of power. Don't get me wrong, the base transmission is an outstanding unit, but in the configuration you get it is horrible behind a diesel. At the earliest opportunity my auto truck is gone and I will get a manual transmission. BTW, I regret getting a shortbed too, when you need a long bed you need it, and the extra 2 feet of truck is not a big deal at all. About 21 feet versus about 23 for the longbed, and the longbed has higher resale and trade value. My honest opinions, hope they help.

 

[Zacman]

auto vs standard

The advantage would go to the std IMO and be the ability to use it for braking. All other things being equal. It would appear to be a bit more flexible in mountainous areas when pulling. Also it would be dependent on just what you would prefer to deal with.



A friend of mine commutes 80+ miles daily in a 4x4 HO/6 speed on a congested freeway and loves it. But I never would, I dont like standards in any freeway or city traffic period. But that is my personal preference. I tired out my left foot years ago rowing a toyota 4x4 to work for 10 years. Now its nice to simply let the auto do it for you.



The best deal would be go drive two trucks one with the Standard and one with the auto. AND drive it in stop and go traffic not just down the highway. Get a feel for what you are in for in both city and highway traffic. On reflection I wished I had driven a six speed just for the experience of it and the cummins. But a standard will never ever again be on my wish list.



As for the autos vs standards durability, some here believe the auto is pretty weak... . my experience with cummins and the auto is limited to my truck alone. But what I will say is my Dad's old 1/2 ton chevy with 283 and powerglide trans pulled a lot of weight a lot of miles on a regular basis. Weight being heavy farm equipment at reasonable speeds and lasted for years without anything going wrong. I guess it would be reasonable to expect my truck to pull 8k AT reasonable speeds with the same type of performance.



David



01. 5 SLT QC SB 4x2 Auto Medium Bronze, 3. 55 LSD Camper/Tow package alloys,tow mirrors, power everything and nicely equiped

 

[klenger]

IMHO, and not a very experienced one at that, if you get the auto, go with the 4. 10's. If you get the 6 speed (my preference), the 3. 54 would be OK as long as you don't tow in the 10,000 lbs catagory in the future. Even then, it depends on how often you tow compared to how often you drive the interstate at 75 MPH empty. Very few members wish they had gotten the auto in stead of the 6 speed.



Note: The long box is only 18" longer than the short box. The total length on the LWB is about 20'6". Just long enought that it won't fit in the new garages in new construction homes.

 

[Fireman Dave]

I'm with Chuck

Mick,



You had to ask! I agree with Chuck, and I have the same set-up. My TT is about 6k or so. It works great for me. If you plan to get into heavy mods, I'd think hard about the stick. I do worry about my transmission, and I have at times thought maybe I should have gone with the 6-speed. But, I really like driving the auto (translation: Lazy). I don't plan on heavy mods - maybe an EZ eventually, so the auto really does serve me well. I take good care of it too (annual fluid/filter change, temp gauge).



If I were going to get into a lot of power enhancements, I'd be looking at an expensive transmission upgrade to counter those enhancements. Although, with a 6-speed, you'd eventually need to go with a different clutch if you were going to push the power. So it may be somewhat of a wash in that regard.



Bottom line, I bought the truck to be reliable and pull my trailer with ease. I figure the more power mods, the more you push that reliability/durability envelope. I don't need it to be a hotrod, so I can live with the stock power - which handles my towing just fine. I also like my 3. 54 since I don't tow all that much. If I were going to get bigger tires or tow a majority of the time, I'd go with the 4. 10. The 3. 54 serves me well. It's all an individual choice depeding on your needs.



Good luck!



Dave

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Get the 6spd. . If you're in traffic (3. 54's) you never shift after 35mph. just lug right along. Loaded is another story. That transmission is bulletproof.



If you go over 300hp bombed you'll need a clutch but so will a 5spd. An auto needs a major rework to handle high hp and ex-brakes.



Stock they rock. bombed properly. . get a southbend clutch. either way get the 6spd. #ad

 

[Ted Constantine]

I am a big fan of the 6 speed (ETH/DEE). I have 4. 10s and think that they are perfect most of the time but crusing unloaded on the highway out here with 75 mph speed limits it is winding a little high. If you are only towing 6k and haul a$$ on the high way go with the 3. 55 but I think most of the time the 4. 10s put you in the engines sweet spot. Plus clutches are cheap in comparison to upgrading an auto.



Ted



PS With 275's and EZ at 303hp at the rear wheels my stock clutch is holding fine.

 

[RKelly]

I have the 5 spd with the 3. 5 rear. Wish I had the 6 speed with the 3. 5 rear.

If you are towing less than 20 - 30% of the time, keep with the 3. 5, if you tow a lot, 4. 1 would be less aggrevating.

my two cents.

Ray

 

[chuck3]

Well Dave, looks like we got outnumbered on this one, help, where's all the auto guys at. :{

 

[Pit Bull]

I got the auto. (see sig). I bought it because I got a great deal. It works great for my application but I have driven several 6 speeds and if I was ordering the truck I would go with the 6 speed and the HO. I agree with the other guys, you need to drive them both in the conditions you will be using the truck. My next one will be a 6 speed.

 

[Fireman Dave]

OLTRAC88 makes a good point - the braking of the manual - as well as exhaust brake capabilities are an attractive feature of the stick.



Yeah, Chuck - I guess we're out here alone! LOL:-laf This is another one of those that has no clear cut answer - just depends on your personal preference. Funny thing, Chuck - when I typed in "I'm with Chuck" in the subject line, a cookie popped up with that same line. You and I must have agreed on another thread before - probably the same question. Hehe:-laf Catch ya on the next one!



Dave

 

[CUMINNTSTRKN]

well i just traded my ho for a auto and i couldn't be happier. my new truck is so much fun to drive. there is nothing like 20psi 4wd launches.

 

[klenger]

There's only one reason to get the 6 speed...

... they don't make a 7 speed.

 

[Briman]

Auto Vs. Manual

I have had one auto ('99) and 5 manuals (94,95,96,98,00). We have a recreation lot that requires a 1500' vertical climb in about 1 mile, gravel road and slow going. I never ever came close to over heating a cummins climbing this hill with a 10,000 lb trailer until I got the auto (99). All the slip in the auto was nothing but a heat generator. I don't mind shifting so the manual is for me. I know there are modifications that can be made to the auto to help out in these circumstances, but without any mods I again climb the hill with no heat issues. I also like the exhaust break installation on the manual without extra mods. I did enjoy driving the auto unloaded and it got great mileage. If you don,t pull a big trailer up and down steep hills get the auto. Best regards, Brian

P. S. I have had a 3. 54 ratio in all of these trucks, if you put the cobs to it and get in the right gear you can still climb a a very steep highway hill with 5 ton behind you at 55-60 without any trouble (like the three sisters on I-80 east of Evanston, Wy. ). My '00 is a six speed non HO and I like the extra gear there in the middle of the mix.

 

[THancock]

I flat love my 6 speeder with 3. 5s. Here in the mountains, when ya need to shift with a big load on, going down to 5th you can still go 65mph with no sweat. When ya gotta shift down with 4. 1s ya gotta reduce speed to not over rev the engine. 3. 5s are perfect for towing IMHO.

 

[WCrovo]

6 speed is my choice. I run at about 18,500 to 19,500 and find the 3. 54's ideal. 65 in 5th if nec. 4th pulls strong if needed. Most of my trucks life is towing. I always felt 4. 10's were for big gas motors. The ETH has a ton of pulling power. My 99 auto needed 4. 10's to work properly. I love my ETH/DEE and I would of liked my 99 more wiith lower gears and or more balls it was enimic(sp).

 

[Boondocker]

decisions

Having had my first Ram diesel for about 2 months now, I'm still pretty new to this, but I can tell you that I'm thrilled with the performance!



I swore off manual trannies a few years ago but always find myself shifting the autos anyway. When I was shopping the truck, at first I had to have 4. 10's because my built-up ZJ is overweight and overgeared with bigger tires. But there is just no comparison. The ETH/DEE has a gear for every occasion and more usable torque than you know what to do with. I'm really glad I "settled" for the 3. 54 ratio. My fuel mileage last tank was the best yet at 18. 9 mpg. Every tank has been better than the last so far, I'd be way happy to make 20 mpg with this big truck. I think that unless you are carrying weight all the time or tow near the max GCVW that 4. 10's aren't necessary with this engine/trans combo.



I definately wanted the SWB because I actually do go 4-wheeling and manuever in parking lots and I prefer the look.



Good luck, you really can't go wrong.

 

[dieseldawg]

I've driven 63,000 this year and love the 6 speed nothin like goin from 65 to 125 straight up the grapevine. I would also go for the long bed just take your first trip to the lumber yard and kick yourself because you can't close the bed with plywood hanging over. also think if you arre going to do any serious mods, and really push it I would stay with the manual.



Put it this way stock, or bombed cryin, or flyin!Oo. Oo.