2015 auto or manual trans?

[CMgoFast]

Anyone have a manual trans in their new truck? I have a 2nd gen right now and they were not known for a great autotrans, so I got the manual years ago. Now I see most trucks have the auto's and the HP and TQ rating is higher for the auto's. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have to shift, but the extra HP and TQ sound nice. Is it really that big of a difference? Is the MPG any different? thanks.

 

[Cummins12V98]

The newer autos are great! Very dependable.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I'm still on the fence about the transmission's. I will admit the new auto's are light years ahead of what they used to be.

My lil run around Toyota truck that I bought two years ago, blew the engine this Sat and my old 04 Cummins sold several months back. I've been planning on buying a new Ram but I've procrastinated for so long. I'm in desperate need for a truck now and I'm afraid I'll have to buy an auto because I can't wait any longer.

I'd rather have the manual but I'm almost positive I won't be able to find one in the next few days.

 

[ILIANBG]

Dave Smith has many manual trans trucks in stock. I read they do a lot of business out of state.

I'm still on the fence about the transmission's. I will admit the new auto's are light years ahead of what they used to be.

My lil run around Toyota truck that I bought two years ago, blew the engine this Sat and my old 04 Cummins sold several months back. I've been planning on buying a new Ram but I've procrastinated for so long. I'm in desperate need for a truck now and I'm afraid I'll have to buy an auto because I can't wait any longer.

I'd rather have the manual but I'm almost positive I won't be able to find one in the next few days.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Dave Smith has many manual trans trucks in stock. I read they do a lot of business out of state.

Unfortunately, none of those have the features I want. I missed the one that fit the bill about a week or so ago at DS but I lally gagged and lost it.

 

[jacknife]

The AUTOS ARE LIGHT YEARS AHEAD AND YOU CAN GET THE HIGHER TORQUE MOTOR.

 

[SnoKing]

Get the Aisin and drive it like a manual with the buttons if you want. Not even sure why RAM still offers a manual setup. Double overdrive autos probably get better mileage! It will give you more time to play with the 8.4 dash. You can get the front center console also.

SNOKING

 

[Ozymandias]

even the 68RFE is a nice option if the truck isnt used for permanet heavy hauling.

 

[cerberusiam]

The G56 is really a pathetic excuse for a transmission in these trucks, opting for an auto is by far the better choice. Exactly oppositie of what it used to be but engine management and trans management has come a long way since the 47RE. For a multi-use truck and the ease of driving the auto cannot be beat.

 

[AH64ID]

I much prefer the manual transmissons for how I use my truck, but the manual is not what it needs to be anyore in terms of reliability and power. I would be taking a near 150/350 cut in the power department on a new manual and wouldnt want to modify a new engine with a warranty.

If I bought a truck today it wold be a 3500 SRW Aisin and it would have 4.10's installed in it before I drove it off the lot. I do lots of back road winding hill towing and 1st is low with the Aisin but not low enough with 3.42's.

 

[Tuesdak]

You have absolute control with a manual. Auto trans with paddles are still a "please" and if the computer feels like it and when it feels like it a shift may happen. There is no change gear "NOW!" with a auto. Of course the computer will protect the engine no matter the situation. You may need to use the last life of the engine above the redline on a downhill grade. (You could accidentally do so too.) You may want to start in second and drop the hammer completely to the floor where an auto will shift back into 1st.

Auto's always want to creep and I find a few vehicles always want to keep some engine power on to keep driveline clunk down. Nothing like pressing in the clutch and the engine isn't driving you through a stop sign. I have owned a ride that would take the engine up to 2000 RPM (design defect) if popped out of gear so I really like the clutch for a predictable no engine power stop.

You still have to waste fuel to drive the slushbox pump to lock clutches in.

Auto's keep the turbo spooled up when shifting, shift faster, and most of the time are in the proper gear. You can also easily use a foot on the brake and throttle at the same time with an auto. I can name exceptions of auto's holding OD too long and pushing ECT through the roof towing, but, IMO not a RAM brand issue.

Personally it's a trade off for more control and you will miss the absolute gear control. Are you driving or along for the ride? Yeah it's not a sports car, but, there is fun to be had with a manual. The flip-side is "Why am I changing gears and pumping the clutch?"

 

[NickSullivan]

I have the Aisin and its okay. Its better than my 2012 was with the 68. The 68 takes way too much throttle to get the torque converter to start to lockup and get things rolling. The 68 torque converter also was rarely locked up when I had my camper and boat in tow. I just didn't like it slipping in and out of lockup all the time. The Aisin gets things moving perfectly. However, I often find myself when on country roads while towing heavy that I wish the truck was in a different gear. It will really lug before it downshifts, sometimes. I often wish I had a manual like the NV5600 that was in my 04.

If Ram would upgrade the G56 to something a bit more substantial I would be all over it. Or, maybe the aftermarket will come out with some trans tuning for the Aisin.

 

[AH64ID]

I we could get a 7 speed double OD manual with 4.10's and 385/865 it WOULD sell!!!

I would like to have a 3500 SRW Air Suspension with something about like this.

4.10's
245/70R19.5
1st 6.00
2nd 3.50
3rd 2.10
4th 1.30
5th 1.00
6th 0.85
7th 0.65

It would easily support a GVWR of 14,000 with a RAWR of 9,000. One hell of an OEM SRW truck.

That would make 2200 in 6th be 61 and 65 would only be 2350.. great for towing heavy. A tall 7th would be 2200 at 80, which is just shy of the 81mph speed rating some 19.5's are getting to. Most are 75 which would be 2079rpms.. I'll take it!

The extra low 1st and 4.10's would mean a 3mph idle speed in 1st or 1 mph in 4LO 1st.

The problem is an OEM approved clutch that would be easy to drive with the holding power for 865 lb/ft.

Until it comes out the Aisin is the best answer.

 

[Larry Willard]

I too always had manuals until the G56 replaced the NV5600. I didn't feel the G56 had the gearing I wanted and reluctantly switched to the 68RFE in'08 and then the Aisin in '13. With the transmission choices we currently have I strongly recommend the Aisin, but would buy another manual in the future if a proper manual were made available. I don't see going back to the 68RFE though.
Larry

 

[Newsa]

The double overdrive of the automatics will give slightly better fuel economy if you have the 3.42 ratio. But I love my G56. It's the reason I went with Ram. People have complained about how their exhaust brakes don't work below 30 mph. Mine works down to 5 mph. The auto's claim 200 ft lbs more torque. But with computerized torque management , you will probably never see that 800 ft lbs. Manuals (G56) don't have dead pedal. There are several threads on this forum to read about that. The G56 is used in heavier medium duty trucks. It is good enough for the towing I do.

 

[AH64ID]

The double overdrive of the automatics will give slightly better fuel economy if you have the 3.42 ratio. But I love my G56. It's the reason I went with Ram. People have complained about how their exhaust brakes don't work below 30 mph. Mine works down to 5 mph. The auto's claim 200 ft lbs more torque. But with computerized torque management , you will probably never see that 800 ft lbs. Manuals (G56) don't have dead pedal. There are several threads on this forum to read about that. The G56 is used in heavier medium duty trucks. It is good enough for the towing I do.

One will most certainly see the additional torque. The G56 also utilizes torque management, it's a lower gear thing to keep the drive-train alive. Full engine torque is really only needed in the upper gears as you lose gearing reduction to gain speed.

 

[Newsa]

So you're telling me the Cummins knows what gear the G56 is in?????

 

[AH64ID]

So you're telling me the Cummins knows what gear the G56 is in?????

No the ECM uses speed for manual trans torque management, just like they have for 15 years.

Ever wonder why 12V guys switch to the HPCR world and feel like they are down on power? That is torque management.

 

[Newsa]

No the ECM uses speed for manual trans torque management, just like they have for 15 years.

Ok, makes sense on why it is easier to spin the wheels going uphill on wet roads (with limited slip diff) unloaded when going faster than 20 mph than it is going less than 20 mph on same wet hill in the same truck.

 

[Newsa]

I have noticed ESC kick in and apply brakes when the left and right rear wheels are moving at different speeds after coming out of a turn. Haven't seen it apply the brakes though when the rear wheels are moving faster than the front going in a straight line.