2015 auto or manual trans?

[Newsa]

He could go drive mine home from Colorado! SNOKING

Yeah if you don't mind a detour through Alaska. #iceroadtrucker

 

[Newsa]

No better seat of the pants feeling than shifting into 6th gear coming onto the highway and flooring it to get up to hwy speeds. A downshift would spoil the whole driving experience with my lead foot. I get to use the low end torque that is signature Cummins.

 

[photowrite]

No better seat of the pants feeling than shifting into 6th gear coming onto the highway and flooring it to get up to hwy speeds. A downshift would spoil the whole driving experience with my lead foot. I get to use the low end torque that is signature Cummins.

Agreed. I love a manual transmission in almost every application, but they are even better and more fun in a turbo-diesel, whether my wife's little TDI or a Cummins. Applying fuel, waiting for boost to build, and the rush of torque that builds, all while in the exact gear of my choosing, does not compare to any other driving expirence. Ultimate control.

 

[RVTRKN]

Agreed, but get a cooler for the G56, and change out the ATF to a better oil.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Over the last six months, I've changed my mind about what transmission to get a thousand times. I always go back to the manual in the end.

 

[SnoKing]

I had a similar problem with bed length. I held out for the Aisin and buckets with the full console, then when DW learned that you needed Laramie or higher for dual zone climate the specs were set. Snoking

 

[Bug Out]

If you have a option, go with Aisin. If not for $ reasons, even the 68 RFE is better then shifting gears.I was a manual gear box die hard until they came up with the 2012 3500 dually "MAX TOW" 30k GVWC. Sold my 2005 3500 6 speed dually. I haven't looked back since.(only the payment has me wishing for the 2005).Even with the minor issues I have had, going back to clutch and shifting with the new trannys they have, is almost crazy.

If your a "real" towing/commercial guy, 4:10 with the AISIN transmission is your match. I dont mean to beat down the corporate trans, but its weak compared to the AISIN..Its a damn shame that FCA cant build their own transmission that beats out all the others and does the job.then RAM would be BAD *** and in house to boot!

 

[SnoKing]

They should get Aisin to just up production and make it standard on all 3500's. Snoking

 

[AH64ID]

I am very fond of my 6 speed manual but a new truck would be an automatic for me. The power loss isn't worth the G56, not even close.

 

[Grizzly]

Every truck I've ever owned, which I have ordered new starting with a 1971 F250 Ford, have been manual transmissions. If I were to get a new truck today it would have the Aisin auto for many good reasons; Economy, Performance, Reliability. The G56 manual is not a good manual, IMO. I never thought I'd ever have an auto, but with the new Aisin, the time has come to switch gears.

george

 

[andymac]

I am very fond of my 6 speed manual but a new truck would be an automatic for me. The power loss isn't worth the G56, not even close.

Thats interesting because the power loss of the G56 has never crossed my mind. I just hauled across the state over 33K lbs and never once thought that I needed more power. Just how fast do people have to go and at what level will torque and HP become enough? The truck is only so big and in my case my trailers are constantly rocking back and forth, I really don't need to be breaking any speed barriers (never over 65 with a full load). Put out the feelers for another truck order (x3) and found 15 G56 trucks around the west. They were all sold (except a red one, I don't do red) within the 3 days I was looking. Not too many handshakers out there but those that like em are still buying them. Approaching 100k on my stock clutch and getting a solid 24+ on the freeway now. So glad I get to make the decisions on the power band and not some computer.

 

[Regcabguy]

I am very fond of my 6 speed manual but a new truck would be an automatic for me. The power loss isn't worth the G56, not even close.

Same here.
I got spoiled with my built auto on my DTT and wasn't impressed with the stock '07 slushbox. $4500-$6000 would have remedied the situation but I couldn't see it.
The newer autos seem to be much better and 6 speeds sure spreads out the powerband better.

 

[photowrite]

Thats interesting because the power loss of the G56 has never crossed my mind. I just hauled across the state over 33K lbs and never once thought that I needed more power. Just how fast do people have to go and at what level will torque and HP become enough?

I haul and pull a lot less weight than you but could not agree more. Love choosing my own gears, rpm, when to down or up-shift, and even more importantly...when to hold a gear and lay into the accelerator without a computer forced downshift.

 

[Newsa]

I ...when to hold a gear and lay into the accelerator without a computer forced downshift.

Agreed, Never seen an automatic do this. If you have an automatic, you spend most of your time accelerating when not even at ideal rpm as reported by the torque curve. An automatic will put you at a higher RPM than where these engines like to pull.

 

[RVTRKN]

Love my manuals, but the G56 is adequate at best. Hate to beat a dead horse, but my NV5600 was more than adequate, I'll be changing out my G56 for the NV5600 when I have a few bucks to spare, or it destroys itself. First thing needed when buying a new truck equiped with a G56 is changing out the ATF for a better oil (name your own) and abandon the warranty on it. What good is a warranty if you get past it with a damaged trans from ATF. A cooling system is also needed, because they do run hot. The lower HP wouldn't discourage me because I look at it the opposite way, as it takes more power to run an automatic to get the same ability as a manual. The cooling system I developed for my G56 will easily adapt to the NV5600 when I change it out.

The 68rfe is not up to the CTD power, if allowed to run the full power of the CTD, and is why the Aisin is optioned for the high output CTD. If your going to an auto, go with the Aisin option, it will be worth every penny. My 68rfe bucks from the shifting strategy trying to protect itself, and is confirmed by owners who has owned both the 68rfe and the Aisin. A common comment from owners of both is how smooth the Aisin is over the 68rfe.

 

[CMgoFast]

What I hear from this. The 68rfe will shift when it wants. The G56 isn't up to snuff. The Aisin is the only way to go. I don't need a 3500, and I'd like to have a manual. The only reason I'd pick the auto is the better mileage. Which apparently I will spend the money I save in fuel on a new or rebuilt trans, if I go with the 68rfe. How many of you guys with the 68rfe have 100,000 miles of problem free transmission issues?

 

[kthaxton]

If you have an automatic, you spend most of your time accelerating when not even at ideal rpm as reported by the torque curve.

I don't even know what that means???

An automatic will put you at a higher RPM than where these engines like to pull.

This either. Mine shifts down after it begins to lug....sometimes a little too long after it starts to lug.

 

[Newsa]

I don't even know what that means???



This either. Mine shifts down after it begins to lug....sometimes a little too long after it starts to lug.

When accelerating up a hill from a stop or onto an interstate with a 20,000+ poumd load, i saw a video with the Aisin having shift points at 2600-2800 (above 3rd gear) RPM. That's not peak torque.
That's 1000 RPM above peak torque.
Now my 2500 with G56 maxes out at 16,300 lbs and won't tow that much. But i think a Dually with G56 will?

Maybe I'm wrong. Never driven an Aisin.

 

[CMgoFast]

according to ram.com, the max towing for the 3500 with the manual is 18,500 lbs. Same truck with the auto is 31,200 lbs. BUT, they said the GVW of my '01 was 20,000 lbs, but it would pull a 21,000 lbs trailer all day long. It just didn't want to stop quickly.

 

[Newsa]

according to ram.com, the max towing for the 3500 with the manual is 18,500 lbs. Same truck with the auto is 31,200 lbs. BUT, they said the GVW of my '01 was 20,000 lbs, but it would pull a 21,000 lbs trailer all day long. It just didn't want to stop quickly.

We've all gone over the listed weight. I went over my bed weight (gooseneck) just 6 weeks ago.