2015 auto or manual trans?

[SnoKing]

I enjoy the simple pleasure of driving my truck. Not ashamed to say so. Not above admitting that I love the seat of my pants feeling that I get from the power/torque of the Cummins.
Not a huge speed freak. Instead, I love the sure footed torque that my truck puts to the road. I love to pull loads up a hill and and am continuously amazed at diesel power. Probably get that from my Father who was an engineer at Caterpillat (Cat) tractor and was always wearing a "CAT POWER" ball cap.

I actually look for reasons to drive and even to tow. I volunteered to drive 300+ miles to central Florida and back to get some cattle for the Ag school where I work. I hadn't had a chance to try out my gooseneck hitch that I installed last March.

I believe it is healthy for my truck to tow, because the increased exhaust temps, help burn off DPF crud. And I enjoy being part of my truck as I shift it's gears and choose the best gear for it's torque and the the road that I am on.

Both my wife and I are life long manual transmission owners. She drives a stick shift Mazda.

Lets have a parade, and see how your left leg is doing at the end of the day. Is that you riding the trike? You know this whole thread is sillier than a Ford - GM - RAM thread! We know you like your manual transmission, however you are in a very small minority! SNOKING

#ad

 

[gsbrockman]

I actually look for reasons to drive and even to tow. I believe it is healthy for my truck to tow, because the increased exhaust temps, help burn off DPF crud. And I enjoy being part of my truck as I shift it's gears and choose the best gear for it's torque and the the road that I am on.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
#ad

 

[RVTRKN]

I

Lets have a parade, and see how your left leg is doing at the end of the day. Is that you riding the trike? You know this whole thread is sillier than a Ford - GM - RAM thread! We know you like your manual transmission, however you are in a very small minority! SNOKING

#ad

But If the Aisin didn't exsist there would be many more manual fans, the 68rfe is OK at best, but I consider it a giant waist of metal.

 

[SnoKing]

I But If the Aisin didn't exsist there would be many more manual fans, the 68rfe is OK at best, but I consider it a giant waist of metal.

And if the G56 did not exist, people would shell out the extra bucks to get the Aisin! And don't be surprised if the manual goes away. It is sort a like the only 3.42 gears in SRW. They are doing a numbers game, and one can sit at the table, however you are not allowed to play!

SNOKING

 

[Cummins12V98]

I think I was the poster child for the 68RFE. I was towing 29K combined with 3:42's with ZERO problems in 65K. That said I REALLY like my Aisin with 4:10's.

Pic of the fluid after at least 50K with AMZ/OIL Universal ATF.

 

[RustyJC]

No complaints with the 68RFE in my 2011 towing a 19K GVWR 5th wheel. The 2011 replaced a mildly bombed (347/762) 2002 3500 ETH/DEE (Cummins HO/NV5600 for any new guys) that did just fine towing a 16K 5th wheel.

Rusty

 

[NIsaacs]

No complaints with the 68RFE in my 2011 towing a 19K GVWR 5th wheel. The 2011 replaced a mildly bombed (347/762) 2002 3500 ETH/DEE (Cummins HO/NV5600 for any new guys) that did just fine towing a 16K 5th wheel.

Rusty

My son and Brother-in-law both have '12, 3500's with the 68RFE, I drive them as much as they will let me, I really like the 6 spd's. But when I bought all my trucks, manual was the only way to go, I "ain't " tired of them yet!

It's about choices and Ram has the most and the best!

Nick

 

[Newsa]

F

And if the G56 did not exist, people would shell out the extra bucks to get the Aisin! And don't be surprised if the manual goes away. It is sort a like the only 3.42 gears in SRW. They are doing a numbers game, and one can sit at the table, however you are not allowed to play!

SNOKING

Do you really think they will get rid of the G56? That would be the stupidest move ever.
Ford & GM can't charge extra for their automatics. Only Ram can.

 

[Newsa]

And when my wife was looking for a stick shift Mazda, one sales guy told her women don't drive stick shifts. Another guy said, nobody in Miami will wana stick because of the stop and go traffic. Both of those dealerships lost her business.

She got what she wanted. Sounds a little like some of the automatic guys on here.

 

[SnoKing]

F

Do you really think they will get rid of the G56? That would be the stupidest move ever.
Ford & GM can't charge extra for their automatics. Only Ram can.

Ford and GM have one transmission and the cost of it is factored into the base price. Ford's is a good transmission. The Alison 1000 is at it's limit.

Priced a Ford lately?

Chris

 

[Newsa]

Lets have a parade, and see how your left leg is doing at the end of the day. Is that you riding the trike? You know this whole thread is sillier than a Ford - GM - RAM thread! We know you like your manual transmission, however you are in a very small minority! SNOKING

#ad

My wife has limited use of both legs. She was in a car accident 30 yesrs ago and was in a wheel chair for 2 years.
She drives a stick even though she is legally disabled. She is a paraparetic.

Thanks for your concern. My left leg will go many more miles.

 

[Larry Willard]

I had manuals for the first 33 years of pickup ownership and would still have one if there was a decent manual trans in the Rams but when I bought the '08 I had to get the auto. Didn't like the 68RFE so switched to the Aisin in'13. It is way above the 68 but I still miss the stick and wouldn't hesitate for a good manual.

 

[cerberusiam]

I might be the only one confused about why you would cite a stationary application as support for why an automatic should be used on the hwy.

To point out the efficacy of using a fluid coupling drive to transmit power from source to work point. At the end of the day that IS what the discussion is about, optimizing the power transmission. Yes, those OTHER reasons are a big part of how adaptable the current crop of automatic transmissions are, even lacking the 3rd pedal. Who would not want effectively a 9 speed transmission that can optimize engine power to demands, either chosen by the operator or on entirely its own if so desired.

Both the 68RFE and AISIN can be manually shifted in any way you want if you don't like the OE program. With a manual you have 2 usable gears at road speed, with the auto that is 6 effective ratios starting just under 1:1. All it takes is using the SHIFTER and judicious use of the right foot. Boring? Only if you want it to be, otherwise you can drive it for efficiency and efficacy.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Auto! Nothing worse than a clutch Falling to the floor at -40.........and staying there.

 

[RVTRKN]

At 10K GVW, T/H causes it to clunk between gears at times trying to find the correct gear. And just letting it shift in Drive allows it to run at 1000 rpm causing it to ping in whatever gear it choses, with the 3:42 ratio. So now I'm forced to shift it manually from the column which is clumsy at best, to keep it from pinging and maintain a decent MPG. If there was only two choices from the G56 and the 68rfe I would chose the G56.

 

[RustyJC]

At 10K GVW, T/H causes it to clunk between gears at times trying to find the correct gear. And just letting it shift in Drive allows it to run at 1000 rpm causing it to ping in whatever gear it choses, with the 3:42 ratio.

I don't know if it's the new "softer" 68RFE programming on your truck relative to my 2011 or the 4.10 axle ratio, but I don't have either symptom you describe with the 68RFE in our truck when running empty or towing a 19K GVWR 5th wheel.

Oh, and lest anyone think I'm anti-manual, in addition to my previous 2002 3500 with the NV5600 6-speed, many of my cars over the years have been manuals. In fact, my current commuter car and weekend "toy" is a Volvo C30 T5 (turbocharged and intercooled 2.5L inline 5) with Polestar tune and 6-speed manual that's used every morning and evening for the commute to and from work in Houston metro area traffic. For long trips towing our 5th wheel, though, I have to admit that it's nice to stick the truck in "D", turn on the EB and T/H and let the computers take it from there. Another factor is that my wife will drive while towing with the 68RFE while she never wanted to with the NV5600.

Rusty

 

[jkalchik]

My wife has limited use of both legs. She was in a car accident 30 yesrs ago and was in a wheel chair for 2 years.
he drives a stick even though she is legally disabled. She is a paraparetic.

Thanks for your concern. My left leg will go many more miles.

There's a gent out in Colorado that I've gone offroading with (Moab,) a few times. Animal (okay, Brad,) is a Vietnam Vet, and is missing his right arm from the elbow down. I was on a trail run in Kane Creek Canyon, half way up the shelf road, when I walked past his Jeep, & realized he was driving a 5spd. Following him, you couldn't tell he was driving a stick, he's that smooth with the gears.

Me, I'll stick with stick shifts. I've never had a problem in traffic.

 

[GCroyle]

Newsa,

You sure its a good idea to rest your hand on a G56 shifter? Or for that matter any pickup truck or pass car manual transmission. I'm excluding any reference to a commercial heavy truck.

 

[Newsa]

Newsa,

You sure its a good idea to rest your hand on a G56 shifter? Or for that matter any pickup truck or pass car manual transmission. I'm excluding any reference to a commercial heavy truck.

I know that is a bad idea. I (typically) don't do that. I may have had it on for a few seconds because I knew I was going to have to shift again. It puts extra wear on the gears. When I was conscious of it, I moved my hand to my leg. I guess, I was focusing on the traffic and not noticing my hand on the shifter a few times.

 

[Newsa]

Ford and GM have one transmission and the cost of it is factored into the base price. Ford's is a good transmission. The Alison 1000 is at it's limit.

Priced a Ford lately?

Chris

But all companies like to advertise a low cost base model. It is a common marketing tool. Only Ram can do that for HD pickups because of their options