5spd or 6spd

[LEdwards]

I have a chance to purchase either a 5spd standard 24v with a 3. 55 rear end, or a 6spd HO with a 4. 10. Could I have some opinions as to which is better as far as milage, ride, and towing 8-10,000 lbs?- thanks

 

[Okie-Go]

You're gonna get a lot of opinions on this one. I have the 6spd but with 3. 55 gears. Of the two you mentioned I would go for the HO with the 6spd and 4. 10's From best I remember there isen't a considerable difference in the fuel mileage. A lot of it would be how often do you tow. With the ho and the 4. 10 you will have absolutely no trouble with the weight you are talking about.

 

[5thram]

The six speed is much better for heavy towing. In the five speed there's so much difference in the ratios of 3rd and 4th that it makes climbing long steep hills while towing difficult. You'll be wise to spend the bucks on the six speed. My . 02

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I agree with the above, for stock engines. If you plan on adding power, the 5 speed version has much more potential, and its lower compression helps. The ETH's have a lot of head gasket problems when power is turned up a lot.



The 5 speed clutch is fairly good, and readily upgraded if you add power. The stock 6 speed clutch pretty much guarantees you will get an aftermarket one soon. South Bend does make a good upgrade based on that clutch.

 

[klenger]

I've had both combinations that you are looking at. For towing, the 6 speed 4. 10's wins hands down. I tow a 10,000 lb 5er in the mountains of Colorado, and the 6 speed is great. Question is, how often do you plan to tow?

 

[LEdwards]

I will be towing on a regular basis (30+ weekends a year in combination with work)- love my Dodge 1500, but need something bigger and dont really care for auto. Probably will leave stock for a little while.

 

[klenger]

"30+ weekends a year + towing for work"... Get the 6 speed / 4. 10's. No brainer IMHO.

 

[otis]

Get the six speed, I regret not getting one

 

[LSMITH]

Originally posted by otis

Get the six speed, I regret not getting one

Me too!!!!!:{

 

[Barry]

Another angle: Resale: The ETH/DEE combo carries it's value better than the ETC/5spd.

 

[Rockcrawler]

Toss up

I've run both, the six speed grossing 23k, the five speed around 19k. The only time the five speed is a nuisance is in the 30-40 mph range IF you're maxed out and wanting to shift up while pulling a big hill- my opinion. I seldom run into this and when I do it's still not that bad.



The six speed is sweet and had they not been a six+ month wait at the time I would own one.



Where I live and drive traffic moves 75-83 and that would get real old with 4. 10's. Now, with 3. 55's, I'm often thinking about upshifting one more time to that next gear I wish I had. If you haul in a more congested area where traffic moves considerably slower then the 4. 10's would be fine



My perfect world would be a six speed 3. 55 combo. Good luck!

 

[DCrabbs]

I had a 95 with the 5 spd and 3:55's and now a 01. 5 with a 6 spd and 3:55's. IMO get the 6 spd. Both are identically geared in 1st and 2nd and 4th and 5th in the 5 spd is the same as 5th and 6th in the 6 spd. The additional gear in the 6 speed is added in the middle and makes for a more progressive application of power.



My experience with the 5 spd , both towing at low speeds/in traffic and crawling slowly around the mountains hunting, found me doing a lot of un-necessary shifting trying to find a comfortable gear. The extra gear in the 6 spd has eliminated that.



My normal shift pattern empty is 2nd to 3rd to 5th to 6th on level roads or 3rd to 5th to 6th if I have a little down grade.



You will get a lot of opinion about 3:55's vs 4:10's. My advice, get the 3:55's unless you are going to tow all/most of the time. I towed my 5er (about 15,000 #'s) almost 10,000 miles last year from the western mountains to the east coast and never felt the necessity for the 4:10 gearing. On a few steep 7 % plus grades I needed to shift into direct, but from Cheyenne, WY east I never had to shift out of 6th on the interstates. You won't see much milaeage difference between the two gear ratios (according to reports). My experience in two 1000 mile tests (about 90% of it towing) averaged 13. 8 and 13. 9 mpg. Driving empty at freeway speeds you will enjoy the lower engine rpm's )noise) with the 3:55's.

 

[Todd T]

I would agree with Joe on the aspect of turning it up.



the only thing i would like to make sure is said/heard (typed and read ) by you is this;



if you do alot of interstate driving at speeds above those posted. you will hate that 4. 10 rearend. out on the interstate at 75MPH for few hours is murder for the truck and your ears wont be thanking you.



i run 75 at 2100RPM's with my 3. 55's and it is anoying. try 2500 with 4. 10's youll be reaching for another gear, that isnt there.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I personally prefer the 5sp over the 6. I've droven a number of 6 speeds and have had a hard time finding 3rd gear. When I first bought my truck I thought I should have held out for the 6 because of the gap between 3rd and 4th. As soon as I turned the truck up (with an original powermax at that time, 275hp) I no longer noticed that gap between 3rd and 4th. Now I'm glad I got the 5 sp. As to 4. 10's or 3. 55's as said above if you plan on doing much freeway driving at 70 mph+ the 4. 10's will drive you nuts. I HATE the 4. 10's in my truck - sure wish I had 3. 55's. I often find myself at 2800-3000 rpm in 5th gear on the freeway.