6 speed or auto

[vaicase]

is the auto better than the 6 speed i drove both and i feel that the 6 speed really bring out the power of the cummins does any one know which is more reliable i love the stick but i heard the gears are prone to problems i will tow about 10000 maybe 10 percent of the time i have an auto now and i dont like it i want to buy a new one 04 or 04. 5 thanks

 

[JHardwick]

a stick is a simple gear box and doesn't eat up as much power ... ... ... ... this is another personal preference issue to be honest.

 

[jimnance]

I like auto's. They make great dual purpose units. Nothing worse than being in L. A. traffic in a stick.



However, my new rig is 22,000 GCVW and this is beyond the point I would feel comfortable with the durability of the 48RE. If I were pulling 10K and only doing it 10% of the time I'd say you could go either way.

 

[DocDetonancour]

I much prefer the auto for "fun and convient to drive". With hard use the 6 will prevail, IMO. Doc

 

[lil red cummins]

if you are gonna do stop and go driving in traffic, the auto is the way to go. if you are planning any bombing or just enjoy a little more control of your truck, stick is it. if you plan on snow plowing, auto is less tiring. i went the stick route because the trans is relatively bullet proof and it makes it a real truck. plus, very few people i know can drive a stick, so they wont be asking to borrow it!

jim

 

[Mad Bomber]

IMHO just (STICK) it. I love my 6speeder. If you were going to bomb it the clutch is VERY cheap in comperison to the auto. My clutch was 750. 00 and a auto can be from 3 to 5k if you get all the bells done.

 

[RichMorris]

6 spd or auto

The answer is very dependent on your driving requirements. The previous post answers are all correct. I have had a 47RE, 5600 stick and now a 48RE. My wife uses the truck regularly and I usually do the driving when towing or hauling heavy loads. She prefers the auto for daily use in the city. For towing (13K fiver) I like the stick. The 48RE was a compromise since it was supposed to be compatable with an exhaust brake Another thing I don't like about it is the lockup at 47 mph. Imagine the heat buildup when towing a heavy load in city trafic at 25-35 mph. The 04. 5 48RE is supposed to take care of the exhaust brake compatibility problem and the lockup issues. I am considering trading my 03 for the 04. 5 and making it last until retirement. The best answer would have been for DC to put an Allison 2000 or 3000 series transmission in these trucks from the begining. Good luck with your choice. Rich

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I agree with all the above - but don't fall into the trap a lot of guys do, and associate the NV-5600 6-speed with one in a sports car - the 5600 is a REAL, heavy duty TRUCK transmission - very durable - but NOT the thing for drag racing! For towing something like you mention, it will be a superior choice - but if the OTHER 90% of your driving involves much travel in heavy, stop-and-go traffic, all bets are off!

 

[racebeeper68]

IMHO the 6 is the only way to go, The small percentage of time you are in traffic is no big deal for me.

After you learn to drive the 6-speed for a few weeks an learn to anticipate lights, traffic etc. You don't even realize you are shifting . I had a 5-speed in the 96' I had an didn't think twice about ordering my new truck with the 6-speed .

The occasional spiret'ed driving with the stick is awesome!

 

[jimnance]

Right, the six speed is 350 lbs. That's right! This is a serious transmission for serious work.

 

[MMotschman]

I just got a 6 speed after havig an auto for 6 years. i absolutely love it even after sittign in traffic for an hour. The only thing I can say to keep in mind is that you need to get into 5th gear to get u over 60 so it takes awhile to go thru the gears which can be annoying at first but you quickly get used toi. I highly reccoment the six. plus I like being able to keep the cummins in the powerband better

 

[Task125]

Had a 96 auto,then 98. 5 auto,now 03 6 speed,Once you drive it for a month you don't relize your shifting,feels natural. makes it feel like a truck. and you can get exhaust brake and is still under warr. I just don't trust the auto to stay together.

 

[Dean Upson]

The six speed is a joy to drive. Much better than the 5 speed. The shift from 4th to 5th and then to 6th takes a little getting used to, but it is a quick learn.



Dean

 

[Glen]

REAL trucks have standard transmissions! My 6-speed was a little stiff at first but I wouldn't have a truck with an auto.

 

[RankRam]

6-speed Oo.

 

[CajunDieselMan]

I had an auto with my 2000 RAM 2500, now I have a 6-speed on my 2004 3500. When towing I found I couldn't control the engine with the auto. The stick is more fun to drive IMO. If you get a 4. 10 rear end, you'll find 6th is the only gear you can use above 50 mph though but I needed more towing capacity. A 6-speed with a 3. 73 axle will give you more range in each gear.

 

[Boonieman]

I had an auto 47RE and loved it... .



I now have the 6 speed and I love it too! The main thing was that both of them were hooked to a Cummins. I towed 9000# fairly often with the auto and never had a minute of problem. I just happen to have a personal prefence for the 6 speed because I have this feeling that it will be more reliable for the long haul, normally less maintenance, and I *really* like how the truck handles in the snow with the stick. I will say there are situations that I miss the automatic, (like after knee surgery) and when I had the automatic I missed having a stick. I'd say whichever you go with you're gonna be getting a good truck.

 

[Belchos]

Nothing better than right hand on the wheel, left arm on the window sill, going through town listening to the stereo. If I wanted to feel macho I would drive my tractor through town, shifting all the way.

 

[krs]

I use sticks because they give me much more control over how power is applied.

I load a camper on a sloped driveway, for example, and it's difficult with an auto because of having to wait those little times for a gear to engage and having to rev the motor to shove the truck under the box. With the sticks I can finesse the job, moving just a little when I need to. Same with moving trailers around.



By the way, the 6 speed in these Dodges is NOT a difficult or slow transmission as truck trannys go - compared to some it's like butter and as easy to use as an auto. Built for sissies.

 

[EMD-Run8]

6-spd all the way! I just switched mine to 5w-30 Amsoil and yeahhhhhhhh!!!!! What a difference! Now almost all the notchiness is gone, shifting effort is about half what it was and the GRRROWWWWLLLL is now just a growl (but still enough to be pleasing heh-heh). The '89 S-10 5-spd I just got rid of had about twice as stiff a clutch as this truck does. Drive the 6-spd before you buy-------you'll be pleasantly surprised!