Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 6 speed VS 5 speed

[NTIMADTR]

Hello all i am buying a new truck and I was wondering what transmission will give me better milage the six speed or the five speed. I was also wondering what gear ratio would complement each transmission the best. I wont be hauling anything real heavy, not that the 5. 9 cant HAUL. i am basicly looking for good gas milage and good power. It will be a 4x4 quad cab short bed 5. 9. can i still get the H. O option in 2002? sorry for all the questions. I apreciate all your answeres and thanks in advance.

Oo.

 

[TPCDrafting]

When I'm running around without loads or even light loads like a 2-horse trailer (6-7k) the 5 speed I have works great. But when I have something heavier on like a 5 horse gooseneck (10-12k) I would prefer to have closer gears (6 speed) when climbing/descending. Just my haypenny.

 

[jcbrown]

Which transmission???

5 speed transmission is designed for use with Gasoline engine. 6 speed transmission is designed for use with Diesel engine. Ever seen a 6 speed transmission offered as an option for a Gasoline engine?

 

[Koa Man]

Re: Which transmission???

Originally posted by jcbrown

Ever seen a 6 speed transmission offered as an option for a Gasoline engine?

Yes, my friend's BMW 540i is a 6 spd. Just kidding with ya, I know what you meant.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

When i was looking at trucks out of 3 dealerships in town i only found 2 with 5 speeds one was a sport model and the other was an ST truck. I think you will find most trucks with the 5 speed are the lesser optioned trucks. I kinda wanted to save money and get the 5 speed but didnt want a sport. so I ended up getting the ETH. which i am happy with except for the steering the 6 speed is the best shifting truck trans i have driven and for pulling loads it does really well, although i think a 5 speed with and EZ would be a good set up too. I could definatly tell the difference in power between the ETC and ETH motors. see my tread about current 2002 prices for how to get the best price from the dealer

 

[jsnyder]

My only regret with my Dodge is that I got a 5 speed instead of looking around for the 6 speed. However, I tow a lot (8-12k lbs). For just cruising empty or pulling snowmobiles and such I don't think you would be unhappy with the 5 speed.



Jason

 

[jcbrown]

Shift Points...

I found that when driving a CTD with a 5 speed transmission you would drop out of the power band when shifting from second to third gear (i. e. lugging the engine). The 6 speed transmission is situated to keep you within the power band of the CTD.

 

[klenger]

Get the 6 speed. I got a 5 speed, and traded it 6 months later for a 6 speed. Cost me some $$, but I'm glad I did it. Even empty, the 6 speed has better gear spacing. Milage will be about the same as direct drive gear (4th or 5th) and OD (5th or 6th) are about the same ratios. The 6 speed is about 180 lbs heavier, but that isn't all that much compared to the total weight of the truck.



If you do not plan on towing heavy, get the 3. 54's.

 

[Rob Thomas]

Ditto on the 6-speed and 3. 55 gears, I have them and love 'em.

Good luck with the new truck!



Later, Rob

 

[MGardiner]

I was faced with the same decision last year. I chose to go with the 5 spd (3. 55s) and take the difference in cost and buy the Edge Comp box, 275 injectors, K&N filter, and a nice set of gauges.



Pulling is not an issue anywhere in any gear with the mods. I do a lot of pulling in the mountains (rockies) and it's great. I can pretty much leave it in any gear I want. It's just a matter of how fast and/or safe I want to be pulling. I really enjoy the expressions pulling the load blowing by some of the other brands



Stock may be an issue depending on how much you pull and you will like the extra gear the 6 spd gives you.



I love the power and it's very addictive Either way you'll be happy. I originally had the automatic but wasn't satisfied with it.

 

[clem]

Originally posted by NTIMADTR

Hello all i am buying a new truck and I was wondering what transmission will give me better milage the six speed or the five speed. I was also wondering what gear ratio would complement each transmission the best. I wont be hauling anything real heavy, not that the 5. 9 cant HAUL. i am basicly looking for good gas milage and good power. It will be a 4x4 quad cab short bed 5. 9. can i still get the H. O option in 2002? sorry for all the questions. I apreciate all your answeres and thanks in advance.

Oo.

No matter what transmission you get don't get the 3:54 rear end the 24 valve loves to run about 2000 rpm with a 4:10 ratio the eng turns about 2200 with 225x16 tires. A 2500 with tall tires will make even less Eng revs. You will get great fuel MPG ,but you won't have any power to pull small hills in 5th or 6th gear

 

[TomGolden]

Actually, the gear ratio of 6th gear in the 6 spd transmission is identical (or it's supposed to be) to the ratio of 5th gear in the 5 spd transmission. The middle gears are just closer together in the 6 spd is the only difference.



My personal opinion: more gears == more 's



I'd love to have an 8 speed box for my truck if there was such an option. Oo.



Tom

 

[tarussell]

My vote is for the Six Speed... ... The gear ratios are perfect for the powerband of the motor. Besides you are buying a heavy-duty truck,mine as well get the best parts that are offered.



Good luck with what ever you get..... Thomas

 

[raiste]

The ratios are very close for the 6-speed and 5-speed top gears. 5th in the 5-speed is 0. 75. 6th in the 6-speed is 0. 73.



Also 1st is slightly different as well. 1st in the 5-speed is 5. 61. 1st in the 6-speed is 5. 63.

 

[WadePatton]

Originally posted by TomGolden

...

My personal opinion: more gears == more 's

I'd love to have an 8 speed box for my truck if there was such an option. Oo.

Tom

Yeah, thas the ticket-8 speeds!

I'm always reaching for 7th.



And with 265 tires and a 3. 54 I'm plenty happy pulling hills. (Will be much more happier with the comp/275's installed. )



I would only recommend the 4. 10 for daily heavy hauling or mountain climbing or non-highway use.



A 3. 54 ratio and a fueling mod should be much more fun than a 4. 10 and no mod. And a SIXER!

 

[Oxjockey]

With the 6 spd and the 3. 54s @ 70MPH I'm right at 2000 RPMs. The motor seems to like it, and going up to 80 makes it less happy. I'm fairly happy with the 3. 54s, and I even find myself looking for another gear.



Bryan

 

[Koa Man]

They should have a 9 spd. stick option. Even if it was $4K more I bet a lot of guys will order it. Would end up about the same cost wise as getting an aux. over/under trans.

 

[John Berger]

I'd go with the 5 speed, and while the six speed has it beat with the tighter gear ratios, the 5 speed tows heavy loads just fine and it holds up to BOMB's very well, an exception being the stock clutch. If you are gonna BOMB, you probably want to plan on getting a new clutch. If there would have been a six speed available in early 1999, I would have considered it, but I am not even interested in trading in my truck for a six speed. I think you will be happy whichever way you choose. If you tow heavy, I'd get the 4:10 rear. Food for thought: If you do a lot of city driving, having the six speed means more shifting, from what I have heard. Good luck with your purchase.

 

[Jetson]

I think the 6 speeds are slower in the quarter if that is important to you. Some people try to skip a gear to save time though. It is true that with the extra power from bombing you don't really need the extra gears, unless you are maxing out the towing capacity of the truck. The gears don't last very long when you floor it. I also don't understand the 4:10 gear argument. I run empty most of the time, around 70-78 mph. My tach is 2100-2400. 2100 is the best rpm for fuel economy. With 4:10 gears, I would be way above that. I also tow an 11,000 lb. 5th wheel. At 70 mph, I am right at 2100 rpm. For hills or passing, I can drop to 4th and have all the power I need. I'm running about 350 hp as that is all my stock clutch can handle. I could turn up the Edge box with a better clutch. I could see that if you need to tow 14,000 lbs or more the 6 speed would be nice.

 

[KMeek]

I just want to make two points. First, in my opinion the 5 speed is not a gasoline transmission. I had it in my 98 Dodge with a V-10 and 3. 55 rear end. I could pull my 5th wheel at about 65 at 4500 rpms in 3rd gear. Fourth gear was too tall to pull the 5th wheel up a long steep pull and 3rd was too high of an rpm to my liking. The 5 speed transmission works better in the Cummins application with the 3. 55 rear end then it does in the V-10 3. 55 rear end configuration.



Second, in my opinion the 5 speed works great. I just got back from a 2,000 mile vacation pulling a 9 1/2' tall 26' long 5th wheel with a combined total weight of truck and 5th wheel of 14,100 pounds. My mileage averaged 12. 78 mpg at interstate speeds of 65 mph. I crossed several Mountain passes betweeen Montana and Western Washington and NEVER had any problem maintaining a speed of 65 mph. Yes there is a gap between 3rd gear and 4th gear. But, 4th gear and 5th gear in the 5 speed are almost exactly the same as 5th gear and 6th gear in the 6 speed. Unless you are towing very heavy 3rd gear pulling in the 5 speed is rarely going to occur since 4th gear will easily hold any hill you will pull. Similarly, I would be very surprised if many 6 speed owners pull in 4th gear very often since 5th gear will do everything 4th gear will do in the 5 speed.



In short, the 5 speed is a good transmission unless you are going to be pulling heavy.