AT vs 6spd / Color

[Joseph Donnelly]

After 7 years with my white 5 speed 1997, I got a white 2004 6 speed. White is coolest in the summer, easy to color match, looks good even a little dirty. Most of my driving is in-town but I easily got used to the manual and prefer it. On mountain trails, and when towing, it gives some engine braking, while the auto doesn't. Also the manual very rarely fails and leaves you at the side of the road, like auto's like to do. A good clutch and the manual will take the horsepower. Thousands of dollars and then the auto will take it for a little while

 

[jimk]

Towing

Reverse in the automatic is very high ratio, which can be a problem using reverse to back a heavy load. 4 wheel low helps there. I have towed my 4x4 diesel backhoe and it was no fun. I have allways wondered how you are suppose to use 3 gears to tow. I dont like to drive over 65 or a little less when I have a load on the trailer. If you wont to hot rod then a automatic, I bought a truck not a hot rod. Why dont you call around a few of the automatic builders and see how much it is going to cost to get the billet shafts, convertor, drum, valve body, ect and add that to the cost to your truck.

White and a six speed , could not say it any better, Jim

 

[blackholehunter]

Even though we're on the 3rd page, I figure I'll add my experience to this. I've owned a 92 D250 auto, 96 3500 auto, and now 05 2500 6pd. I wished I would have gotten a manual with my 96 when I bought it I probably would still have it. The auto in my 92 left a bad taste in my mouth. Always shifting in and out of od for no reason (something with the tps) I ended up wiring a switch up to make it stay in auto as long as the switch was on. Kind of a hassle to remember to turn on and off. The auto in the 96 would stay locked up and in od when I thought it should kick down to 3rd gear ie like getting on the freeway with the pedal floored. For me it was just the lack of control. I use my truck mainly to go to work and back and tow a 5000lb trailer (16 ft car trailer). Now that I own a stick behind a cummins I'll never have an auto again (at least in my truck that is) .



I'm biased but go with Lt. Almond Metallic for color.

 

[ERohloff]

AT vs 6spd and Color - Thanks for your replys

Still on the fence re: AT vs 6spd. If for only me driving it'd be the stick as like the shifting and better control. Don't pull often or heavy so the AT would do just fine. But... ...

Re color pretty sure will go with the silver. Will be going with a SLT and IMHO the truck looks better, esp in silver, with the billet (Laramie) grill.

Has anybody replaced a SLT honeycomb with a chrome OEM Laramie insert?



Was it an easy switch?



Cost of the OEM billet grill insert?



BTW, I like the 5 bar OEM grill better than the 7-9 bar aftermarket units(like Geno's carries) so will stick with it.



... ... And again thanks for all the input... . It all helps... .

 

[tschwab]

My dad did the Laramie grill replacement on his SLT, looks great! Pretty easy job, bought the Laramie grill replacement through the Dodge dealer, about $100. 00.

 

[KD7GYJ]

I's also get the alloy wheels. They are sharp! looking. Best $1. 00 spent on wheels.



PS: White or Silver is the best color if you're trying to keep it clean. White is really easy to touch up. White is the coolest color to the touch.