Auto or stick???

[XcumminsX]

No i dont tow HEAVY... But im sure there are people that do. These trucks are made to tow. You guys are making it sound like the 48re was built for people who dont tow at all. . The people from cummins worked with the 48re team and created this transmission... There isnt any problems with it



Nick

 

[Bertram65]

I agree with XCX, plus were I live the traffic is pretty heavy most of the time so a stick would be torture.

 

[Dean Upson]

The six-speed is great for towing or just plain driving and much better than the NV 4500 5 speed. I don't mind it in traffic. It is always a pleasure to drive.



Dean

 

[thejeepdude]

If you have the money to spend on DTT upgrades, get the auto for sure. For the price, the stick is probably better for towing, but with auto transmission mods you gain the ability to up and downshift while locked, so the exhaust brake won't be any more efficient on the stick than on the auto. Your shift will be faster, just as solid, and very reliable... plus reason #1... THE BEST CUP HOLDERS ON THE MARKET! Man I hate the console that comes with the manual. I am planning to order my 2004. 5 once they sort out the exhaust brake warranty issues, then I plan to keep the truck until it collapses or I fart dust.

 

[Pawpaw]

Just wanted to wade in on the stick vs auto issue.



For the most part, I side with the stick guys. I dearly love rowing through the gears, even in traffic.



Now for reality... I'm a 50-year-old fat man with bad knees. I plan on keeping this truck for many years and the day is coming when a clutch just won't be do-able.



So, I bought the auto to hedge my bet against the future.

 

[DPelletier]

Nick,

I am a little surprised that you're now singing the praises of the 48RE. I could have sworn I read a thread of yours titled "shoulda bought a six-speed". Anyway, your entitled to change your mind. As far as I remember, you intend on drag-racing your truck and my advice to you in that other thread was to keep your 48RE. I, on the other hand, use my truck to haul my camper and tow my dirtbike trailer. I'm not interested in racing my truck (I DO race my bike, though!), nor am I interested in modifying my truck to any substantial degree during the warranty period. For my purposes the NV5600 was a clear winner - no real decision required. Both trannies have advantages depending on useage. My advice to anyone buying a truck is to think about how you will use it, both now and in the foreseeable future.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[klenger]

I am on my third CTD with a manual. I have never even driven an auto. I don't even know if I sat it one.

 

[Fireman]

Dean said that he didn't mind driving his 6spd in traffic. What he didn't say was up there in the "Quiet Corner" of Conn they consider traffic to be heavy when 3 cars pull up to the 4way stop in the middle of town at the same time



Fireman

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by Fireman

Dean said that he didn't mind driving his 6spd in traffic. What he didn't say was up there in the "Quiet Corner" of Conn they consider traffic to be heavy when 3 cars pull up to the 4way stop in the middle of town at the same time



Fireman

It's not THAT quiet here, Fireman . Sometimes there are 4 cars at the stop. People really get then:-laf



Dean

 

[Jeremiah]

Screamin' down the hill

Regarding Prairie Dog's comment about engine braking with the 6-speed, I had an opportunity yesterday to go down an 8 percent grade for 2 or 3 miles. I'd been this way before, so I down-shifted to 5th and let 'er rip. The engine wound to 2800 and stayed there the entire time. Made a lot of noise but my speed never exceeded 65 mph or so.



However, in the interest of full disclosure I must say that I was running solo and didn't have anything pushing me along. A nice PacBrake would have been nice if I'd been loaded.



So yes, engine braking on steep grades is present close to the redline. Below that or in the curves, I'd count on something else to slow me down.

 

[Big MAK]

Moving to Towing/Hauling for even more input... .

 

[RustyJC]

We pull a 13,500 lb 36' 5ver that puts us on the road at 21,180 lbs GCW. To get the 21,500 lb GCWR we needed, the 6-speed was a required part of the package.



Having towed with a 3500 V-10/47RE previously, I'm a believer in the NV5600. Yeah, it can be a pain in traffic, and it's not the quick way through the quarter mile, but for towing, it's great to always have the right gear for acceleration (even if I don't have to come out of 6th for the hills after a little BOMBing ) and use of the exhaust brake.



Rusty

 

[BV]

Go with the 6 speed

Have you read this post yet - Dodge Auto Transmission designed to fail