auto versus 6 speed

[SAvery]

Of all the people here, we must admit that the 3rd gen cummins coupled with the 48RE is not a combo that is going to hold up forever. I currently have a truck 2nd gen with an auto. I really hate the slushyness of the transmission. That is why when I purchase a 3rd gen I was thinking about getting a 6 speed. However, everyone must admit that an auto is convenient. So what I am asking everyone is, if you had the choice would you choose a 6 speed or an auto ATS would build like a tank?



6 speed?



Auto built like a tank with a better torque converter?

 

[thejeepdude]

Well first off, no auto will ever last forever. For that matter, neither will a manual. They both will at least require the replacement of clutches and/or bands in the long run, it just so happens the manual's clutch is a LOT easier to replace. That said, I still prefer the auto. With mods it's pretty bulletproof to any HP/TQ you can throw at it, and it leaves one hand free for talking on the phone and eating hamburgers. If I were towing 99% of the time, I might go with the manual, but this is my recreational vehicle as well as regular driver. I also enjoy the look on the face of those guys driving what they think are fast civics with coffee can mufflers and giant wings when i blow them away in my 7K lb truck, which the auto is better at doing. While I can't afford to mod my 48RE right away, I know what its potential is, and hopefully by the time the warranty is over I'll be able to scrape up the cash for the DTT.

 

[klenger]

For me, reliability was only part of the decision. I like having the extra gear of the 6 speed (auto doesn't need the granny gear), and I like to have absolute control of gear selection when towing. I've never even driven an auto CTD.

 

[BMcleod7]

I am new to the diesel world and just bought a 04. 5 3500 6 speed. Is it okay to put it in 6th gear when im pulling a load on the highway?? I was running about 1700-1900 rpms. I don't have any extra gauges. However its only a 5,000 pound trailer.



04. 5 3500 4x4 quad cab sb stock

 

[BRayls]

I might have bought the auto,if it came with the ez. I tow 10,000 lbs in 6th,many trouble free miles.

 

[BMcleod7]

Great thank you. Someone told me I may be overheating the engine, and I should get a pyromiter, or however you spell it.



04. 5 3500 4x4 quad cab sb stock

 

[BRayls]

you will note in my sig,I have the x-monitor gauges. so I do have a pyro. I really would get one if I were you. better safe than sorry.

Great thank you. Someone told me I may be overheating the engine, and I should get a pyromiter, or however you spell it.



04. 5 3500 4x4 quad cab sb stock

 

[EBottema]

I'd go with a stick. That nv5600 is the hot setup and the truck will go for a while



Erik

 

[FDavid]

From a standing start the auto is faster than the 6 speed but on a highway roll-on (say 60 mph +) the manual will win (i know this from racing my buddies auto). Stock vs Stock trannys, The manual will also take to bombs much more reliably and overheating the transmission is not an issue with the stick. The 6 speed is also approved for a Jacobs exhaust brake from chrysler.

 

[thejeepdude]

From a standing start the auto is faster than the 6 speed but on a highway roll-on (say 60 mph +) the manual will win (i know this from racing my buddies auto).

This is probably because your buddy was locked in OD. If it downshifted, that takes time and probably unlocked the TC. If it didn't downshift, he was overgeared compared to you. Try the same test with the auto in 3rd and TC locked. Of course you have to be able to make your auto do that. This is also the solution for overheating, as a locked TC doesn't generate heat from fluid shearing. An aftermarket TC will address this too, even when not locked.

 

[Blufrog]

First off this is one of the great debates by all.



With that said, think of what you will use the truck for. Are you going to tow or haul heavy loads all the time? are you going to cruise to the mall more than tow? Do you live in the city or country?



It really depends on if you like to shift or not as well. I could go eaiter way, but I opted for the auto for a few reasons. I tow a whopping 7k about 5-10 times per year, I have two kids, and I like to have my hands free when needed as opposed to having to shift all the time while driving through town. The auto will work for my needs just fine under normal maintenance. It just comes down to a personal preference. If you don't like the slushy feel but prefer the auto get a torque converter lockup put in and once you hit 20mph have it kick on and lock up.

 

[LightmanE300]

I would evaluate your driving habits and future needs with the truck before you make that decision. If you plan on doing heavy towing regularly, get the manual. If you want to put tons of HP and torque into it without shelling out 3-4 grand on auto trans upgrades, the 6 speed is the way to go - just have to replace the clutch. Personally, I do a lot of city stop and go driving, and I'm not a big fan of a sore left calf, or having one hand occupied. I like the lazyness of the auto trans, as well as having a completely clear floor in the middle, with no xfer case or trans shifters. I am like many others who will eventually mod my truck for more power when the warranty runs out and the trans is getting tired, and at that point, I'll invest in auto trans upgrades. I feel like my choice just equates to paying more money for the convenience of not shifting, which I'm fine with. The point is , figure out what your plans are for the truck and choose accordingly.

 

[thejeepdude]

I would evaluate your driving habits and future needs with the truck before you make that decision.

I would agree, but instead of saying "the manual is the way to go" in this scenario, I would say "the manual is the way to go unless you don't mind the inevitable investment that the auto will require to keep it reliable in situations such as heavy towing all the time". What it really boils down to is personal preference and how that preference relates to cost.

 

[RustyJC]

Our truck spends 90% of its working life towing a heavy 5th wheel (see signature). Therefore, for me, the HO/6-speed was a no brainer (the HO was only available with the 6-speed in 2002). Even given the choice of the 48RE, I would go with the NV5600 again for a heavy towing rig. If I were just street driving in Houston traffic with minimal load, the automatic would certainly become more attractive.



JM2CW



Rusty

 

[Bertram65]

You guys need to stop baseing all your comments on the 48RE on the 47RE's track record. The 48RE is a much improved transmsission. How many failures have been reported here? I cannot think of any, how many problems have you heard of here about the 6 speed? They seem to pop up from time to time, certainly more frequent than automatic problems. As far as the extra gear goes, who needs it? the auto has no problem being in the powerband from 0-whatever, expecially with the 4. 10s.

 

[JoeDiesel]

It is kind of funny to read this thread. I haggled over the "6-speed vs slush-box" scenario for a long time before making up my mind. There is no doubt that the auto is very convienant but I agree with most of the diesel owners that it tends not to last as long as it should. I know a group of 2nd genners that have replaced their auto several times. I like long term reliability. I believe that the 6-speed will last a lot longer. And this is comming from an owner that had the clutch replaced with 1,000 miles on it due the the "chattering" noise recall TSB. When I get older and get the next truck, I'll probably go auto. As for now, I tow a 22' Hi-Lo trailer for long distances for family camping and I love the stick. Last trip I went to Stone Mountain Gorgia. The camp grounds had very steep hills with a speed limit of 10 MPH. That is when I discoved the 1st gear auto-idle control thingy. It was great! Stick it in 1st and the vehicle accelleares itself: lots of fun. I also got 16-17 MPG average hauling aboout 6,500 lbs. Hope this helps, just my . 02 cents.

If the new auto is greatly improved for reliability, it would be a great thing. I'm going to keep checking the posts on it.

 

[thejeepdude]

You guys need to stop baseing all your comments on the 48RE on the 47RE's track record. The 48RE is a much improved transmsission. How many failures have been reported here?

I wasn't doing that at all. I was basing my statements on the fact that an auto, even the most reliable ones, has more parts than a manual, and costs more to maintain and upgrade. Sure the 48RE is more reliable, but the TC still sucks, and is mushy, not ideal for towing. That said, I will keep mine stock just for the sake of warranty, then it's bye bye to the slushy TC and in with DTT... not really because it will be so reliable, but because it will be FUN to drive and operate the way an automatic transmission should operate from the factory.



Also, regarding your statement about 48RE having fewer problem reports than the NV5600... one reason is because they haven't been in use as long, and the other reason is the overwhelming majority of HEAVY towers prefer and therefore buy the NV5600. Whether this is justified or not, this means that there will probably be more failures just due to the higher percentage of people abusing them.



All in all, I think both transmissions are quite stout, both come with a warranty, and both will serve you well in stock form for the duration of the warranty 99% of the time.

 

[Jeremiah]

Great thank you. Someone told me I may be overheating the engine, and I should get a pyromiter, or however you spell it.



04. 5 3500 4x4 quad cab sb stock

GET GAUGES! Oo. Even if you don't tow, you will be surprised at what the EGTs are before shut-down. You'll find you've been shutting your engine down anywhere from 400-800 degrees EGT. Because you don't want your turbo spinning w/o lubrication, you should not shut the engine down until 300 degrees EGT (that's assuming you had the EGT installed pre-turbo like 90 percent of everybody else). The only way you will know the EGT is with a pyrometer, otherwise known as an EGT gauge. BTW, EGT stands for exhaust gas temperature.



The other gauge you will want is a boost gauge. I'd suggest the one from 0-60 psi, particularly if you're gonna install mods down the line.



I'd also suggest A-pillar gauges, although a few people put 'em on the column in in the cubby hole. Most people go with A-pillar mounts. You'll get over losing your grab handle. :{

 

[hasselbach]

Boy this is a great debate. . I have a 2004. 5 4x4 with the auto. . 3 months ago, I test drove both and liked how much quicker the auto felt from a stand still, so I ordered mine with the auto.



Then last week I was towing 4 horses (about 11K loaded with trailer) and hated the auto's strange habits such as absolutely no engine braking, and mushy Torque converter feel. Going down a long grade in 3rd, once the engine gets below 1800, it completely disengages and you have no engine braking. My Allison is superior to the Dodge trans in my opinion.



So I went back to dodge, test drove a 6 speed thinking I would love it, but man, what a pain in the tail to drive!. First is too low, so I tried starting in 2nd, but the throws are way too long, notchy, and a ***** to find 5th and not get hung up on 3rd. Then I notice, that 6th is . 74 to 1 whereas the auto is . 69 to 1, meaning at 60 miles per hour, the stick is about 250 rpm's higher than the auto. Plus you have this goofy pan on the floor for the drink holder, and you lose all the trans tunnel foot space for the center seat.



so, I cancelled my 05 order, and now an getting Inglewood Trans and Suncosast to do a converter swap, change the valve body and adjust the TQ lock up. Once that's done, I hope to eliminate the loose converter, the ill timed TQ lock up and release, and other quirks. if that doesn't work, I'm going to figure out how to adapt an Allison to the Cummins, patent it, and retire when all of you guys buy my adaptor kit.

 

[Jeremiah]

Downshift woes

Re manual or auto, a friend of mine has an auto and he complains that it downshifts too far when he floorboards it that it actually slows down! He says he has to back off and let it upshift before it will accelerate. He took it to the dealer who said the trans has a computerized memory that has to learn what his driving habits are before it will shift properly.



Gimme a break! No, gimme a 6-speed! I don't need a brake, er, break.