Buying another 1st Gen, Auto or Manual which one should I buy??

[KBalzuweit]

I want to add another truck to the family. I am looking for a club cab dually 2 wheel drive, but my question is should I buy a stick or auto?



The truck will be for towing, about 14,000 pounds.



Price range up to $7000.



I have had a manual before and it really seemed to pull harder and have more power than the auto. But the truck had just been beat by its previous owner and had to many problems. The trans was going bad, but I do not want to make my decision on that because it had 296k on all the original drivetrain.



Any help would be great... . I really like the 1st gens, but if I want a manual should I maybe look at an early 2nd gen??



Thanks!!

 

[TSuter]

IMO I would go for the manual transmission, I've owned both and don't care to much for the automatic. My current truck is getting switched to manual as soon as I can srcounge the money. Just my . 02



Tom

 

[The patriot]

I second that vote for manual.

I just dont see the point of an auto behind one of these engines for towing.

For 14K lbs, may I suggest the 4. 10's?

JM. 02

Eric

 

[fkovalski]

My vote is always for a manual. Especially if you ever put on an exhaust brake or increase the performance of you engine.

 

[KBalzuweit]

But what about all the problems people seem to have with Getrag?? I would hate to have to do a nv4500 swap in 6 months. Most of the trucks I have found so far that are manual have between 175k and 270k. If its the original getrag thats about its lifespan, right??



Thanks, Karl

 

[JFitzgerald]

I prefer the manual. The Getrag does not have a great reputation, but there are quite a few of us running them without problems. Mine is at 149,000 miles on the original trans and tows heavy frequently with the pump turned up. The key seems to be finding a good one and keeping it overfilled with 5 quarts of 10W30 synthetic. As long as your clutch is OK, you're getting all that CTD power to the wheels without having to spend $$$ on reworking an auto to get it to do the same. First gen clutches are pretty stout. Downside is that I've seen fewer manual trucks for sale than autos. Hope this helps.



Now, if I were drag racing my truck, an auto would be more attractive... .

 

[fkovalski]

Good points! I am not an expert on transmissions by any means, but still like a manual- If however, you figure on having to spend money on a transmission in some form and you like autos then you questioned posed is a good one. Especially since a quality beefed up auto is possible. I attended ATS’s shop in Denver with the RMTDR and was quite impressed with their work. They can even set up an auto to accept an exhaust brake or for increased HP. Too bad that type of quality auto is not offered from the factory. If all things are equal (I don’t know what the relative prices would be) then it would be a coin toss on your part. I guess one question left would be if the genre of auto trannys in your year are inherently better than standards.

 

[KBalzuweit]

Here are a couple I found on ebay... . let me know what you guys think.



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&category=6729&item=2419202155



Seems a little high in price



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2419070096&category=31831&rd=1



This is what I am looking for, to bad I missed it... . anybody want to sell one like it?!?!?!?



Thanks, Karl

 

[JFitzgerald]

The first one looks pretty good, but like you said, maybe priced a little high for the miles and 2WD. Nice interior, just like mine. Those seats are very comfortable. Second one looks to be in really nice condition.

 

[RHancock]

If you are towing I would go the manual, The getrag is ok just overfill it and if you ever have the truck towed take the driveshaft out. I have a freind who works in a trans and rearend shop, he said the only getrags he has seen go went due to the wrong fluid or flat towing. It tosts the rear bearing as the counter shaft doesn't spin to move the fluid when being towed. If you keep the fluid too low it takes out the imput shaft bearing.



The gears are about the same size as the nv4500 the only real difference is the bearings are bigger in the nv4500. The good part is a bearing kit for a Getrag is only about 110$ . It isn't a bad trans at all jut too many people putting gear oil in them and running them low on fluid...