Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) just test drove a 6spd, talk about junk..

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by Tomscreek

6 Speed all the way!!!! (Tim Allen, rrr, rrr, rrr) , heavy duty diesel truck , rrr, rrr, rrr, 505 ft. lbs. of torque rrr, rrr, rrr, C'mon guys automatics are for girls!!

This reminds me of the :--) expression I got from a friend when I told him that his 2003 3500 dually with HPCR (quiet) Cummins HO/48RE 5th wheel puller parked in the campsite next to ours was nice for a "girlie Diesel".



Rusty

 

[illflem]

2¢

Some of you are judging autos by the underrated one in an over horsepowered truck. Autos are available in all semi trucks now and are very popular for their ease of use and long life. Face it, manuals are ancient technology, what if you had to push in a clutch every time you moved your mouse?

 

[RustyJC]

Re: 2¢

Originally posted by illflem

Face it, manuals are ancient technology.

Bill,



So am I.



Rusty

 

[hammersley]

There's a mental picture -

double clutching a mouse -

 

[Heavy Metal]

A mouse with a clutch ?!

I want one!!!:-laf

 

[WadePatton]

My Turn

A couple of points.



7th gear is here with that GV over/under thingybox I think you wind up with an 11-speed. Watch ford boy's head spin when you tell 'em you've got double overdrive and 11 forward gears.



Granny gear is great for low speed (empty) creeping--through the Piggly Wiggly lot, the car wash, the campground, off road, pulling away from the diesel island. It's an option I have with a flick of the wrist. You'll have to put that auto-rig in 4WD to get granny.



It's a standard "H" shift pattern, so when the shifter stops moving in a "north/south" direction--you ARE in gear. We've got a tractor that shifts "east/west".



When I overpower the stock clutch and it slips--big deal. When you overpower a 47RE and it slips more than they are designed to-- BIG DEAL.



I've owned about 15 vehicles in my life--only one was auto and it was for a very short time--my left leg was immobilized from and accident/surgery.



I'm sure I'd absolutely LOVE an ATS or DTT auto compared to a standard juicer--but I don't want to own one.



Rattle on...

 

[rashwor]

My .02

It all depends on what you are going to use the truck for and what matters most to you, the one paying the note! It is that simple. What is best for you is what you want.



Mine is a 5 speed... wanted the 6 but could not get one due to initial restricted production. I have towed loads with mine that would upset any stock auto and cause a major repair bill... or you go the high dollar upgrade route to avoid the repair bill later. Point is, this is how I use the truck. I don't drive in stop-n-go traffic regularly... shifting gets old in that situation.



Just my . 02. Drive and be happy! Be glad it's a Cummins! I am.

 

[Dsullenberger]

Had my 2002 6speed now for over year and wouldn't trade it for anything else. When pulling my 24ft Alpenlite 5th wheel in the summer months and 4 place snowmobile trailer in winter the 6sp works perfect for me. With the 354 rearend the ratios couldn't be any better. There is always a gear that fits the situation,pulling the pass,level highway or just plunking around in town. Everybody does their own thing and I'm glad I bought the 6sp.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

??

Auto in class 8 trucks?? Common? Not at all. There are quite a few auto shift manuals out there to big trucks. Not to be confused with a full automatic transmission. The auto shift manual still has a clutch with gears with syncros. It is shifted by a computer. You start it in 1st gear with a clutch and after that it shifts itself. That has eliminated bonehead driver mistakes and has improved productivity and fuel economy. However that only is true when compared to the average driver. The owner operator that is in tune with his rig gets better milage then the auto shift manual every time. This is not intended to be a flame just trying to get the class 8 facts correct. There is little use in comparing a little pickup to a class 8 truck. In real life the operational and duty cycle is totaly diffrent. The new pickup autos are approaching the current manuals for economy and durability. The reality is if you use your pickup as a truck insted of a car and the power is upped the auto cant stand the heat. Dont make any dif who builds the trans Allison, Ford, Toyota or Chrysler.

Our 4x4 car has a auto and I would not have it any other way. If I towed lighter loads our 3500's would have autos. IMHO

Trying not offend or setp on anyone. It is a personal choice.

 

[Wiredawg]

I've got the best of both worlds...

Fellow Rammers:



I purely have the best of both worlds: I have a loud 2002 3500 w/ 6 spd that you just can't slap the smile off my face when I'm truck'n down the road. Now, I love driving my wife's 03 SB HO/48RE. You don't hear the engine, but you sure can here the exhaust. And that SB is like driving a sports car.



Boys: I just don't get no better than this.



Happy Trails, Wiredawg

 

[jjohn]

WireDog

I WISH my wife understood the joy of a CTD! No complaints on her choice of a Honda minivan other than... . it's a Honda Minivan