Manual Transmissions

[weatherbyman]

If you were to buy a new 2003 Dodge RAM 2500 Quad Cab Short Bed, which manual transmission would you get and why? My buddy is having this delima right now..... he can't decide. At least he's getting a RAM He's heard that the HO engine is harder to bomb... . not as much cool stuff.



Guys,



What is your opinion?

 

[Todd T]

well if he wants to be a ginny pig, order that new automatic.



if not get the old standby seriousy i think in my case the truck would not be left alone (stock) and i would imagine the aftermarket world is still in a death spiral and will take them some time to get all the goods on the new automatic.



so, that leaves you with the manual and hope the "engine" side of the aftermarket is a little faster to market. does that help?

 

[rashwor]

2003

If he gets a 2003, the regular and HO engines will be the same according to all I have seen (not much). The power difference will come from electronics on the engine and Dodge's ECM.



Being a first year guy, well, it can be full of fun for all. I am not that adventurous. As far as bombing, it will take a while for the aftermarket guys to catch up I suspect.



All of this is just my $0. 02. Good luck and glad your buddy wants to be driving a Cummins. Oo.

 

[azcummins]

First generations of anything I think are not that good. I got a 98. 5 24V and I'm still trying to BOMB it up to get it to the point where my 12V was. I think Dodge didn't get it right till 99 or 00, so if you friend can handle it, buy one now. Otherwise, wait.

 

[milehiscott]

The only thing I sort of regret, in retrospect, is that the 6th gear would be great at highway speeds to get the RPMs down. I've heard some people down play the 6 speed because it gives you the row-row-you're-boat feeling when shifting. If this comes up, just remember: You don't HAVE to use EVERY gear EVERY time you start and stop.

As to the new Auto. I'm with the other guys. It usually takes a couple of years to work out all of the bugs.



Scott

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

Scott, 6th gear in the 6sp is almost the same gear as 5th in the 5sp, same with first. On the six speed it's 6th (. 73) and 1st (5. 63), on the 5 speed it's 5th (. 75) and 1st (5. 61) - for comparison overdrive in the auto (4th gear) is . 69 . The six speed mainly gives you more gears between 1st and overdrive so there's less of a difference between the gears.



Weatherby - are you talking about a 2003 (the new body style) or the 2002? Noone's driven a 2003 yet or has any real world data on it. I've spent more time than anyone else here looking at the '03 and had the opportunity to talk with the design engineers for a couple of hours at the press intro. Everything I know about the '03 is in the article I did for the TDR - the link is on the front page or here https://www.turbodieselregister.com/hdlaunch/hdlaunch.htm . If you're talking about the 2002 then you can get a lot more information from the guys here - the '03s won't be on the streets to the public until August or September.

 

[milehiscott]

Steve,

Thanks! You learn something new every day! I guess I'm done learning for today!



Scott

 

[UKRugbyman77]

6th lower than 5th?

Steve,

Are you positive that 6th gear is geared lower than 5th (on a fiver of course)? When I test drove the two, the 6'er ran lower rpm's at the same speed as a 5'ver (I was thinking a 1000 rpm or little better difference). Just curious, maybe each truck is different.

That was at 60 or 65 mph.

 

[csevers]

trans question?

Trans choice depends on what he is going to do with truck I would say the 6spd is better for pulling/towing with the close ratio between gears and the 5spd is much better at racing and puttsing around the jumps between gears is hard to notice in emtpy truck I have had both and would never go with any thing other than the 6spd. Besides what would you do with your right hand and left foot if your not shifting ?

 

[GRudy]

Haveing the 5 speed I can tell you I wish I had the 6 speed. There is a BIG gap between 3rd & 4th on the 5 speed that is filled with the 6 speed.

 

[TPCDrafting]

Totally aggree with George and all you guys. The 5sp is stock and cheaper right? But I wish I had the 6 gears when pulling a heavy load up a pass. The 5sp is just fine when running empty, but needs help when loaded. People on this site tell me to get the Piers gov. spring kit and that'll help my problem by giving more power to the low end when shifting from 3rd to 4th.

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

UKRugbyman77 - you're right on the OD ratios, I had a typo on there - I thought I had corrected it (I did correct it now). On a 5 speed 5th gear is . 75 on a 6 speed 6th gear is . 73 . But that doesn't make much of a difference. I calculated what the difference would be on my truck and at 60 mph there would be a 52 rpm difference between the 5 sp and the 6 speed in overdrive (the 6 speed being 52 rpm lower). Most likely one truck you drove had 4. 10 gears and the other one had 3. 55 gears. My truck with a 5 speed and 4. 10's turns 1944 rpm at 60 mph. If it had a 6 speed and 3. 55's it would turn 1638 rpm or a drop of 306 rpm. BTW, did I mention that I wish I had 3. 55's!?



When I first bought my truck the 3rd to 4th gear gap was very noticeable and I wished I had held out for a 6 speed. After turning up the power (with an original powermax1 at the time - about a 60 hp/160 lb/ft increase) I no longer noticed the 3rd to 4th gear gap even when towing heavy. I later drove a 6 speed and I'm glad I have my 5 sp now, I found 3rd gear difficult to find especially when off roading on rough terrain. It would also be difficult to find when trying to shift fast such as when drag racing. Of course not everyone does that kind of stuff with their trucks. My advice would be to have your friend test drive a 5 speed and a 6 speed and see what he prefers.



-Steve

 

[Rob Thomas]

Anyone wish they had a 7th gear? About every time I get on the expressway and get through all the gears I always look for another one! And yes I do have the 3. 55's, I'd like to have a double overdrive!

 

[UKRugbyman77]

Steve,

Now that you mentioned it, I remember. . The 5'ver was a chassis cab and I believe it had 4:10's

Thanks,

 

[weatherbyman]

Thanks!!!

Guys,



I appreciate your help. I assume that the 2003 will have the 5 and 6 speed transmissions again, if not, then he will go with whatever one they offer. It looks, from your opinions, that he would do better going with the 6 speed HO in the 2003.



Thanks for the answers Oo.

 

[rashwor]

RAMTHIS1

RAMTHIS1,



That is what I was really hoping 6th would be in the six speeds. I don't tow all the time, but I do like to fly all the time. I can get by with the 5 speeds in the 5 speed box, if they make the 6spd box the same and make 6th a real overdrive! Oo.

 

[Rob Thomas]

My opinion the six speed is definitly better than the five speed,friend's of mine with five's wish they bought the six,especially the ones with the 4. 10's there really well,... ..... upset!