What to do?

[jeepit]

Hey, I am placing order tomorrow for 2500. Am torn between 6 speed and auto. Will tow trailer apprx 7000lbs. I have tried both trannies and like them both and leaning to 6speed. Don't mind rowing thru the gears but am also lazy. Help

 

[SnoKing]

Do you have to drive in stop and go heavy traffic? If so, the auto would be better. Do you tow your trailer down step hills, manual and exhaust brake would be better. Does your wife have to drive it? Auto better. DTT mods to auto make them pretty good. Also I think the auto is better than some may lead you to believe. Most early failures are towing extreme loads. OK guys, so flame me. SNOKING

 

[Beast2B]

well put, SNOKING

SNOKING pretty much covered it. It really depends on your driving habits/conditions first, then your preference. Either setup will do what you want it to do. No matter what, you'll love that CTD!

 

[klenger]

If you are not sure what to get, don't order it yet. I ordered the wrong truck (5 speed) and 6 months later, traded it for the correct one. Costs more that way.

 

[Bigsaint]

Jeepit, only you can decide and it's a big investment. I have the ETH and love the truck and transmission. Most times I enjoy rowing through the gears, sometimes I still wished I opt'd for the auto. I decided on the 6 speed as I know that I will be hauling a 5th wheel someday.



Scott W.

 

[DAWG-1]

6-speed

I used to have a '95 with a 5 speed, allways shifting . It was about time to buy a new truck. I went and drove a 6-speed and did not really notice how much closer the gears are. In city driving I shift so much less , I wish they came out with one sooner. Sam

 

[John]

good luck in your choice

jeepit, I pondered over that one for a l-o-n-g time myself (even losing sleep over it..... I even deferred my order several months until the new 24v engines came out... I still wonder if I made the right choice there ). However, in early '98 there were only two choices... auto. or 5-speed, both were ETC 24v engines. That said, if DC (CC then) had offered the 6-speed it would have made my transmission choice very easy..... I would now be driving a NV5600 equipped Ram (the ETH would have made it that much better). That also said, I sure love my DTT enhanced auto. trans. ESPECIALLY in heavy, bumper to bumper traffic. As I use my Ram mostly as a daily driver ("soccer mom" style) I favor the auto. most of the time. However (again), I still miss the sh*t out of having a manual transmission. ..... maybe if I win the lotto I could buy a new C6 tupperware car (a. k. a. a Corvette) with the 6-speed manual )



The reason I didn't order my Ram with the NV4500 was my reasearch and subsequent calculations showed me there would be a pretty wide gap between 3rd and 4th (if memory serves..... or was it 2nd and 3rd????). I felt the gear spacing would have been ok for a gasser however, the limited powerband of the CTD in conjunction with the NV4500 did not appeal to me.



The bottom line is this... what are you going to do with your CTD equipped Ram? You may have to go one way or the other depending upon your circumstances (i. e. , extended amounts of city driving *auto. *, or towing at maximum GCVWs *6-speed*).

 

[chuck3]

I would agree with Snow King, I like my auto, will like it more after the DTT conversion, to happen in the near future.

 

[tcourse]

Stock Auto Boring

Iv'e driven my truck stock for almost 4 years and was really getting bored with it. I was ready to buy a new one with a 6speed. Then I drove Bob Wagners Auto truck with DTT trans.



I'm keeping my auto, having the trans done by DTT, and adding lots more power. For a lot less money than a new truck.



Something about a firm shifting auto behind lots of power.



I'll stay with the auto.



TC