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3/4 - 1 ton pickup truck, Standard or Automatic transmission?

N

Noriaki

Lifer
3/4 - 1 ton pickup truck, Standard or Automatic transmission?

I was talking with some friends last night, and they insist that most people with that sort of a truck would want a Manual transmission.

That seems insane to me...if you are say trying to tow a heavy load up a hill, the manual is going to suck, an automatic just seems much preferable when trying to haul any kind of a load. What do you think?

This does not include really large trucks, like 18 wheelers, or even 5 ton moving trucks. You start getting into the range where Automatic transmissions are just much to expensive.

But just on a 3/4-1 ton pickup truck, what would you rather have?

Please note: "It's more fun to drive a standard" and "Standards are faster" are not valid reasons here whether they are true or not.
This is for serious use of a work truck.

Probably with a Diesel engine, most likely a Dodge Ram 2500 or 3500 with the Cummins diesel, but the Ford and Chevy are under consideration as well.
 
Get the Cummins HO with a 6 speed. Although the Chexy Allison auto is nice I personally feel it is not worth the extra. The last I head Ford has a Technical Repair Report out for the Power Stroke due to the fact that they didn't put loc tite on the turbo housing bolts. Do to this the housings are coming loose and causing the turbo to gernade.
 
Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Well, with the Cummins I-6 Turbo Diesel, you can't get it in auto, only standard.
Click to expand...

Hmm well...I guess that might be why they were saying they prefered Manual.

They just seemed to think that it was all around better.

Guess I should do some more digging before I open my fat mouth.

Any idea why the Cummins doesn't come in an Auto?
 
If you are going to haul a lot of weight, you want a bunch of gears. You slowly work up your inertia.
Manuals are all (almost) 5 speed, some are 6.

I've never encountered an auto with more than 4, though I know they exist.
 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
If you are going to haul a lot of weight, you want a bunch of gears. You slowly work up your inertia.
Manuals are all (almost) 5 speed, some are 6.

I've never encountered an auto with more than 4, though I know they exist.
Click to expand...

Don't you lose a bunch of inertia when you are shifting gears though?


Another question, can you get Cruise Control with a Manual Transmission? I've heard that you can...but how the heck does it work?
 
Originally posted by: Noriaki
Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Well, with the Cummins I-6 Turbo Diesel, you can't get it in auto, only standard.
Click to expand...

Hmm well...I guess that might be why they were saying they prefered Manual.

They just seemed to think that it was all around better.

Guess I should do some more digging before I open my fat mouth.

Any idea why the Cummins doesn't come in an Auto?
Click to expand...
Not really, i have no experience with trucks, diesels, or manuals. Maybe because if you have ~500 ft/lbs of torque, you're more than likely pulling something really frigging heavy and need more control with the gears.
 
Originally posted by: Noriaki

Don't you lose a bunch of inertia when you are shifting gears though?
Click to expand...

I've never driven a big truck or anything, but I have no problems in my standard.


Another question, can you get Cruise Control with a Manual Transmission? I've heard that you can...but how the heck does it work?

Yes, I don't know how. I'm not a car guy at all.

 
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Noriaki

Don't you lose a bunch of inertia when you are shifting gears though?
Click to expand...

I've never driven a big truck or anything, but I have no problems in my standard.
Click to expand...

Yah I didn't mean in regular cars. I sorta meant when you are pulling that 10,000 pound trailer up an incline.

I figured you'd lose some inertia when the clutch is engaged and you have no power at all getting to the tires.

But I'm not an expert either.
 
Cruise works exactly the same with a manual as it does with an auto. Its not like you are constanly going from 20mph to 80mph with the cruise on so you are staying in the same gear. Going up real steep hills might mean you have to take controll back and downshift but I have never had a manual car with cruise so I don't know how often that comes up.
 
Originally posted by: Noriaki
Originally posted by: Chaotic42
Originally posted by: Noriaki

Don't you lose a bunch of inertia when you are shifting gears though?
Click to expand...

I've never driven a big truck or anything, but I have no problems in my standard.
Click to expand...

Yah I didn't mean in regular cars. I sorta meant when you are pulling that 10,000 pound trailer up an incline.

I figured you'd lose some inertia when the clutch is engaged and you have no power at all getting to the tires.

But I'm not an expert either.
Click to expand...

Well, there probably would be a loss of power when the clutch engages. And then theres the issue of the turbo boost dropping as well.

 
I've had two manual cars w/ cruise. It works just like an auto.

That reminds me, I need to fix my cruise control.
 
Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Well, with the Cummins I-6 Turbo Diesel, you can't get it in auto, only standard.
Click to expand...

Not true. The standard Cummins is available with a slushbox. The HO is not ( HO = high output ) If you buy the cummmins, get the Ho option. Totaly worth the price. As an auto behind a diesel a good idea? Nope. Expecialy from Dodge. Their auto trannys are sub par as it is. putting 550 ft/lbs though one is not good for the life of it. That being said, I have not had any problems with mine, but I had it rebuilt internally with heavy duty parts. ( steels, clutch packs, bands, ect ) along with a new pump and filter.

If you are going to be towing any kind of distances or pulling heavy loads, get a manual. there are also more heavy duty options available. Such as lower gears in the rear axle.

If you are using the truck as a pleasure mobile, get it in 4x4 no matter who you choose. If you will be towing, get the 2x veriosn, as they can usually tow more.

The Cummins is a medium duty diesel, while the options from ford and chevy are all light duty. (AFAIK) The Cummins will last ya longer, and run a little smoother as a striaght 6 has a natural tendancy to dampen its own vibrations.
 
Originally posted by: Evadman
Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Well, with the Cummins I-6 Turbo Diesel, you can't get it in auto, only standard.
Click to expand...

Not true. The standard Cummins is available with a slushbox. The HO is not ( HO = high output ) If you buy the cummmins, get the Ho option. Totaly worth the price. As an auto behind a diesel a good idea? Nope. Expecialy from Dodge. Their auto trannys are sub par as it is. putting 550 ft/lbs though one is not good for the life of it. That being said, I have not had any problems with mine, but I had it rebuilt internally with heavy duty parts. ( steels, clutch packs, bands, ect ) along with a new pump and filter.

If you are going to be towing any kind of distances or pulling heavy loads, get a manual. there are also more heavy duty options available. Such as lower gears in the rear axle.

If you are using the truck as a pleasure mobile, get it in 4x4 no matter who you choose. If you will be towing, get the 2x veriosn, as they can usually tow more.

The Cummins is a medium duty diesel, while the options from ford and chevy are all light duty. (AFAIK) The Cummins will last ya longer, and run a little smoother as a striaght 6 has a natural tendancy to dampen its own vibrations.
Click to expand...

Ah, interesting info Evad. As eddie murphy would say; thank you for correcting my english which sucks. I looked at the High Output and found a six speed the only option
 
My uncle has a Cheavy heavy duty 2500 w/ diesel automatic. He pulls a 29' trailer at 80 mph on the freeway and says he can't even tell its there. We have a Chevy 1500 5.3L V8 and can't go over 65 mph with our 27' trailer
 
Originally posted by: ScottyB
My uncle has a Cheavy heavy duty 2500 w/ diesel automatic. He pulls a 29' trailer at 80 mph on the freeway and says he can't even tell its there. We have a Chevy 1500 5.3L V8 and can't go over 65 mph with our 27' trailer
Click to expand...

what year?
 
Originally posted by: Evadman
Originally posted by: PsychoAndy
Well, with the Cummins I-6 Turbo Diesel, you can't get it in auto, only standard.
Click to expand...

Not true. The standard Cummins is available with a slushbox. The HO is not ( HO = high output ) If you buy the cummmins, get the Ho option. Totaly worth the price. As an auto behind a diesel a good idea? Nope. Expecialy from Dodge. Their auto trannys are sub par as it is. putting 550 ft/lbs though one is not good for the life of it. That being said, I have not had any problems with mine, but I had it rebuilt internally with heavy duty parts. ( steels, clutch packs, bands, ect ) along with a new pump and filter.
Click to expand...
What about GM or Ford? Can their transmissions handle the torque? Or do you just not want to do that sort of thing with an Auto? And what exactly is a slushbox? Is that just a slang for Auto?

Do you find that a Manual looses any inertia when you shift? Pulling a big trailer up a hill say.
 
It's my understanding that if you want to tow something, or put a snow plow on it, the automatic is the way to go. If you don't do either of these, and don't mind shifting, save some gas and get the stick.
 
"care to explain why? Reasons always help"

You hadn't posted at the point I started my reply. I was also pointing out that an auto is available with that Cummins. My preference for the auto is primarily because of the nuisance of shifting and secondarily burning up clutches trying to tow or haul. I wasn't aware of Dodge's reputation for shoddy automatics, but I'd rather get an extended warranty on that component than suffer with a manual.
 
An automatic will offer some torque multiplication when starting from a dead stop, but that is generally negated by the higher ratios in the transmission.

When considering a diesel, you must remember that it has a much diferent powerband than a gasoline engine, and most automatics are configured( due to CAFE standards) to get the vehicle into high gear as quickly as possible. With an manual if is easier to keep the engine in it's "sweet spot" of power when pulling up a hill, or accelerating.

Manuals also have much fewer moving parts, and tend to be relatively trouble free, especially with higher mileage vehicles.

Most automatics also have built in slop, to promote smoother shifts, as well as automatically pulling back engine power for the same reason. The slop can lead to premature transmission failure when pulling extremely heavy trailers.
 
In case you wanted to know, Volvo's FL or FM series light duty work trucks has an auto box with 9-12 forwards/2-4 reverses configurations, pretty neat truck. It has the Cummins inline six(6 or 9.3L).🙂
 
I would say an automatic transmission, simply because every manual transmission I've ever tried in a truck has been loose and unpleasant to work with.

I'm totally for the "manual is more fun" argument (my car is a stick) but for a truck/SUV I'd get an automatic. That said, the manual will probably last longer.
 
you would want a manual for heavy towing due to the fact that auto trannies will create alot of heat while under that much of a load (even with a large tranny cooler). the tranny will actually be slipping somewhat in higher gears, and if you do have an auto and your pulling a load, make sure you take it out of OD when you are. OD is a cruise gear that has very weak bands not meant for a heavy load.
there are autos that are made specfically to go in heavy towing vehicles.. infact i drove one all weekend... 27' dock truck with a turbo International engine (dont know size) but it was an auto, and was a slug! had no OD, i assume for the reason i listed above

but i prefer driving maunals in everything so i am kinda biased 🙂
 
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