if your towing 37k you shouldn't even have to ask this question. Get a shifter

 

After I drove the auto for a while I wish I had gotten a manual, the thing that annoys me is the shift from 3rd to 4th. I don't know how it is for you guys with 3.73's, but its shifts into 3rd at about 20 or so and then doesn't shift into 4th until 38. To get it to 38, you have to rev it to about 1800 plus and any decent acceleration has to be 1700 or higher, which kills for gas mileage on acceleration. But, if there is a load behind it the auto with the 4.10's is a great combination. As far as acceleration empty I think 3.73's are faster but with a load on the 4.10's, I can't tell the difference between empty and load, its about the same acceleration wise. But, I still think I would have rather had the manual, I like the feel of having all the power to the ground, the fuel mileage, and being able to choose which gear I want to be in and when to shift. I think if I got to choose again I would go with the manual, but the auto with 4.10's is a great pulling combination. Still though, 37,000 is alot for an auto.

 

If you are planning on building it there with Dave, I'd say you'd have a tranny that will beat a stick pulling any day of the week. You couldn't talk me into a stick for pulling or everyday driving now that I have Dave's tranny.

 

Ask a tranny man. Autos are better for towing. I love mine. My BIL ownes a tranny shop. He recommends them.

 

Ahhh, the big debate again. When visiting the kids in Seattle or around town driving I wish I had an Auto. But, for what we do (lots of old fart syle cross country driving) the stick seems better. We always get better mpg, pay less for maint and seem to run cooler than than our buddies with the Auto's. However, when we are parked someplace and go into town, we seem to gravitate to someone who has an Auto for less stressfull driving. Just my .02 cents.

 

The stock 48re converter is soft/loose, towing or not. I installed a BD TorqLoc converter lockup controller which helped a lot. If I had it to do over again I probably get the 6spd for better control and much lower maintenance costs.

Nick

 

I just mentinoned that because that would be the extreme end of it. I Only occasionally haul that heavy and not for very long, ie, moving round bales 20 miles from field to farm, it was a load of 22,200#, the gross was 37,000 truck trailer and hay. Mostly it is my skid loader 8k plus trailer approx 8k which is 16k. or a few horses in the stock trailer.

I'm still torn between the two, but a really well built auto sounds tempting.

I guess if I REALLY hated it, I could just sell it.

What gears work well with auto? 373s?

 

Why limit your choices to the 48RE transmission. The new 68RFE behind the new 6.7 would out tow any 48RE 5.9 in stock form. If you read the 07 and newer threads with the 6 speed auto it sounds pretty good. Yah, at first the 6.7 had growing pains but recent reading seems like most of the bugs have been worked out and more and more positive posts are appearing. Just something more to chew on.

 

LOVE MY 48re 3.73 AUTO......................wouldn't think of owning a 6spd. My father-in-law has 05 6 spd and have driven it but never pulled with it. Like everything else...............the new wears off of the 6 spd in town VERY QUICK!!! Pull my fifth wheel loaded at 12,500 ANYWHERE with the auto...........NO PROBLEM..............and still have time to burn up the show off's in thier Mustangs and "ricers" at the lights.................you decide.......

 

Just thought of another thing with the new auto 6speed and 6.7 you get an exhaust brake which would be real nice towing.

 

My 04.5 has an auto and 4.10's. With the four speed auto the rpm's are too high on interstate and yes it hurts mileage. But the auto came into play when I broke my right hand I was still able to drive the truck. No way with manual xmission.

 

Pardon my ignorance but I was just wondering if someone could give me a few examples of what would weigh 37,000 #s.Since I dont hardly ever tow.Thx.

 

OK. I'll explain it again, GROSS weight was 37,000 pounds. The cargo(hay) was 22,220 pounds, Truck was 7500 pounds, trailer was 7500 pounds, which is 15,000 lbs. 15k plus 22k equals 37k

 

It may be a good ideal to look at the new 08's with 6 speed auto or even a C&C with the Asin auto that has a warranty for 180,000 miles. Have you looked at the new 45000 or 5500 trucks?

 

I want 4.10's. I went up from 33's to 35's, and I just don't like how it pulls now.... Plenty of power with the Smarty, but I used to be able to almost yank the trailer out from under the boat at 60..
Anyone with 4.10's want to swap....