I can't figure out how to drink coffee, eat a roll, talk on the cell phone, write down a message, drive and then have time to shift? It's auto for me baby, and I wish they made an auto pilot!

 

Companies are not going to spend that kind of money on a "WORK TRUCK" for some driver that makes about $40,000

 

Geico266,

It is easy with the automagic. Drink coffee witha straw in the cup, hold the pen to write with tight agains the coffee cup. Write on a pad attatched to your leg and have a hands free head set for the cell phone. If you get too busy steer with the leg that is not beeing used as the is no clutch to depress.

 

Sister-in-law and hubby drove an 18 wheeler with an automatic. I think is was a White. not sure. If it went from light to heavy load or vise versa, the tranny took a little time to adjust the shift points to the new load. Had cruise control on it also
Sure nicer that the 5 speeds with split rear end I drove 50 or so years ago. Chheees a long time.

 

Lets face it this is 2005. There should not be ANY reason that we still have to shift manually! A good auto would place the RPMs in the perfect range at all times and give you braking as well. However considering the fact that DC still does not have an appropriate auto trans for the times, for the engine we prefer the decision is a tough one. Example: All of the trash trucks in our area have autos, and believe me they are a technological wonder. They take a tremendous beating, stop go, stop go, incredible amount of cycling back and forth. A manny trans would not hold up. If DC would use a Mercedes trans or a HONDA auto (beautiful trans) then WOW, it would not even be a consideration. AUTO all the way. Having said that if you keep your truck stock and take care of it then an auto should be fine. If I was driving long distance pulling heavy loads like a lot of guys here do I would get a manny. I drive a lot of stop go so an auto is my choice, knowing it needs to be built correctly for my application.

 

Some of the larger truckload carriers are going to all autos in thieir big rigs. Part of the reason is they can't find enough quailied drivers so they figure using autos willl enable them to get just about any idiot to drive one.

 

That’s an inexcusable reason to use an auto!!!!!!! It does not take a "Rocket Scientist" to learn how to shift..... Come on!. Now if you want to intentionally beat something you could do that regardless of the trans choice. Today’s automotive firms CAN produce a reliable heavy-duty auto trans if they wished to. It’s easier to fall back on the old designs and upgrade until the public responds with a backlash.

 

Automatics are only for those that can't drive. I always thought that automatics were only for women drivers. That's girlfriends comment. Every truck should have the best transmission built the 18 spd.

 

Yeah I guess I'm not as macho as some here. After driving the big rig all week (375DD/10sp Fuller) the last thing I want to do is shift more gears when I'm off work. After about 2 milllon miles of shifting (give or take) I love my autos in my personal vehicles.

 

Like with most things in life there are tradeoffs, and auto vs manual isn't any different. Looking back not too far the reason that so many Dodges were sold with manuals is that the automatics weren't holding up. When I bought my truck I wanted a manual, and when I mentioned to a coworker that most Dodges were sold with manuals he didn't believe me. After checking with the dealer he acknowledged that it was true, although with the newer auto it might be changing. Fords weren't any better as a few coworkers with autos in their Ford trucks said that they'd never buy another one with an auto, and some have had to rebuild theirs at less than 100k miles. The Allison gets a lot of praise but it too seems to have it's problems, even with defueling in 1st and 5th to protect itself.

People complain about engine complexity, with all of the computers and sensors and such, but the autos seems to almost be as complicated, so with an auto you end up with 2x the 'computer stuff'. With a manual you often end up with replacing a clutch at some point and in our trucks it's not cheap to do so, but rebuilding an auto is even more expensive. Still, autos are probably easier on the engine, after seeing how high I need to need to rev mine before shifting when starting from a stop on a steeper hill, and because tow limits seem higher with an auto than with a stick on some guidelines. Even if an auto were demonstrated to be as reliable and durable as a manual I'd probably still stay with a stick, as an auto is still a lot more complicated and offers just more stuff to go wrong over 15 to 20 years.

 

An automatic that is the same strength as a manual is extremely expensive as compared to a manual. The transmission in that garbage truck is very expensive and is not geared for the long haul road use. If you had a big Allison in your truck and it went out, it would total the truck so far as insurance goes.

In the real world, with the transmissions that are available, when towing heavy, the manual is safer for hills, longer lasting, better economy and just built for the job. You want to do something interesting, look into the prices of an automatic that is geared for pulling off from the side of a hill and still achieves 70 mph at a favorable rpm for engine longevity and economy. An Allison 4060 will do the job on the hill with 35,000 pounds, but will wind out in the 60's for speed. So getting an automatic that will handle 400 horse (or 300 in a Dodge), start up a hill with 30,000 pounds with no strain on the trans, and still run 2100 at 70 mph, with the necessary gears to handle hills and weight, is a very expensive deal.

My six speed does this readily. If you are not good at it a clutch will fix it. With the automatic (properly sized), if you break it, you need a very large loan. Going down steep hills loaded heavy is a completely different thing, automatics that are provided for our trucks just do not have the gearing and lockup capabilities for this use.

Automatics also double the wear on the brakes as opposed to a properly driven manual. I have driven about every combination of transmission in the past, I am comfortable with a manual, especially in a big truck.

On some vehicles an automatic is used to make up for lack of torque, which is why the RV person recommended the auto. A half ton pickup truck with an auto will way out pull a standard trans in the same vehicle. If a person does not have the ability to drive a manual in a class 8 truck, he has no business in the drivers seat. Putting him there is just exposing cars to death. As was said, the large RV with the diesel in the rear is easier to manufacture with an automatic. Years ago, I drive Trailways Eagles on charter service. No one wanted to drive the automatics. We did have some GM busses that had the three speed auto behind a Detroit, they were fast on speed, but hell on hills coming down. They also had constant problems with the trans.

The industry has yet to build a better setup for a big truck than a 13 speed or 4x4, and any of the variations of them out there.

 

If you pull heavy loads, the auto's are simply not built for it. Up until 2003, the auto's had a detuned CTD because they could not handle the torque. Want the HO motor, lot's of torque? Not avilable with anything but 6 speed. If you put $2k to $4k in the auto, it might hold up as well(or not?). Auto's get hot & break. Heavy loads generate more heat. I have read that the Dodge pre 03(maybe 05) auto's are not very reliable, relatively speaking.
The new auto's are supposed to handle the 610 torque. How well they will hold up, remains to be seen.
The 6 speed with 4.10's will handle anything. EZ to shift up & down, more control on the downgrades. Can do Jake brake. Better mileage, more control.

 

supr said it. An auto+4.10 will handle it but still be less reliable, more heat, less mileage, MUCH more annoying going down hills and in traffic (lay on the brakes instead of put 'er in 4th and let it coast...) more expensive to maintain, etc.

 

I prefer the six speed in my truck for towing. I've towed with the automatic in the past and had no were near the control I have with the six speed and jake brake.

I plan to keep this truck for another 5 years. When I do my clutch in the future, I am considering changing the ratio of 5th and 6th gear in my NV5600, if I can find the gears, so in fifth gear I'll be turning 2300 rpms at 65mph. (2600 now at 65 in fifth) Thats like a 4:10 in sixth. I don't move enough air in the engine unless I'm either running 70+ or in fifth gear at 60 mph. I would like sixth gear to be a little higher running about 1750 at 70mph instead of 2000 rpm's. My best fuel mileage is below 2000 rpm's running light.

I'm going to do the syncros while I have the tranny apart. 3rd gear is not getting any better at 135k on clock. At least I know when it plans to forget to work now and don't grind em up.

Dave

 

Did any of you people concider the fact that you CANT lockout overdrive in the 2005 48re auto with the cummins like in previous years?? So common sence tells me your going to have a real gear hunter there between 3rd and 4th. Dont let the dealers tell you the trans is so smart nowdays that you dont need overdrive lockout now for towing.