Manual vs. Automatic Transmission??

Clean County PW

Clean County PW

Active member
Some of the trucks I had and have are either automatic transmission or Manual. I'm debating on buying another pickup that would be my personal use and also when We need to do parking Garages where I need to bring out my open trailer that would weigh in the vicinity of 12,000 lbs. I'm debating on buying this used truck with the Manual transmission mainly because if I blew the tranny I would think it would be much cheaper to replace then an automatic tranny.

Last year we blew my 2001 Ford F-250 automatic tranny which cost me around $2500 to replace. We also blew my wifes Tahoo Tranny the year before which was an automatic and that cost $2800.

This truck I'm looking at is a 2003 Dodge Diesel that is mint but has the stick shift. I'm starting to think that if I am going to tow large loads the stick may be better.

What do u guys think??
 
cajun cleanin said:
How many big rigs on the road are Automatic?They are manual for a reason I was say.
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Lots of the newer ones are auto. Allison makes a great auto trans. Years ago I used to do a lot of work in and around the city and Long Island. I took one truck and switched it from a stick to a auto. Left leg just got tired. I also had to figure a clutch every 2 years. It was a Chevy and we did it our selves. Back then parts were around 125.00.

Where you are, I prefer auto. Even with a clutch job every 2-3 years (depending on how much use) It equals the life span of a auto in dollar maintenance costs. Although a stick will give you a lot of notice that a new clutch is required. (usually)
 
welder is correct. Automatics are showing up more and more in big trucks. They are finding greater reliability and driver comfort.
If it was me, I would go automatic. I have rowed my way through town enough in my life.
 
Another thing to keep in mind is that nearly all large fleets of small v vehicles are spec'd with automatics. There is a reason for it, and that is usually the bottom line.
 
No question at all about it, its the bottom line, Automatic tranny. If I want to shift gears I will ride my motorcycle.:woot::woot:

Hey John, One more thought. Get an auxiliary oil cooler add on and change the fluid and filter at least every 50K or sooner. Heat really kills an A/T quick. I can usually run 150 - 200k miles without a failure.
 
If you have to get an automatic, the duramax diesel with the allison transmission is the way to go by a mile. That being siad, if you get a cummings diesel, then go with the manual 6 spd creeper gear for first and they have a good tiwing capacity. Dodge is also known for the weak front ends and electrical problems.....so buyer beware! Thats my $0.02
 
offdutyfireman said:
Automatic. If you are going thru that many trannys from different makes, it is your driving style or lack of maintenance. Keep the over drive off and service every 25 thousand miles.
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Driving style affects all of this more than we all know. I have a guy that destroys trannys, anything we put him in he tore it up.
 
NJWashingGuy said:
If you have to get an automatic, the duramax diesel with the allison transmission is the way to go by a mile. That being siad, if you get a cummings diesel, then go with the manual 6 spd creeper gear for first and they have a good tiwing capacity. Dodge is also known for the weak front ends and electrical problems.....so buyer beware! Thats my $0.02
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john has already seen the dodge light... as for the chevy with the alliso., they are not without their problems, either. I.
 
The problem with all of this is I had many different trucks except for Chevy's and most of the trucks were good except for a few things. The Dodge's I always liked the Cummins diesel engine the best mainly because it had decent pulling power with great gas Mileage. There tranny's were skeptical a few years back. The Fords were good but some of there engines as of late have to many foreign parts that were garbage and there diesel mileage was average at best.

So today even though I have 3 Ford Trucks all Diesel 2 with 7.3 liters(Excellent engine) and one with the 6.0 liter which even though is rated better then the 7.3 liters its reputation is no where near what the 7.3 was I may go back to a Cummins...Maybe...or Ford. Depends on the deal.
 
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