Which do you prefer and why?


OK. How about Manual vs. Automatic?

 

6-spd= you get the HO Motor ,3.55 rear gear, and great mileage!!! Plus it tows great!!

 

i have 5 speed with 3.55's and Im always wanting that 6th gear. Espcially down the highway

 

You're not missing anything on the highway.... Final ratios between the 5 speed and 6 speed are extremely close... .75:1 in 5th for the NV4500 and .73:1 in 6th for the NV5600. The real difference is in the mid-range... in the NV5600 you have 2nd, 3rd, 4th to cover ratio differences from 1st(5.63:1) to 5th(1:1) whereas in the NV4500 you only have 2nd, 3rd to cover 1st(5.61:1) to 4th(1:1).

RPM v. Speed comparison

There are some other differences in the transmissions as well... input shaft diameter, clutch disc diameter, input torque rating...

I drive my 6 speed everyday and the real drawback is stop and go traffic... you're constantly shifting especially if you use 1st to takeoff.

 

Well, I can't get technical like most of these diesel junkies, but I can tell you I had a '99 3500 4x4 5 speed SO it was a complete dog. It was totally stock except for K&N filter and straigh pipe. It wouldn't pull a gooseneck up a hill unloaded. I was very dissappointed in it. I bought this '02 3500 4x4 6 speed HO and man, what a difference. This truck, stock with same filter and pipe would pull my old '99 backwards up a hill. Most of the difference may be the HO vs. SO, but I sure like the 6 speed when pulling large loads. You can't have enough gears in my opinion. Now, the '02 WAS missing some much needed power...at least until the recent upgrades!!!!

5 speed

6 speed

That's my 'un-technical' vote.

 

this is a little off topic but those of us who drive 6spds all the time you ever try to drive a 5spd again LOL I always feel like a 15yr old learning to drive all over again not having the shift pattern close to gether and reverse were did it go. As for the differnce I think along the same way as 4x4dually the closer gears makes for a less of a throw than the 5spd so you can keep your rpms better.

 

I have both I like the 6spd better towing heavy but the 5spd is easyer to shift round town

 

I like my 5 spd. I don't tow real heavy so 5 gears is plenty. For driving around town 5 gears is plenty to row through. I don't need one more gear to split all the gears up. If you tow heavy alot, the 6er is the way to go. If not, go for a 5er.

 

The only drawback to the 6er is that the shifts aren't as smooth. That's IT. I love my 6er and never tow. The gear splits are perfect.

jh

 

Here's my take on it:

5 speed, you get the SO 235HP engine with more potential power (Not such a big deal now with the HRVP becoming more popular). Less gears to row if you plan on raceing......i hear its easier....

BUT i can say this.....3.55's with 315 tires...i wish i had a 6 speed. There is no good gear between 3rd and 4th going about 30-35 MPH.

Towing heavy or sled pulling -- 6 Speed

Racing -- I would say 5 speed...less weight (195 Lbs Dry to 360 Lbs Dry) and less gears to miss.....

Every day......both are good.....

 

I do have to say I agree with most of these post. I have had my 6 speed for almost 4 years now and I still miss the dang gears sometimes and like you say, it doesn't shift smooth. On the other side of that....we are driving...at least I'm driving a 1 ton truck. If it were wanted smooth, we should have bought a honda. Now, get used to driving a '02 (or 2nd gen) 6 speed and then get in your buddies brand new '06 6 speed and head out for Indiana. Now that is a change. I love the new shorter shifter, but man does it feel weird how the new trucks shift and sound. It freaked me out.

 

ok two more elements added.

NV4500
NV5600
G56
48RE


Now which do you pick?

 

I love my 6 speed. Very easy to run from 1-6 and downshift without using the clutch. geared right to pull a house too!!!

 

price being no option, I'd take a full billet 48RE

price being an option, I'll take the 5sp... easier to shift, way cheaper/easier to fix, and seems to be less breakage prone than the 5600

once you get some fuel and start turning some RPM, the "need" for another gear disappears

 

Ahem...5th gear nuts...inputs shafts....smaller clutch.....

5600 breakage is rare, unless you know something all the rest of us don't (which is possible, given your Skunk Works connections)

HTY