I'm toying with the idea of getting a manual instead of an automatic. However, I have VERY little experience driving a stick--twice in a little mid-90's Chevy Cavalier during driver's ed, and once in a mid-80's VW Rabbit (a diesel on the Autobahn, by the way, during an 8 hr trip from Dusseldorf to Berlin ). Anyway, other than that all I've done is move trucks <100' when they were blocking a loading dock.

These manuals are heavy-duty, which I know can make them more difficult to row through, but I've also heard that vehicles with lots of torque and power are easier to figure out, as they usually require less simultaneous modulation of the clutch and accelerator (oops, almost said 'gas pedal'). The Cavalier was so severely underpowered that you had to really time the clutch/fuel pedals just right to keep from stalling.

I'm thinking about the manual because it's a little cheaper, and a little better on the MPG. Also from what I've heard here and elsewhere, they are a little more reliable over the long haul (although I know the autos are getting much better). Also, my daily commute is ~20 miles one way, all on county highways so it's not like I'll be getting a tremendous workout driving around town often.

Finally, I'm getting this truck in anticipation of getting horses several years down the road. However, I don't have much of anything to tow or haul now. All I got is my lil JD mower and my dad's aluminum duck boat that he stores at our place (that thing is light). How can I break the motor in without having much to tow?

Thanks for your help. Sorry this post was so long, didn't mean to take up your whole afternoon.

 

I drove manuals mostly growing up, but rowing threw the new Ram is very simple in this truck since I'm not sure if you can ever stall this truck out. I just shift in first and slowly (relatively slow) realease the clutch (so it doesn't jerk when engaged), and after it's released, I hit the gas...not the usual shifting method I was used to with my previous cars. Now, when/if I borrow my brothers jeep, if I'm not thinking about it, I stall the jeep out first thing, b/c I let the clutch out all the way before giving it some gas.
Only thing is, since it's 6 gears, you have to row through fairly quickly when merging, etc., which I also find simple.

As far as breaking it in without heavy hauling...maybe a lot of stop & go traffic driving, and drive at higher RPMs for a while longer...??

Good luck.

 

The 6spd ram is extremely easy to drive, just take off in 2nd when unloaded. It's impossible to stall at idle unloaded in 2nd. Just let the clutch out slowly until she starts to roll and then release. No throttle modulation whatsoever. And the Cummins will break in regardless of towing. It'll just take a few more miles.

 

Thanks. I'll have to try that. I've been driving it like every other manual transmission I've owned. (except that I do start it in 2nd)

 

Thanks for the quick responses.

Does anybody "powershift" in these trucks? Get the RPM's just right and shift without the clutch? I used to work moving furniture for the university while going to college, and our drivers did it in their big trucks all the time (International 4300 with a ~18 box and hydraulic liftgate). I didn't have a CDL, and they didn't let college students drive even if I did. Okay, it's probably not a big truck to most of you, but it was to me at the time. And what can I say, it was a state school and International gave us the best deal.

 

For some reason, the NV5600 doesn't agree with not using the clutch. Every other big transmission I have driven does, and some big ones seem to prefer it. Not the NV5600.

Tad

 

OK, I'm going from memory here from what others have told me, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. The NV5600 has synchros in it. If you shift without the clutch, it wears the transmission if you don't shift perfectly. Big trucks don't have synchros.

The transmission is really fun to drive in my opinion. However I prefer manual trannies to autos anyway, so I can't speak to picking the skills up later in life. As was mentioned earlier, you can't really stall it starting out in second gear.

Quick acceleration runs are a lot harder to do with a stick. You spend most of your time letting the engine slow down for the next gear. As for towing, the manual is awesome, and really shines. I also like it for 'round town driving. Don't know why, maybe it's just more fun.

 

Learning curve? About 2 days and you should be fairly proficeient(sp?) in driving it. Diesel's are extremely easy to learn on.

 

No, I do not power shift. I rather change clutches than gears

Anyhow, maybe I'm old school, but I prefer to row through all six gears regardless of hauling or not...

 

I use 1st when I'm starting slowly on purpose or I'm on a grade. Otherwise it's just too low to use in traffic if you're not heavy.

 

I can shift clutchless into every gear except for 5th gear. For some reason I cannot get it to go from 4th to 5th without grinding it. However, it easily shifts into the other gears without a clutch. That said, I always use the clutch.

Regarding the original question, I think the 6 speed is a pretty easy transmission to learn. As others said, you don't have to apply any pedal when you let out on the clutch. The truck does it for you. I never apply any throttle until the clutch is all the way out. Also, I typically start out in 3rd gear unless I'm loaded or I'm going uphill.

 

As others have said This is one of if not the eisiest manual tranie to drive. The newer trucks have a low end rev limiter that will not alow them to stall unless you realy pop the clutch with a big load on it. I never ever use 1st gear unless I am real not wanting to move more than a few feet. 1st gear is so low you will almost be stoped again by time you get to 2nd. I start in 3rd a lot of the time. The low end limiter will not alow the engine to drop below 800 rpm so in efect it will apply throttle for you till you get the clutch all the way out. The new tranies are a little hard to find the gears in for the first couple thousand miles till the sincros get broke in. I have not tried to power shift this one yet. I had a 91 S-10 with a 5 speed and the 4.3 that I almost never used the clutch on except to start and stop. I have hauled as much as 12000 pounds behind this truck and start in second gear with no throttle, just let the clutch out and away it goes. The only time I try to aply throttle as Ime letting the clutch out is if I am trying to take off in a hurry.

 

It sounds like I'll have to try my best and test drive one along side the auto.

Thanks guys

 

As a newbie I have found two things to be helpful.

1. 500/600 rpm between shifts

2. Shift lever spring centers between 3rd & fourth

 

When I got my truck I had a grand total of about 1 hour driving a stick previously... and it wasn't a good experience. I stalled the car at EVERY light.

I had about an hour drive home from the dealer and I was doing just fine by the time I got home. These trucks are easy to drive. The only problem I had for about a week was consistantly hitting 3rd gear. I would always shift from 2nd to 5th... but that was just a matter of getting a feel for the pattern. Now I rarely miss 3rd.

I've only stalled it once and that is because I started in 3rdand gave it zero accel