Texas Cowboy

My 06' 6-speed is awesome! Would not trade it for the world. Heck, was hard enough to find a single cab! I bought this truck pretty much to tow around my equipment and the cows. Pulls my 16' Gooseneck Stock trailer with ease. Dont even know it's back there. But he real work comes pulling the 34'(cannot remember the exact lenght, know it over 30') stock trailerr for hauling calves to the market. I can put 18 grown cows on it tow like nothing. The first gear is great when towing this much weight around. IMO the 6-speed is built for towing heavy stuff and does so very well. Thats why I bought the 06' megacab with an auto. Great for the town and highway trips to my wifes rodeo events. But the auto still does not pull the trialers around like the 6-speed. My 6-speed even gets better mpg to boot. 23mpg on average and around 17 pulling!

mule3010

I've always been curious as to why the autos are rated to tow more than the the manuals?
Joe

XLR8R

I don't know why some guys complain about their G56.

It's light, strong and proven in the medium truck market.
Even with the long throws, it shifts smoothly during normal driving and powershifts darn near as fast as the Hurst RamRod on top of the GTO's M21... I can keep boost over 30psi rowing through the quarter... no-lift shifts!

staarma

It's because auto trans equipped trucks are lighter overall so their capacity is slightly higher. Same reason for the 2wd versus the same truck in 4wd...lighter.

hatchy

If you had a 07 megacab, I probably would!

y22man

I know I love my manual. I know my dad loves his.

P.J

Pretty much anyone who's been left stranded with about NO warning with an auto LOVES their manual. At least that is the main reason I refused to even test drive any autos, just didn't care to.

ratlratl

What's the hurry? The advantages are so numerous when you have to use the truck for what it's made for. If it's traffic behind you, then that's the easy part. Clutch it in and give it a half throttle pat or two. When they can see again you'll be well into fourth. I'm on my second grinder now, after four soft-shifters and I couldn't be happier. The G56 is a far cry better than the NV I had in my '02. After having to pull over while crossing the Smokies ,when my trans temp rode at 250, I started planning again to get away from autos. Also, I love being locked-up when I put it in gear, and not being out of lock up until I stop, or clutch in again. Just my $.02.

53 willys

I'm with you... my 01 CTD Auto left me and the whole family stranded on the side of the road in 100* temps because of a bad Governor pressure sensor/solenoid
I love my G-unit

06trx

I think that going to 315 tires was the best thing I did for my G-56. Befor that I would find myself trying to shift into 7th gear. Plus after 72,000 mi. and a Southbend 3600 DD. , I love it!!!!

DREDnot

I'm really happy with the 6 speed. Its what made me decide to pony up and get this truck. The shifts were a little stiff compared to my Jeep's 6 speed but today I swapped out the factory ATF fill for Amsoil ATF.
MAN what a difference!!!
Shifts much smoother and quicker. Saw a .7 MPG increase in my 2000 RPM flat cruise test stretch!

Fisherguy

Not me, love my G56, I knew I HAD to have a manual, even just my BDTD would fry an auto...
No regrets, if I wanted a rocket to race I wouldn't have bought an 8000 pound truck!

RobG

I love my G56 too. I think it shifts really well and I have no trouble getting off the line or keeping up with traffic, and I'm 100% stock. Yeah it's a tad slow until you get into the boost but unless you're trying to race somebody, it's just fine. My only complaint is the super-short top gear.

I'm gonna put a Smarty on eventually, but just don't have the $$ right now for it and gauges. Wish I did because I'm headed out of town next week for a few weeks of ATVing, and am taking my 15k 5th wheel.

My next truck will be a 4500 with the AISIN auto, because I trust it more than the anything Dodge offers, and the tall top gear will be nice when unloaded.

My 01 6sp was really nice... 4.10's and a US Gear Overdrive. I think the 4.10s work better when towing heavier because the gear spacing is a lot better, and being able to split gears was great. But I _hated_ the NV5600. It was the reason I got the 03 in an automatic. Now with the G56, I'm in heaven again!

Rob

ModManiac

6 speeds are the only way to go if your going to do any type of towing, especially heavy loads. I agree with what other guys are saying, if you want something fast buy something that is made to go fast instead of a truck that is over 7000lbs.

SundayMoney

The only reason I bought a Dodge was the fact that they still offer a manual transmission in their HD trucks.

When I bought my truck,GM had stopped offering a manual,not even an option anymore.

I won't drive another Ford,had one and it was the worst vehicle I've ever owned.

It was refreshing to go to the dealer and actually see a decent selection of manual trucks.