I have had my G56 CTD for over two years and 60K miles and the truck is an awesome rig to drive. I have an early G56 with the lower OD ratio, and it works out well for heavy towing. At least I like it. I hardly ever have to shift down, 1st gear gets my big toy hauler moving on hills with no throttle input. It shifts very easily, so much so, my wife really likes to drive the truck more than our auto transmissioned Rubicon. I drove the new 6sp auto and it is nice, and would be a hard choice if I were buying today. The G56 is nice with an exhaust brake. I know the auto works well with it too, but I like to control my truck as much as possible with alot of weight behind it. It is all just opinions, but I have never thought the manual was too tough to drive in traffic, but it could get tiresome if I did it everyday. Overall, you cannot make a bad choice. It would be hard to make a choice if buying today, but a manual is cheaper, and less maintenance costs! I am cheap (US Marine), it weighs in my buying process.

 

G56 all the way. But I do like the auto as well. So I have both....

 

I'm happy with my G56.

 

I had an auto in my '06 dually (5.9). At that time, I was kinda wishing I had a manual, mostly for economy reasons. I traded out of the truck shortly before the prices of diesel skyrocketed. I was only getting 17ish mpg. Now that I am reading you guys with the 6.7 are getting over 20 with the EGR/DPF mods, I am looking to get the next gen body style. I am only getting 13ish with my gasser and I can justify the $1 more per gallon with the better economy. And yes, it will be an automatic.