I am real happy with my 6 shooter. I had two dodge auto's in earlier 1500 trucks and was not very happy with them. That is like comparing chicken to beef though. I test drove the auto and it was quick but I am enjoying the shifting it is fun.

 

Well, my company has two air compressors which we call the "Fat Twins". One weighs 17,500 and is a tounge-pull. The other weighs in at just over 22,000 and is mounted on a gooseneck. The company services coal bed gas wells that are more often than not in some pretty out of the way places. I pull them up long, steep grades, through nasty ditches, mud snow....all the fun stuff. On the weekends I pull our 25' fifth wheel camper (don't know the weight, but the Old School Ram seems to relax quite a bit after lugging the fat twins around during the week), and an 18' runabout boat (don't even feel it).

Uhh..George and Cheryl, I feel compelled to say that I kind of came across sounding like a presumptious back-side in my earlier post (Siggghhh, here we go again) It was late, I was tired, I probably shouldn't have posted.. blah blah... Anyway I comment about twice a month on the 48RE and how I treat it. I think I am it's biggest cheerleader exept for mabe CumminsLuke. FWIW, I think I would enjoy an e-brake.

 

Six speed for me. Only put 11k on it so far in a wide variety of driving from highway to city traffic, and no regrets at all. Drove an auto just before ordering, and it just didn't feel as good as the 6 speed, the little woman said the same thing. I love it, and would go with it again in a heartbeat.

FWIW - this is my first daily driver with a manual.

 

Hi George & Cheryl-

I don't know if you remember me or not, but we met briefly in LaGrande last fall. This last weekend I pulled my 'Fox to and from Vegas. Mine has a 6 shooter and I love it. I pulled up US 93 (via 318) into Ely at 70mph against a strong headwind. Other than for curves and intersections, I don't think I came out of 6th more than five times. I'm sure you know what that stretch is like and the hills to be found there. I can't comment on the 48RE, but the 6 speed gets it done.

Best Regards,

100 Proof

 

I like my 6sp as well... but then again I'm just a standard kind of guy when it comes to trucks.......

 

I agree with those who've said you should buy what feels best to you. My last diesel was a 99 CrewCab Powerstroke with a manual. Frankly, I can drive automatic or manual and be happy. Before introduction of the 48RE, I would have purchased nothing else but the manual behind a Cummins.

For what it's worth..... I've bragged on my salesman in a different thread. After 30 years of buying trucks, this gentleman is the most knowledgeable truck guy I've ever run across. Jimmy's been selling at this particular dealership for 19 years and has quite a following. He's about 20 miles outside of Dallas and many of his buyers hook up large loads behind their Dodges. (farm and ranch use)

He commented the other day that he has several customers who routinely overload their Cummins, pulling anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 pounds with 48RE equipped trucks. They've seen very few problems with these trucks over the last year, since the introduction of the 48RE.

Also, he said the 325/600 could have gone into the Dodge at the beginning of the '04 model run but Dodge was allowing a little extra time to make sure that the new tranny would hold up behind the new engine.

 

I want to thank everyone that responded to my question about six speed vs the auto. After alot of time and thinking I have decided, 5 speed it is. LOL I have decided to keep my '96 with the 5 speed for awhile.

I was reading the other day where a dodge my come out with a 4500 before to long. If and when they do, I'm there dude.