The suggestion for the shimmy came to me that would be where the TC is locking up, and could well be the issue. That would mean extra carefull checking of the tranny/TC, with possible large bills in the near future. That means probably passing on the truck. I don't want to buy a truck to deal with issues...

 

All the more reason to stick with a manual. Not many times you hear someone say they wish they had an auto unless they are talking about racing.

 

The manual I found and drove had 3'rd synchros gone... Still looking, not eliminating either one (apparently...). I think the kicker for the boss was me driving with a broken arm, then with a broken hand... she really would like me to get an auto... If I see a good lower mileage standard at a reasonable price, it will be gone... But I have to look at the autos too... or I will not be keeping the peace... Not to many short box quad cab manuals available... or not too many lower mileage manuals that are affordable. Add this to single rear wheel and shortbox quad cab... whew... I must like a challenge... :-D

BTW, I found out from my insurance company (and I got a quote from another cause I couldnt' believe it) that insurance on a 3500 is $400/yr cheaper than insurance on a 2500. Weird, eh?

 

I don't know which is better the manual or auto? You can argue it either way, aka. the slipped/burnt clutch and that fifth gear issue. I think both auto/stick have weak areas. Hard to pick a real winner. the cummins just makes too much torque regardless of what you have behind it. It just carnage.Its hard to harness the beast forever.

 

I don't need forever, just a while without a serious bill (ok, I should say... required serious bill... ). What is the 5'th gear issue? Does it affect the 6 speeds or just the 5sp?

Also, a clutch should be a lot cheaper to fix than an auto... isn't it???

 

Its all depends on whats wrong and whats right. Hard to say from 10000ft high, whats wrong. You can put lots of money into a NV4500, but then its darn near bulletproof. There is a cheap fixes for the 5 gear issue. Clutchs, you never buy one big/tuff enough and when you do, its a stiff one and you end up hating it all day long.

Auto, they just cost money, but when done right, wow they work nice. Just buy billet/race stuff. It will still break, but they seem to take a beating better. You have to service the tranny often, the stick you don't have to.

Hard to pick a real decent winner. It depend on you, what you want. You drove your last truck with a 5 speed. Hard to beat a fiver for pulling the RV. I know that I'm not picking sides.

 

Good luck in your search. But I found my truck last may. 01 2500 qc short box 6 speed leather heated seats. Only paid 12500 with 124 k km on it

 

What was wrong with it? Thats a wicked good deal... The type that I can never find

 

A nice big boost leak

But ended up being a cppl problems, my ip went 3 weeks later despite having 15psi at idle. I knew the LSD was shot when I bought it, but turned out the seal was put in backwards and there was minimal oil left in the rearend, so I got the rear end completly rebuilt.

Interior was mint but cd player doesn't work passenger mirror doesn't work and the window washer pump didn't work. Minor stuff, other than the ip.
The real crappy part is I paid $1800 plus instal for a bd 100hp hrvp and it only lasted 8 months then bd gave me the run around for 5 weeks and my truck is still broke down.