I've been debating the pro's and con's of running an Auto vs. a Manual for my rig. I tow once every couple weeks and im debating the swap. For you guys with stock, or Modified transmissions, how many miles do you have on your trans? Can an auto last as long as a manual in a moderate towing setting if maintained properly.
(If you have read my other posts, im thinking about the Goerend TC for my rig if i dont swap)

 

Well since being modified mine has more than 150 k miles with only standard maintenance. (fluid, filter and band adjustments)- I don't tow but I drive on mountain roads regularly, they have from 10% to 16% and with the tight bends it's from 5 to 70 mph and back a lot of times.
So IMO an auto can hold up, especially if modified for your use. Talk to the builder and tell him what you intend to do with it.

AlpineRAM

 

I put 109K on my transmission before it gave me trouble, I tow heavy loads 90% of the time.

I went with Goerends and have towed another 20K now.

 

I have about 108000 on my auto now. My truck is stock except for what is in my sig. I tow with it once in a while, usually about 7,000 lbs. The only big trouble i have had was the gov pressure solenoid and transducer went out. That was at 65,000. I do normal maintenance on it and I am planning on doing a VB and TC soon from goerends.

 

I had 280,000 km before mine decided to mess up the solenoids. We used to haul livestock around (24 foot goose neck). So we were actually surprised how good it treated us.

 

I have 98k on mine and is stock. No problems yet.

 

I have about 111,000 miles on mine. Got completely rebuilt a month ago, and I'm hauling 33k# with it. Holding up awesome! I can be easy at take off then about 35mph floor it and it pulls like nothing I've ever been in! I still have more mods to go too!

P.S. here's something that is worth the investment - BD-power.com look for the auxilary trany cooling system. Cooled my trany about 100 degrees and put amsoil in it and just by doing those 2 things I gained a lot!

 

I have 135k miles now and the tranny is fine. had been towing a 13k 5th wheel, but in May I went to a travel trailer, toy box (5k ) I didn't even know it was there. Now we no longer are doing the toy hauler thing and have switched to a 21 ft TT. (talk about light) But my trans has seen regular fluid and filter changes as well as 3 band adjustments. always useing ATF+4.

 

129k so far. No problems.

 

200K before my first rebuild, towed every mile of the first 175K gooseneck around 12K trailer weight.

Tranny builder said it looked like it quit oiling for some reason. I sure wish I had an auto for playing, this manual is slow, especially when you upgrade to a 13" flywheel, the truck is noticeably slower revving but more torquey off the line. Sometimes in heavy traffic it sucks holding in a "heavy" clutch pedal and rowing, my leg starts to hurt! I'm in shape 200lbs and 25yrs old so when I say leg hurts, it would bother most anyone. That said, when you drop the clutch, it hooks up, no slushiness, just lots of wheel spin!

 

78,000 on mine before she fried. Mopar put in a reman unit it it under my extended warranty I had. Truck has 80,336 on it right now. Probably going to put a good torque convertor and valve body in it now so I don't have to worry about it.

 

52,000 and she goes in next eek for a built one.

 

!99,000 on my stock trans until I switched to a complete Goerend package. The stock never let me down but was late on shifting the 2-3 shift . This truck towed from the day it was new , fifth wheel or a a 9,000 lb race car trailer. The key is regular service and tow with care!

 

Approx. 80,000 on mine before the Valve Body Electronics took a dump.
Used that as a perfect opportunity to change the Valve Body and Torque Converter to a MUCH better aftermarket replacement.

 

Mine towed a horse trailer almost everyday for 186k before i got it. I drove it till 212k before sliddin the plate foward and runnin the smoke screw in and it held up to towing and driving hard till it locked up at 234k. I put a dunrite vb in it and Its took drag racin and got 4 sled pulls on it now and still doin good at 246k.