Just wanted to get your input before I buy my next rig.

Probably a 12 valve, 94-98.5


Should I go with manual or auto for towing?

Thanks

 

having an auto 2nd gen now, and having had a manual 3rd gen in the past, I would say manual for a 2nd gen. If you were getting a 6.7, then it could go either way.

 

go with the manual. The stock auto is junk even when your not towing, i want to swap a 5spd into mine

 

MANUAL, for sure.
Unless you want to put a lot of money into the auto.
good luck
Cory

 

Agree if your keeping the trans stock. But if your willing to put in some $$$$ an auto is so much easier, I can even let the DW pull our TT.

 

My Goerend transmission & converter cost about the same as the upgraded clutch you need to keep manual connected after turning up the power.

If I towed all the time, rowing (manual) is my choice. For a combination, I really like my Goerend.

Auto are usually easier to find and make sure to bid it down due to the weak auto versus the manual you really want to purchase, too.

12 valves are much cheaper to turn up the power, too.

 

If you decide one day to install an exhaust brake, it'll work much better with a manual.

Also, consider how many complaints you hear on here about how people's autos shift: too hard, too soft, too early, too late. If you get a manual, you can make it shift exactly how you want, every single time.

 

I agree. You will have a much more enjoyable drive in hills with an exhaust brake.

If you are pulling any weight, the 6 spd (no bias here ) will be nicer if you are driving in the mountains.

 

I vote for the manual 6 speed. All the control you want, and 6 speeds forward. And my wife can drive a manual, so it's not a problem.

 

The years I am looking at has a 5 speed I think. Are they still good enough?

 

The 5 speeds are a pretty strong tranny, but if you add much power to the motor it will require an upgraded clutch.

Cory

 

I had a 97 (292hp/812tq) 5spd 3.54. I had to put in the mainshaft to fix 5th and a con-o clutch and loved it as long as I had my old ~7200lb 5er. The gears were WAY too far apart for the weight I have now with the 3.54 but 4.10 would be fine with a 5spd. I'd surely have a 5spd again for towing lite but my 6sp is WAY better for towing heavy. No autos til I get lazy or my knees get worse! Craig

 

Manual unless you have a lot of $$$ to beef up the auto. but then again, you still lose HP with an auto. I also have a Duramax with an allison, it is good, but Id still like a manual,

 

I didn't know that Goerend can be had for about $1k! Now I am wondering why are all the auto tranny guys are not going for one
Perhaps this was a bit of exaggeration and the billet tranny might in fact be closer to $6-7k, whereas even a DD clutch is only $2.3k, and a perfectly suitable single disk is around a thousand.
As far as the gearing goes on a 5-speed, it plainly sucks. I tow a 10k trailer in the mountains and it is impossible to upshift from 3rd to 4th going uphill, even if I have no problem accelerating in the 3rd gear. Once in 4th you end up around 1600 rpm and accelerating in direct drive from there on an uphill can be a cause for some melted pistons Some people own and swear by a gear splitter but it is too expensive for me.

 

I have the 5spd in my 97 with 3:54's and 33" tall tires it's split a little wide on hills but I can live with that, but my camper is only 4k. The 5 spd is alot easier to drive around than the 6 spds.

I live in So Cal so I don't see many hills. If I go north on 5 I have the Grape vine but that's only about 30 miles of a pull no big deal. North on the 395 is Sherwin Grade if I want to go to Mammoth it's 30 miles after 300 miles of flats.

If you lived in Colorado the 4:10's might be better.

Yeah you'll have to buy a new clutch for it but that's a maintenance item and won't break the bank.

I'd be more concerned with the crappy front end if you buy a 4x. Spend your money on upgraded front end parts, better brakes and SS brake lines.

Fix the KDP.