Tow vehicle? For a cardolly/full trailer...

[808BMW]

808

how man of those shift do you really use the clutch for other that starting an stopping? I know, you aint fooling me.

Haha well yeah I only use it once, but like I said, my leg aint complaining ;)

[ping65810]

Autos are just as easy to replace as a manual. Either way involves a ton of work typicaly, and not too much more. Plus autos dont just crap out out of the blue unless you do something really stupid. They will gradually go out, but you know well in advance when that happens. I like both auto and manual, but for the trucks I like the auto thats in them

[mrsleeve]

808

how man of those shift do you really use the clutch for other that starting an stopping? I know, you aint fooling me.

[808BMW]

Auto's WILL die eventually, and it aint no easy fix.

Manuals die if you can't drive for shit.

I'd rather have something that breaks because I'm a dipshit, not just crap out for no reason.

I've driven big 5/6/9/10/12/18 speed trucks all day in stop and go traffic and my leg doesn't start whining like a waffleswaffleswaffleswaffleswaffles.

[Nygdup]

I hate manual large trucks personally, having an auto is alot nicer.

+1

[Jscotty]

One of the things that I don't like about Ford clutches is that you have to push them so doggone hard and you gotta push it so far in order to make it disengage. Its not so bad in the first 3 to 5 shifts.. but as it was said, in traffic your knee will be sore after about 20 minutes. When I 19 I didn't mind... but now that I am approaching my late 30's a stick in traffic driving a ford gets old pretty quickly.

[Charlie]

I hate manual large trucks personally, having an auto is alot nicer. I drove a 6sp F350 and it drove me crazy shifting all the time and managing that large of a vehicle.

Agreed, I had a manual 2006 F250 Gasser for about 4 days, and that thing drove me nuts in traffic. Weird gear ratio selections, horrendous clutch. I'd go nuts if I had to DD that thing with a stick.

-Charlie

[backtrail69]

I hate manual large trucks personally, having an auto is alot nicer. I drove a 6sp F350 and it drove me crazy shifting all the time and managing that large of a vehicle. That being said I realy like 5sp mid sized SUVs and trucks. Like 4runners and Tacomas.

[Charlie]

Can I assume, that a truck with a manual will be a lot better tow than a auto? Autos scare me, never owned one, never want to.

I wouldn't assume that. In the gasser range, the manual tranny trucks are ususally rated about 2-2500 lbs less in terms of towing capacity. The auto trannies in your newer diesels are plenty strong as well. For a big heavy vehicle that might see DD & Traffic usage, I see no issues with a slushbox.

-Charlie

[Jscotty]

I think that its cost effective for the manufacturer to use auto trannies. Autos are probably cheaper to build/buy and then on the flip side they can charge more for it as an added option.

Also, fleet customers probably have a preference for autos because changing the fluid is much cheaper than replacing a clutch disk, pressure plate, and flywheel. And I don't know how accurate this is because when I worked in a blue collar industry, we all drove Toyota Tacoma pickup trucks. We had over 100 employees in our shop and every truck had a manual transmission. In the 5 years that I worked there, I had never heard anyone complain about a bad clutch.

We also had a handful of S-10's for the wussies who weren't man enough to learn how to drive stick but if your truck broke down, you had better learned how to drive a stick if you want to come back to work tomorrow.

[JasonC]

Alot of trucks don't come with manual's no more cause people don't know how to drive them or are to lazy to shift.

[mrsleeve]

^^^^^

My self I would want a truck in auto, I know I will get shit for this but when towing with a manual a lot you see cooked clutches, an other that maybe a dodge good luck finding a manual trans. Autos are nothing to be scared of as long as you keep the fluid changed an if need be put in an after market cooler. An if you go GM 3/4 ton you will get 1 of the 2 most reliable autos ever made the turbo 400 (3 speed) or the 4l80(E) which is just a 400 w/OD. I had a buddy with a 400 that quite working (right) an he had me look at it, I pulled the dip stick it looked like the motor oil it was so burnt. So I just changed the filter an flushed it out with fresh an it was back to pullin 8500lbs of horse trailer (500 miles a week) an still is to this day an it was 5 years ago.

[george graves]

I can't figure out for the life of me why do many 3/4 ton work trucks leave the factory with an auto?

Locally for me, Ford is the majority of trucks (apperiently I live in ford counrty!!!)

Can I assume, that a truck with a manual will be a lot better tow than a auto? Autos scare me, never owned one, never want to.

I swear, the world of truck is so crazy...I'm way over my head...

[2002maniac]

Anyone ever tow a car with a 5 spd 4runner? I'm thinking about picking up an early 90's example as a hauler/tow. Keep in mind it won't be towing often, maybe once or twice a month.

GUTLESS

[2002maniac]

When I was 16 I had a '89 F150 with the 4.9 inline-6 and 5-speed. That was an awesome truck! Plenty of torque and still got decent gas mileage (in the 20's!)

I towed a 2,000 pound trailer up the conejo grade at 70mph to give you an idea of capability.