I had a manual 99 XLT Flareside 4X4 with off road and towing package built for me. There was no way I could find what I wanted on the lot and I can't live with an automatic transmission.
Trouble was, the towing capacity was rated at around 2,200 Lbs. The identical rig with auto had around 7400 pounds or so of towing capacity if I remember correctly.
I have a 21 foot Mariah boat. With trailer and loaded, it is right around 6,500 pounds. I bought it in Oregon and towed it down to Arizona. We load it up and go over San Francisco Peak around Flagstaff from Phoenix to Lake Powell every summer. If you guys ever get passed by a red truck towing a red boat at 85 miles an hour, that would be me. There is no way I would barrel than 7% grades with my boat in tow having to depend on brakes and a slush box.
If someone can shed light on why the tow rating was so low, I would love to know. I always figured they assumed someone wouldn't know what they were doing and burn up the clutch and sue them.
It has 110,000 miles on it. I have a dual turbo Bimmer to get jiggy with (it has 60 more horses and 40 more foot pounds of torque than my truck) and go on dates. Unless Ford comes up with a six speed manual, I think I'll put it in my will that I want to be burried in it.
I had a manual 99 XLT Flareside 4X4 with off road and towing package built for me. There was no way I could find what I wanted on the lot and I can't live with an automatic transmission.
Trouble was, the towing capacity was rated at around 2,200 Lbs. The identical rig with auto had around 7400 pounds or so of towing capacity if I remember correctly.
I have a 21 foot Mariah boat. With trailer and loaded, it is right around 6,500 pounds. I bought it in Oregon and towed it down to Arizona. We load it up and go over San Francisco Peak around Flagstaff from Phoenix to Lake Powell every summer. If you guys ever get passed by a red truck towing a red boat at 85 miles an hour, that would be me. There is no way I would barrel than 7% grades with my boat in tow having to depend on brakes and a slush box.
If someone can shed light on why the tow rating was so low, I would love to know. I always figured they assumed someone wouldn't know what they were doing and burn up the clutch and sue them.
It has 110,000 miles on it. I have a dual turbo Bimmer to get jiggy with (it has 60 more horses and 40 more foot pounds of torque than my truck) and go on dates. Unless Ford comes up with a six speed manual, I think I'll put it in my will that I want to be burried in it.
Shawn
Phoenix
Please god direct the state patrol to wherever your towing a 6500 lb boat at 85 mph before you kill someone.....
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2007 Lariat screw - tri coat met - chrome package - Black leather captains chairs - sunroof - audiophile
Unfortunaly, the 5 speeds used in the F150's is a weak Mazda built unit. If they had the ZF 5-speed, all would be good. It coes in the SD's but not the F150's.
Unfortunaly, the 5 speeds used in the F150's is a weak Mazda built unit. If they had the ZF 5-speed, all would be good. It coes in the SD's but not the F150's.
At one point in time the tow rating was based on the braking capability of the tow vehicle. I think that is largely in the past. I beleive you are right on about the tranny. I read someplace on FTE, that some of the trannies were manufactured by Mitsubishi. I personnally do not know. My nephew was a Ford mechanic back in the 90's and he never heard of such a thing. Then again he bought a 95 F-150 with a 5 speed and swore at it, and nearly swore off Fords because of the cheap Mazda tranny. My 94 is doing just fine with 150K+ miles...then again, I have an autobox. As a young man I said no to the slush box. Now, I like that option in a truck to pull with.
And shawn_speed, that engine isn't going to stop you using any gearshift on a downgrade. Maybe an upgrade. Try it sometime, you will over rev the engine first. Then pop it! Adios muchachos!
The Mazda tranny is woafully weak. But the aftermarket has addressed most of the weakness's. If you ever need to do any work on it. Do some research on the upgrades.
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93 F One Fiddy- 5.0/AOD/3.55 230K OEM
93 F Two Fiddy Scab- 7.3/ZF5/3.55/Sidewinder II,94 Turbo pump,G Inj's, Velvet Ride, Ride Rite Rear, Turbo Bumper, Alcoa's
85 F Two Fiddy-6.9/C6/3.54/ Holley Red, Racor, Soup Bowl,AutoJet 3",Ride Rite Rear
6,500 LBS is well within reason for a fullsize truck. Used to pul that much with an S-10
6,500 lbs was not the problem. It was 6,500 lbs. at 85MPH that was the problem. A little fishstailing or need to stop quickly at that speed spells disaster when towing that much weight with anything.
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2004 XLT Regular Cab, Short Bed, 4X4 with 5.4 and 3.73.
6,500 lbs was not the problem. It was 6,500 lbs. at 85MPH that was the problem. A little fishstailing or need to stop quickly at that speed spells disaster when towing that much weight with anything.
I thought that was the whole point of this poll. Why would anyone want the manual instead of a slushbox?
The 4.6 L V8 is hooked to a Mazda 5 speed transmission. I have towed the boat since 2001 and never had any problems. I mentioned the 85mph because the trailer is so easy to control and bring down in speed with a combination of braking and down shifting. The higher speeds also put the engine in the sweet part of the 4.6's torque curve just over 3000 rpm in 5th gear. The engine quites down and the ride gets real smooth over 70 mph.
Didn't really have a category for my answer so I didn't vote. I did want an auto when I purchased my 05 as it does become tiring with a manual in stop and go traffic in Dallas/Houston/Austin/San Antonio etc.
Notwithstanding that, the reason I would probably not consider a manual has not so much to do with the transmission available (Mazda or ZF) but with the fact that I have had my fill of hydraulic clutches. And that, as far as I know, is the only design offered by any manufacturer. I understand the reasoning behind it (less pedal effort and no need for clutch adjustment). However, I have no problem manually adjusting the clutch on my 77 (mechanical linkage) when needed. And after it's done, I don't have to worry about failing slave and/or master cylinders, the pushrod connector on the pedal shaft failing, etc. And I have been there and done all that.
Just my .02 and short rant about hydraulic clutches.
I am not a huge fan hydraulic clutches either, but I can see where the wet clutch is better now days. In addition to the reasons that you mentioned, you no longer have to worry about a mechanical linkage failing or about space requirements for the mechanical linkage or a clutch cable.
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Chris
1994 Mustang GT
1992 Explorer XLT
2000 Expedition EB
I would never buy a new truck. The lack of choice in transmission is only part of the reason. And the things I expect from a $50k+ truck will not be offered for some reason.
I learned to drive on auto, and later learned stick, and I have to admit, stick really grew on me. I noticed that it keeps you much more in tune with the vehicle, and forces you to plan ahead when in traffic. Driving while on a cell phone is NOT an option while driving stick, same goes for many other multi-tasking behind the wheel when both hands are needed to maintain control.
Driving in snow was the real eye opener though, the diesel 1987 ranger we have is very pradictable and forgiving in slipery situations, engine braking gives exellent recovery ability in low traction conditions no ABS though (which we happen to like). My Sister and I had a lot of fun during the last big snowfall driving her little diesel.
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1986 F250HD Ex cab Fresh built up 6.9L diesel Lariat AC leather seats power everything w/full cluster, sterling rear 3.08LS gears, E4OD trans, ram intake ATS 088 turbo
1986 F150 Ex cab Lariat rollercam 5.0L on LPG AOD trans 3.55 gears 390 000Ks
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Lariat AC leather seats power everything w/full cluster, sterling rear 3.08LS gears, E4OD trans, ram intake ATS 088 turbo
