Does any of you have 6-speed manual Super Crew Super Duties with gas engines? What do you think of them? Have they been dependable? Does the manual transmission pep the 5.4L up any? Does it help the 6.8L gas milage any (I know, you don't buy a Super Duty for gas milage, but I'm looking for the best compromise). Thanks.

 

No more pep, my mpg is similar to the auto, but especially since you are buying used should take a bit off price (limited market and auto was 1500$ option). So that should buy you alot of gas

 

realistically speaking, you wont find many of them.
the manual transmission was never a popular option, let alone with a 5.4.
the 5.4 was only popular with the work truck crowd, and they dont buy a 4wd truck.
what few you find will either be way out of your price range or beat to death.

as far as performance goes, the manual will give the engine about 10-15 hp more to the wheels.

the ultimate truck IMO is a 5.4 or 6.8 xlt with the extended cab and 6 - 3/4 foot bed.
i'd want cloth bucket 20-4-20 seats, tow mirrors, 4wd, NO ESOF, and a manual transmission with the granny low.

i actually spec'd this truck out (plus or minus a few other options) on ford's website a few years ago and they couldnt find anything that matched.

if i got a diesel, they had a few in my area, but i wanted a gas motor for the simple fact that i cant justify the extra cost of a diesel for how i would be using the truck.

anyway, thats my experience looking for oddball trucks

 

Ya i had huge problems findig mine. I wasnt really looking but the 6000$ rebate plus 1000$ ford rebate for trading in a ford pushed me to it. I couldnt order (11s where already on lots) so i had to get something in stock. I wanted a v10 reg cab 4x4 xl with the cruise control uplifters, no continentals, and snow plow, 250 or 350. Im on east coast and closest i could find was colorado. I decided a 5.4 would be ok and i found 5 to pickfrom in 300mile radius that met most ofthose requirements.

I winder what % of each sd motor was manual trans

 

I agree Super Duty's of any sort (even PSD's) with manual trans on the used lots are few & far between. At least in my area. And to find one configured the way you want will probably be even harder.

I searched for the better part of a year with no luck. All the manuals either had 200k + miles or weren't even close to what I wanted. Seems that people who wanted a manual trans had to special order it, and they hang on to them.

Finally, I gave in and settled for an auto. Can't say I'm that disappointed about it but I was hoping to find a hand shaker.

 

the thing is its just easier to get a 8000 lb boat up a slippery ramp with an automatic.

 

I couldn't find one on the lot in 06 so i ordered one. Will never buy off the lot again.
Truck is all manual.

Pros: Cheaper cost/s,
On average, less brake wear.
Better contol over torque/traction specifically in adverse weather.
Lower maintenance costs.
Higher reliability.

Cons: You have to shift them.

 

Not sure i understand. I always prefered a manual in limited traction situations. Auto has a minimum amount of torque before you even put your foot on the gas, and it is harder to modulate power

 

Unless you are good at driving a manual. Seriously though, I am better at starting out with a manual than an auto. I have less drift back, and I can apply the power more evenly. My truck is an auto, and the trans is the only thing I dislike about it, wish I had a manual like my old truck.

 

With any luck I will before too long...

but I'm going the difficult route since it is an impossible pickup to find.

 

I got exactly what you're looking for, but I ain't selling! LoL

Like some of the others have said, the manual is an extremely difficult and rare bird to find. I had to custom order because there were simply none on the lots in 2009. The ZF6 is a "truck" transmission all right- it's like shifting a dump truck on cold mornings. But boy oh boy, that "Low" gear with it's 5.79:1 ratio is awesome. It even makes my baby 5.4L feel like it could pull a house down. Then- drop the T-Case lever in 4wd Low Range and... wow. You're talking about a crawl ratio even the Jeep Rubicon can't beat.

Personally, I think the manual shift 5.4L trucks feel way better than the auto trucks. And I think they turn better mileage too. But so much of that depends on the driver. All I can say is that I'm extremely pleased with how my truck performs. Since you'll be buying used, you can't be too picky. Good luck with your search!

 

dont get me wrong, i'd kill to have my truck in a manual, but it just wont be happening because they are all out of my price range or beat to hell

 

Good luck finding a 5.4L 6-Speed! I purchased right when the 2011s came out, so I was limited to dealer stock. Mine ended up coming from a dealer close to 300 miles away in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Bone stock, the option list is just blank. The ZF6 is a great transmission, and gives you so much more room to work with mated to the 5.4 motor. I pull a 8500lb GVWR TT and have no trouble at all.

Keep an eye on that axle ratio, though. Mine came stock with the 3.73, and when I upgraded to 34" tires, the truck was a dog while towing. An upgrade to 4.30+Posi fixed that issue, and now I can pull in 4th gear all day long.

Take care and keep searching, you won't be disappointed.

 

Dad has one he would sell if he could.lol
He got a 06 F250 XL CC 6.5ft bed with the 6speed 5.4 combo.
It's just a nice plane jane pick up.
Wished he could have gotten the lower gearing along with the V10.
Would be getting the same mpg.
It's not that bad but he would rethink the motor/tranny if he could.

 

Gotta be a hand shaker, I don't know how to drive an automatic.