Hi guys.

Listen bros, I got a serious question for all of you. Need alot of FOR REAL responses please! I am a current 98' F150 owner. My truck works fine.
I need something bigger for all I'm starting to do now with work. I have
seriously considered all the different brands of 3/4 ton work trucks available.
I did - and still do like them all. I had considered gas and diesel. Cummins was my first choice in diesel. Dodge makes a nice truck. GM was my first choice in gas. They make a nice truck also. Ford in the back of my mind was probably a little bit better than both in terms of overall build quality. But 6.0 PSD issues I had heard of along with OHC gasoline powered engines made them less
appealing to me than the other two brands. After testing a new Cummins and seeing the price I finally decided I could live without a diesel rig, and GM seems to be a little too proud of their gas powered trucks for my taste - at least the dealers are in my area. So I let the whole issue go and get back to work (siding and roofing).

Three months later I get the same yearning again. This time I decide a new HEMI powered Ram will do. I test one out with a 5 speed NV4500. REALLY RARE. REALLY NICE. The gearing allowed this thing to get in its high RPM powerband nicely. Power was immediate. The feel of driving a manual again was great. Was all but done with my decision when a friend suggested the 5.4L 3 valve for its "low end torque". I decided I'd give it a try just for giggles. Would have to be a manual though(I love manual trannys). Also was'int sold on the new look of the Super Duty. In my eyes it was no more than the same old truck with a new ugly front end. God I must be boring you guys by now...

Anyways turns out theres no 5.4L 6 speeds to see at any dealership. Decided today to look for the last time at the closest one to my house, since they had more trucks in stock than I had seen before. Mind you my mind was pretty set on the Dodge I'd driven anyways. Still no 6 speed 5.4 liters. Then this one salesman does something I'll always be grateful for. He takes me around back and introduces me to the 2005 6.0 PSD. I cannot find the words........

It was a 2005 XL 4x2 reg cab PSD/Torqueshift. Had the XL decor pkg and air conditioning. Offered me a test drive. IM IN LOVE. I am SOO IMPRESSED!!
This transmission is awesome! I have never driven any automatic even close to it. The engine made me interested in the rest of the truck as well. I took the time to check out the axles and springs, frame and wheels, etc. This is NOT a 2004 truck with different front end. This is the best truck Ford has ever built from what I've seen. I make this statement from nothing more than observation and a test drive. And I know I'm right. This is not only the best truck Ford has ever built, but from an overall quality standpoint I'd say it's the best truck ever built by anyone period. The front end has grown on me - I immediately liked it after my test drive. And IMO the argent grey looks better than the chromed version on this truck - its a little less in your face so to speak.

The heart of this beast is the PSD. I will have THIS engine in THIS truck - no doubt. What was I thinking wanting to rev a small block gasser to 50,000 RPM's to get pulling power? Geezzz!... I AM GLAD TO PAY 5000.00 MORE FOR THIS ENGINE!

Well...time for my question. I do not know which transmission I want. I have looked up posts about this around here, but not too many address manual transmission performance in this rig - just a whole lot about the advantages/disadvantages of a manual vs auto. I cannot believe I need to ask someone else for advice in choosing a transmission - one being an auto! I guess that in itself is a true testament to the impression this automatic made on me. I do think I would slightly prefer the manual still. But I have heard that they do not launch very well with this truck due to the way the turbo delays boost till 1700 or so RPM. What is meant by this? Are we talking that the truck still has good pull but no speed until then? Or are we talking a complete and total lack of beachballs below this RPM? The last thing I want is to have to feather a clutch in a diesel rig because from a standstill it feels like I'm trying to pull a 5 ton load with a FWD Honda Civic. If this is the case I have absolutely NO PROBLEM going with the TorqueShift transmission.

Please chime in all 6 speed owners and tell me which it is. I love a manual -esp one with a granny gear. Tell me how you like/dislike your truck. I need to know. You TorqueShift guys can feel free to chime in with your impressions as well. I completely respect this very serious automatic transmission - simply awesome! Let me know if my first time impressions are right!

I can live with the fact that I'll have to do without power this and power that in order to get this truck for less than 30 G's - the Powerstroke is worth a whole lot more to me than all the bells and whistles.

Thanks guys in advance! And sorry to go on and on like a giddy school girl, but Ford has gotten me back. Even without owning a new SD PSD, I can say Ford with more pride than ever before !

 

Axis, I got my '04, F-250 PSD auto 11 months ago. I pull a 5,500 # trailer for air conditioning work & a 5th wheel that maxes out about 11,500 #'s. The auto works like a swiss watch in my truck. I'm not one of these gearheads that know all about trucks, trans, ratios, etc., but If I had my truck stolen or something like that I don't think I would change anything on the truck. In fact, I know I wouldn't. I've taken the 5th wheel back & forth to Orlando from Detroit on I-75 . It has some pretty steep & hight mountains. The rig just keeps pulling & doing great. Personally, I like having an automatic that works this well instead of keeping my hand & foot busy shifting gears. I'll end now & let the real gearheads chime in. BTW, what is a "granny gear?", Rick

 

You are correct about 1st being a little hesitant to launch, but there is a low (granny gear) to help if you need because you have a heavy load. I enjoy my 6 speed. I do not use Low at all unless I have a heavy load. 1st just took some getting use to, if I need the power it is there, I just rev the rpms a little higher as I let out of the clutch. But I really don't hotdog much or need that superfast launch. I did drive the torqshift and thought it was great, especially for someone towing, the engine will do all the work. I enjoy controlling my shift points and I did not want to pay the extra for the auto and the additional cost that may be incurred should I have problems with it. Manual trannys are cheap to work on, so I kindof based my decision on that. But it truly is a matter of preference, if you can live with the delay launch if 1st, knowing you have granny gear if you need her, the manual tranny will suit you fine. The torqshift is a phenomal transmission also and almost everyone on here who has a torqshift can vouch for that. Happy shopping my friend, you can't go wrong with the PSD and the Ford.

 

I would never own another standard in a truck, the T-Shift is amazing….
I pull a good size trailer...see gallery

 

Hey Bubba,
I've towed over 12,000lbs with my 6.0/torqshift. I've seen several 6-oh!'s with over 70k miles with the torqshift. They are still running strong and pulling like new.

Best of Luck,
Corey

 

AxisAllies-Have an "04 350 srw CC 6-speed man. with which I pull a +- 3000lb. (16 ft.) cargo trailer with another couple thousand pounds of bikes/gear etc. in it. Have just under 5000 miles on and have had no problems with it on any level. Get 15.5 mpg in town and just over 18 (empty) on highway. You'll not be sorry if you get a 250 or 350. Nice cruiser, great towing platform. Just my thoughts....


JB

 

Thank you so much for all the replies guys - they really do mean alot to me.
I already knew my impressions of the TorqueShift were correct, it was just nice to hear it from people who have actually used this transmission regularly for work. I also like hearing from those of you who say you like the 6 speed since I do actually prefer stirring my own gears. I still havent gotten the answer I'm looking for though. Let me put it this way - since I have no way of test driving one for myself. Lets suppose I'm stopped at a traffic light with a 4000 lb load attached. Very small load really and definately on the light end compared to fully loaded dump trailers. So stopped empty or with light load, can I simply let off the clutch with slight throttle in 1st(not granny)and expect to at least move? I can live with this till the truck revs to 1700 + and finally gives some good speed. Or will I need granny unless I choose to raise RPMs like a gasser and feather the clutch to avoid stalling? If the latter please tell me. I really don't have a problem going with the TorquesShift if this is the case.

No offense meant to anyone guys, it's just a matter of my own preferences of what i'm looking for out of a manual transmission. I could always get a stripped Cummins/6 speed I guess, but I'd rather have the SD anyway. Its definately the better truck overall, and I'd take a 6.0/Torqueshift over Cummins/manual anyway even as much as I like manual trannys.

Thank You guys, and thanks for your patience with me. I'm soon to be a new brother in the SD/PSD family .

 

AxisAllies-From my post #6 above, I've pulled trailer in stop and go traffic and have had no problem pulling across intersections etc. It's no hole shot machine when you're pulling some weight but the manual hooks up with a beefy feel ang puts the horses to the rear wheels. I've got a granny gear and have had to use it rarely. Usually on a hill when hooked up with weight (taking off). Can't say much about auto tranny but a lot of the folks here seem to like it tremendously. I guess to answer your question directly...When starting off in a manual it is not like you're taking off with turbo kicked in fully. It just seems to kick it up a notch when you get to spooling speed. Not sure if this helps as it's kind of hard to describe. Hope you like whatever you get...I've not regreted my decision for a minute.

 

When I decided I was going to get a new truck, and that is was going to be a 6.0 PSD, I was going to get it with a manual transmission. The thought process was: It is a little cheaper, I can still drive a manual, I still consider a manual fun to a certain extent.

Then reality sunk in. There weren't any loaded leather Lariats at the dealers with a 6 speed. In fact, I couldn't find a 6 speed within a couple hundred miles except for one stripped work truck (cab/chassis). I read all the positive things about the TorqueShift on here and decided that there wasn't really all that much difference between $44,000 and $45,000. From past experience, I knew that trading in a manual transmission in anything other than a performance car ( ie Mustang ) hurt the trade-in value. I also concluded that autos were in fact easier to drive for my wife, and no doubt about it, no 6 speed would go through the gears as fast as the TorqueShift when you add the extra 100+HP wiht the Predator.

Get the automatic, you won't regret it.