Manual transmission
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Hell, it's hard enough as it is to avoid wrecks these days, but it's true that those 2nd and 4th gear moves are great for copping a feel! Merry Christmas![/QUOTE]
Yeah man, your gas mileage goes to hell if you hang out in 2nd too much! LOL!! Merry Christmas back at ya!
Yeah man, your gas mileage goes to hell if you hang out in 2nd too much! LOL!! Merry Christmas back at ya!
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From: Conway, AR
I have a 5 speed in my Ranger and I love it - that was the only way I'd buy one. It was hard to find too. My '72 F-100 has old faithful in it - a toploader 3 speed column shift! After 4 years though I got tired of the manual and now appreciate the auto in my F-150.
A friend of mine had a Ranger identical to mine a couple of years ago except his was an auto. My truck had significantly more power and got 21 MPG religiously. His auto got 17-18 on average no matter what he did. They were both 3.0 V-6's and 3.73 rear end. I have rarely seen an auto get better mileage than a manual (with the same motor/gear setup). The only exception might be a bullet-proof granny four speed.
A friend of mine had a Ranger identical to mine a couple of years ago except his was an auto. My truck had significantly more power and got 21 MPG religiously. His auto got 17-18 on average no matter what he did. They were both 3.0 V-6's and 3.73 rear end. I have rarely seen an auto get better mileage than a manual (with the same motor/gear setup). The only exception might be a bullet-proof granny four speed.
MMNC (SS)(Ret)
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 11,607
Likes: 151
From: SE Georgia
Originally Posted by idealtrucks
Tow ratings are only lower on the manuals because people do not know how to drive them.
3/4 and 1 ton's mostly get sticks due to the lack of decent auto transmissions on the market. Chevy has the proprietary rights to the Allison, so that leaves Ford/Dodge with an "acceptable" in house developed auto transmission, or a fairly bullet proof stick for those true heavy duty towing applications
and the trucks actually have "truck" clutches. they don't put car clutches in trucks
. the ease of shifting is due to better design and better clutch actuation setups (i.e. hydraulic clutches vice linkage)
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 34
From: S/W Virginia
If they still put a true truck transmission in them, such as the old NP435 or T18 they would be just a strong as an automatic. Something that has a first gear or 6 or 7 to 1. That's kinda what they have in the super duty's and the tow rating on them is very close to the automatic, like 1000 pound or something.
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