Not sure why you need to buy an auto for your wife to help you tow? Sounds a bit sexist to me. Tell that to Dancia!!!!!! She will outshift you any day. HA! Seriously though. There is nothing harder about towing with a manual than an auto. My wife and I prefer being able to avoid the ugly rpm matching issues that an Auto can get you into and keep themotor on the peak torque curve without a bunch of jerking and hunting around.

But I guess to be fair, I should also point out that my wife can also change brake pads and also does tracking days.

 

[quote=CATANG MOTORSPORTS;5986113]Not sure why you need to buy an auto for your wife to help you tow? Sounds a bit sexist to me. Tell that to Dancia!!!!!! She will outshift you any day. HA! Seriously though. There is nothing harder about towing with a manual than an auto. My wife and I prefer being able to avoid the ugly rpm matching issues that an Auto can get you into and keep themotor on the peak torque curve without a bunch of jerking and hunting around.

My wife drove Datsun Z cars and Chevy trucks with manuals. She loves getting behind my Firehawk. My 350 DRW V10 manual was tough to drive with the camper and had trouble with it shifting. It took a lot of work. Just not her cup of tea. More power to women that can. Back in the 70's she won several men track championships racing snowmobiles against them. Agree nothing hotter than a woman driving a diesel with a 6 speed

 

I wouldn't give up my manual transmission vehicles unless I was physically unable to drive them

 

The first gear is still a creeper gear. Then 1,2,3,4, and Overdrive.

 

just how slow are we talking for first gear? just wondering

 

The 1st gear (lowest) is basically for use when you are towing or heavily loaded so that you can start off without having to slip the clutch. When unloaded you can still use it without a whole lot of embarassment as it will still get you moving a decent clip before you shift. It is not low like being in low range. But with the torque of the diesel, it is fine to start out in 2nd gear (2nd lowest) when no towing or heavily loaded.

Regarding towing with a V10 manual, they are much more difficult to start off in and require much more shifting and high revving of the engine than a diesel. Yes even my wife would be a bit apprehensive towing with a V10 manual. Heck even I am! But towing with a diesel manual is not much different than an auto from a complexity point of view. And in our opinion it is even easier.

 

Got the same set up and I do the same.shift at 2000 RPM and you will like the results.

 

I have three 550's that are used as wildland fire trucks. My employee's have injured themselves while eating with table utensiles so I have automatics in all three trucks! I have not had any problems or performance issues with the automatic transmissions so far.

 

I feel for ya, having to issue everyone plastic forks. Back to subject though around here it seems that ever since the six litre showed up no dealers have brought any manuals in. The only way to get a truck of anysort with a manual is to order it at msrp price, which bites.

 

just an observation, walked thru one of the ford stores around here and there was a couple of 6.4s with manuals in them, granted there wouldn't have been what i wanted was i looking for a new one, but they were there none-the-less...

 

I had to order mine. Then we worked the price down from the MSRP.

 

I ordered mine May of last year and got $8k off MSRP. The salesman was a drinkin buddy of mine and I knew I could have gotten more, but he gave me an extra $6k over bluebook for my 2 trades.

The only thing that's gonna **** you off are the options you can't get the the manuals. They're allowing a lot of them now but back when I ordered I couldn't get a lot of things.

 

I was just on the "build you own" web site as I am shopping a little and the only thing that I found that has changed is the suplimental cab heater. All of the other good stuff is still off limits to people who want real gear boxes and 20% better fuel mileage. Ford needs to pay attention to what people want not what the minimum people will settle for.

 

I just picked up my new F350 Lariet CC with the PowerStroke and 6-speed manual this last Sunday, and I'm loving it! I was a little nervous at first, as it's been about five years since I depressed a clutch pedal, but it's like riding a bike. Very anxious to get the trailer hooked up, and head for the mountains. No more worry about tranny temps!

I am new to this whole diesel experience though, and still trying to get used to the vastly different RPM range compared to a gasser. Currently, I try to keep it at 2,000 or lower. Sometimes run up to about 2,500 in the first couple of gears, just because they come up so quick. My biggest question is, how low are you safe to lug these things? I have taken a few corners around the neighborhood in 2nd (3rd), and had it down to about 800 RPM and it seems to pull just fine, but I don't know if thats over doing it.

Also, what is the best shifting strategy with the manuals for best fuel economy? Always keep it down to a certain point, or use more revs to get up to speed quicker? Keep it in a higher gear in turns and lug it down, or shift more like you would in a gasser and keep the revs higher? Like I said, I'm brand new to oil burners.

Doug

 

Making a corner at 800 rpm's is fine.

As far as shifting rpm goes it actually says something in the manual about getting better mileage out of the manual tranny.

For the best mileage I normally shift below 2,000 rpm. Not using the low gear, start out in #1 till 10 mph, #2 to 20, #3 to 30, #4 to 40, OD ++++. Not too hard to remember. Normally I don't accelerate too fast, keeping the boost below 20 psi. I'll average about 17 mpg with some city driving, but I've gotten 19+mpg on the highway @ 65mph.

Let us know how the truck works out for you.

Little hint too for the guys with the manuals, sometimes during regen the truck will shudder a little, and you really can feel it with the clutch there and not the TQ converter. I noticed when I started using DieselKleen it reduced shuddering. So if you feel it give it a try.