First off, I have been in California on a work assignment so have not been very active in any of my interest. My son is having all the fun with my brute of a F250.

Anyway, looks like we will be moving out here. So I have a great excuse to buy a new truck. Sweet! I am looking at F350's, crewcab 4x4. Now for the question.

I have heard that an automatic tranny provides more towing capacity than a standard. True?

Saw a nice 350 4x4 crew 7.3 turbo towpackage and a 5 speed. Low miles! Thought, this is rare bird, they all have auto's and are white.

 

I have been told the auto's were given a higher tow rating due to the fact most people are to incompetent to operate a stick let alone one thats pulling a load. While that may be true, that may not be the reason. You can pull just as much weight with the stick regardless.

 

especially with an f350. if it was an f150 with an M5OD i'd say shy away from heavy duty hauling, but my buddy hauls far more than his 91s rated too with an M5OD and hasn't had any problems, yet

 

Yes I heard that this morning from a co-worker and it makes sense. I like the standard because it seems to me you would have more contorl of speed and RPM's. However I am not an experienced driver whit a heavy load behind me.

 

no worries though, the worst you'll most likely do to the stick is mess up the clutch, and that's a pretty cheap repair compared to messing up an automatic trans by towing without a cooler

 

I am assuming a standard would hav e a cooler as well?

 

my understanding is that the auto gets a higher tow rating because it has clutches in it that slip prior to blowing it and makes it better on hills etc vs stick when the clutch is engaged its locked in for good of course that argument was also used to say that thats why autos are better with diesel being able to use multiple clutches to deal with alot of torwue but i dont know if i agree with that

 

Hahahaha. That's funny stuff. Auto's are more expensive to maintain and more expensive to replace. Car companies are in the business of making money. That should be your sign right there!

In my opinion, dam near every car sold should be a manual. Less pollution, less waste of resources, less fuel consumption.

My opinion of course and WTFDIK anyways.

 

double post

 

If you are getting a diesel, get a stick, unless you don't want to spend the time getting good at shifting, or you are going to be lazy and not shift enough. Lugging a diesel motor will cause your EGTs to rise, risking serious engine damage, so you got to know when to drop a gear and not be lazy and let it lug. Diesels are much better with a manual transmission, unless you are not good at driving stick or are lazy. My recomendation is to install a pyrometer (even if you get an auto) and not allow it to get above 1400 degrees.

I have driven a lot of diesels, from Powerstroke Pickups all the way up to Semis with the Detroit Series 60. Until I got my current job driving tow truck, most all of my diesel experience was with manual transmissions. 5 and 6 speeds in pickups, and 10-13 speed Roadrangers in semis. Both of our tow trucks have Allison autos, which shift good and seem to perfrom alright. However, both trucks would perform better with a stick operated by a skilled driver.

Unlike 5 and 6 speed Allisons, the truck you are looking at will be an E4OD, a 4 speed. In my opinion, 4 speeds bring the suck with diesels, so get your self a truck with a 5 speed and get good at shifting! Good luck, I hope you find a truck that meets your needs, the one you have found sounds nice!

 

sticks will also last longer than autos if you know how to drive one properly

 

Great Post!!!!

That is what I needed to see.
I have been driving a stick for decades, but on a small car. I know there is not much of a comparison but feel my learning curve will but much more shallow. I also thought of the temperature sensor, pyrometer was it?, and wondered if it would be worth the money to install one. Sweet. I do not consider myself a lazy drive with a stick, I actual have worried that I downshift to much. Sounds like I have my difinitive answer, YES get the stick, and the truck I want.

Thanks so much.

 

just to add to the stick side of things. all the 1 tons at the trucking company my grandpa works for as a tech have 6 speeds in them and have for years and they don't have a problem with them.

 

Again, I don't care what the auto companies, magazines, or so-called experts say. If you are gonna do plenty of heavy towing an auto will NOT last.

 

just another one on the manny tranny side. also that is a greaat truck. i would buy it if you want to haul