manuel vs auto for towing?????????? - Diesel Forum

hartattack3 · 08-25-2005, 03:53 PM

i have the opportunity to either choose between a super duty rollback car hauler with a diesel engine but one is a 5 spd and the other is a automatic tranny. i would like to know the pro's and con's of each. i haul junk to scrap yards and my internaitional just died 800k miles later. they both have aronnd 230k and are similiar in condition. i'm basically not fimiliar with diesels and automatic trannys and wondering wihich one is the least headaches. the auto tranny truck is alot more appealing (body in near perfect shape) appealing but have never owned a auto diesel

mgraveman · 08-25-2005, 04:17 PM

many of these trucks had real problems with the auto trannies in them, especially the ones who donkey with chips and the like.

BigRed CC Dually · 08-25-2005, 06:23 PM

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many of these trucks had real problems with the auto trannies in them, especially the ones who donkey with chips and the like.

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many of these trucks had real problems with the clutches in them, especially the ones who donkey with chips and the like.
[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bleh.gif[/img]

Choose which ever you like the best...mine still has the original E4OD in it and I have a 4 position chip and Swamp's babies in it. I don't go stupid on it and abuse it and it has held up just fine. A built E4OD will take way more horsepower and torque than a manual transmission...the clutch can be up graded but you still have the stock transmission that was never rated for the higher torque where as the built E4OD has way stronger internal parts from the stock one and can take much more abuse.

I assume your original question was in regards to stock vs. stock, hence my suggestion that you get which ever one you like the best. If you want to go high horse power and torque then it is a BTS auto all the way.

SmokeyWren · 08-25-2005, 06:36 PM

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i have the opportunity to either choose between a super duty rollback car hauler with a diesel engine but one is a 5 spd and the other is a automatic tranny.

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If it's a '99-up SuperDuty, then the stick shifter is a ZF 6-speed. L plus 1 thru 5. L is "granny low". 4 is direct. 5 is OD.

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i would like to know the pro's and con's of each.

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Like anything else, it depends on the condition you begin with, then on how well you take care of them. For the average driver, the clutch will give out after a couple of years of abuse. And the 4R100 auto tranny (or torque converter) behind the '99-up 7.3L PSD will probably go south at about the same mileage.

But take care of them "right" and they should last a coupla hundred thousand miles.

For the automatic, begin with a new or quality rebuilt tranny, then install an aftermarket tranny temp gauge with the sender in the pressure port on the side of the tranny. Then watch that gauge during slow-speed high-torque driving, and never let it go over 225. If you ever see over about 210, then change the ATF to synthetic, such as Mobil 1 ATF. If you still see much over 200, then install increased tranny cooling capacity. Then the tranny/torque converter should last over 200,000 miles.

With your well-used "new" truck, drive it until the automagic tranny goes south, then have a bullet-proof BTS tranny installed. This will cost you about a third more than an ordinary rebuilt tranny. But then the BTS auto tranny should last longer than the engine - provided you continue to change the synthetic ATF every 30,000 miles and never let the tranny get too hot.

**Kanman** · 08-26-2005, 12:15 AM

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i have the opportunity to either choose between a super duty rollback car hauler with a diesel engine but one is a 5 spd and the other is a automatic tranny. i would like to know the pro's and con's of each. i haul junk to scrap yards and my internaitional just died 800k miles later. they both have aronnd 230k and are similiar in condition. i'm basically not fimiliar with diesels and automatic trannys and wondering wihich one is the least headaches. the auto tranny truck is alot more appealing (body in near perfect shape) appealing but have never owned a auto diesel

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With a little thought on your part; you will always do better fuel wise with a manual. Personally I have shifted enough gears in my life to never want anything with a clutch again LOL. If fuel isnt your main concern, then I think it gets down to personal choice. Youll find cherrys with 250K and lemons with 10K.

greyf150 · 08-26-2005, 01:23 AM

Automatics suck too much power, have one or more less gears, and from my experiences have proven less reliable and more expensive to maintain/overhaul. Yes it takes more skill to make a clutch and gearbox last, but driven properly they out perform and outlast a slushbox.

PROGAS · 08-26-2005, 04:44 PM

I bought mine with an auto, because a friend of mine has been the head service guy at a ford dealership for many many years, and he said the auto is the way to go. Take care of it and change fluid(synthetic) as recommended, and they do good. He said the standards are always ripping the clutches out of them. He owns an auto himself, to tow his racecar, so good enough for me.

william_04_X · 08-26-2005, 05:06 PM

i pull a 10,000# trailer with the torqueshift auto...i often wish i had a manual tranny(not available in X)...the tranny often upshifts on grades when i would want to hold the lower gear, then i really gotta goose it to shift back down(that's in T/H mode)...the tranny shifts nice and smooth, i just don't always agree with it's gear selection...
just my $.02

SLE · 08-26-2005, 05:29 PM

There's nothin stoppin you from manualy pulling your lever down to keep it in the gear you desire!!!!! The autos are optimized for a variety of applications which needs to be remembered. If for one reason or another you need a different gear than what the truck thinks you need, select it, why do you think you have the option. If it was alway going to be perfect you would only get to select one gear! there would be no 1st,2nd,3rd,D, or OD!!!! All you'd have is OD if it was perfect. Just select the gear and go!

greyf150 · 08-26-2005, 06:50 PM

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the standards are always ripping the clutches out of them.

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This is a driver issue, not equipment. Abuse "rips out clutches", not the gear box. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

96STROKE · 08-26-2005, 11:02 PM

The ford 5sp manual isn't a very strong trany, the Auto (E4OD) is a very strong trany, Ford put this trany in trucks upto the F550!

The auto trans is a torqe multiplier, which is much better for towing. The auto trans will better take off from a stand still pulling huge weight vs. the manual. The manual you can select which gear you want to be in for every moment.

I have had 3 trucks with manuals, the last 2 trucks have been autos, and I enjoy the luxury. There are rare times I do wish I had a manual when pulling up a long hill (wish I had more gear to choose from).
I do honestly belive that the auto makes a better tow vehical.

william_04_X · 08-27-2005, 12:14 AM

[ QUOTE ]
There's nothin stoppin you from manualy pulling your lever down to keep it in the gear you desire!!!!! The autos are optimized for a variety of applications which needs to be remembered. If for one reason or another you need a different gear than what the truck thinks you need, select it, why do you think you have the option. If it was alway going to be perfect you would only get to select one gear! there would be no 1st,2nd,3rd,D, or OD!!!! All you'd have is OD if it was perfect. Just select the gear and go!

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shifting from 5th to 3rd is what keeps me from pulling the lever down a notch...the torqueshift is a five speed auto..selector 1,2,3,OD...tranny loves to shift into 5th(O.D.),when i really want to HOLD 4th...this only occurs when i'm pulling my trailer up a grade....

jmann · 08-28-2005, 05:03 PM

For towing hills, the man is the way by far as you have much more control both up and especially down hill. It is a pain city driving, but any 350 cc long bed is [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I would rather put a new clutch in than a new tranny as a tranny runs around 3k installed and if you do not put gages and tranny cooler on it and pull heavy hills, it will prob fry unless you baby it. The actual difference is mostly personal choice as I don't race off the line pulling my horse trailer anyway so I do not need the off the line bonus. I would rather be able to keep the rpm where I want them through gears then have a mechanical device ( designed so grandma can drive it comfortably)decide what they should be, but that's just me [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Drive em both and se which one feels right to you.