Manual transmission gasser

with my 2006 chevy I have a manual shift set up where I can go from 1 through 6 ....just like an old manual shifter.

here is an article, the small trucks still have manuals. http://www.trucktrend.com/features/consumer/163_1207_trucks_and_suvs_you_can_still_get_with_a_stick/nissan_to_volkswagen.html

Edbehnke,

But will it hold the torque converter locked up.

I will need at least a 3/4 ton truck.

GM will be to about 2005 or so with a diesel. BB gas may have ended a year or two before that. I found a few 6sp manuals with diesels in 05 when I bought my dually, but went with an allison. Probably the best auto I have driven, and only one I got to last longer than half a clutch. BUT, still not as good in low as a manual in first. The allison is about an effective 5-1, vs a HD manual in the 5.5 or lower range. THe 4 sp autos are as high as 4-1.

Marty

The ram diesel is the only one listed. I am so close to the beach and mountains I don't think I'll put enough miles on it to justify the 50 to 60 grand. I am still considering it though because I will be taking more long trips than I do now.

buddyIam wrote:
Edbehnke,

But will it hold the torque converter locked up.

I will need at least a 3/4 ton truck.

Why the obsession about torque converter lockup?

Who cares if it is unlocked or locked? Tens of thousands of RV's are safely traveling down the hiways of the world as I type this.

Thousands are traveling with very heavy RV's down very steep roads right now with no problems whether the torque converter is locked up or not.

I don't get it? What are you worried about?

buddyIam wrote:

I've got a old one I could throw a bucket of money at and be happy. ;)

Maybe you should give that some serious consideration.
I just got rid of my 97 Suburban and got a newer Suburban.
It's nice but, the 97 had class and ran great.
It was a tough decision. But the DW made it for me.

Blt2ski

It seems that autos are lasting longer than clutches these days. After 100 thousand miles I start thinking of changing clutches. So far changing a clutch is not a problem for me but it is not a Job I look forward to anymore. Lol For my mountain driving a 4 with granny gear is great. Not so good out on the open road. That's the main reason I was thinking of a new truck. I need more gears at least a over drive, if I plan on many longer trips

If either GM or Ram offered a manual transmission with their latest gas offerings I would be at the dealer asap to grab one. Yep, the latest auto's are certainly more efficient than a manual could be but I couldn't care less. Auto's are such a vanilla, plain, boring driving experience which is obviously what the public wants.

Turtle

Most of my camping miles are on very bad/steep Roads no matter what truck you have 90% of driving is done in 3rd gear or below. You don't need the gears for power you need them to help control speed. Trying to go up a 8% grade then make a hairpin turn requires gears.

I need the lock to hold speed or slow down for those hairpin turns also.

When you hit one of those hairpins you may hit it initially at a 8% grade. But the grade increases dramatically in the middle of the turn. Your looking straight up at the sky or straight down. They can be difficult even on foot. And disastrous for a bike becase they usually are covered with dirt or sand.

It is scary to lose lockup in the middle of stopping for those turns. My brothers older dodge even with the added manual lock up was not great. I had hoped they were better now.

In the GMs you could have a NV4500 behind a 350 or 454 up to 98? When they changed body styles but the 5speeds were rare even back then. Dodges had a 5 speed NV4500 as well I think in 2nd gens behind the 360 gassers as an option not sure about the big cube V10 though.
Ford guessing mid 90s before the switch to the current and aging Superduty chassis for gassers. Still can get 99+ 7.3 diesels with a stick. Again unsure of the V10s.
Good luck finding any of those that are not ratted out by now.
If you're dead set on a manual trans, best bet is a Cummins any year including new. Only pickup still offered with a row your own. Or take a spin in any Allison equipped GM including the 8.1 gassers from the early 2000s or any newer 6 speed auto. I like a manual. I own one but the newer autos starting with the Alli, 68rfe Dodges and whatever Fords 6sp auto is will do everything you want out of a manual with less effort.