Manual Transmission? Yea or Nay?

I would want to drive one 1st to see how much effort is required for the clutch and how smoothly it shifts. Stick cars are nearly effortless but I haven't driven a truck. Also, I'm thinking it might be a little harder to back slowly into the hitch with a clutch? The MPG should be slightly better.

I'm just wondering. The first time you have to back UP a hill into a campsite, OR have to stop on a steep grade for a sign or light. How much you will like the stick then. While driving sticks are great. But in heavy traffic, or stopped on steep hills. They ain't so much fun. I've been in traffic to the point where I felt like I walked thru town, because of having to shift so much.

IMOP. IF you want to control the shifting of the trany. Get a truck with the paddle shift. Easy, and gives you complete control, without that pesky clutch.

Agree with Terry, there's already a lot going on when you are towing a big RV, I'm not sure I would welcome having to use the clutch also. The 1-2-stop routine in heavy traffic like interstate contsruction gets old quick. Does wonders for the muscles in your left thigh though....

I'd do it. Its a hydraulic clutch.

Wonder how they managed 40 years ago with Manual transmissions.

Get what you want.

this is what I have seen. We backed our fifth in gravel to a friends rv site he built for company and to park their own fifth. He told me he could not go slow as we did with his manual dodge. Again in an rv park a new ford backed up a slight up hill in gravel rv site and I noticed it was a manual. We talked later and he was sorry he didn't listen to his friends that said he will be sorry but he was an ex trucker and was old school. Now dodge has the apps that is an awesome thing for a manual trannie to keep from killing the engine when letting the clutch out. I don't know if the GM ever had this or if ford did but it is a nice product.
chevman

jerem0621 wrote:
I'd do it. Its a hydraulic clutch.

Wonder how they managed 40 years ago with Manual transmissions.

Get what you want.

Had to 40 years ago. Don't now. After towing 80,000 lbs with a Fuller RoadRanger, 13 over. I can safely say. The less times you have to push a clutch in, and let it out. The better off you are. And in truth. Autos are safer. They rarely roll back at lights.

Given the choice, I would take a manual transmission in ANY tow vehicle over an automatic. Way more advantages than disadvantages. I know autos have come a long way, and I don't hate them like I used too, but nothing compares to a human being with a brain who can choose the gear based on what he sees ahead of him.

"I'm just wondering. The first time you have to back UP a hill into a campsite, OR have to stop on a steep grade for a sign or light. How much you will like the stick then. While driving sticks are great. But in heavy traffic, or stopped on steep hills. They ain't so much fun."
I guess so, if you aren't good at driving them right. I grew up with class 8s with 2 sticks, 5 & 4s, 4 & 4s etc. daily driving in Denver and the mtns. My first TV was an auto/gasser. It wasn't long before I figured out that mistake. My only fear is that someday I won't be able to find a TV w/o a stick so this 03 might have to last forever! FWIW, I drive a company 04 v10 auto van to work and it's a 4 spd. I like the v10 a lot but it could stand to have more gears for towing. A v10 6 spd manual would be near the top of my list for a gasser TV. I'd be all over that! Craig

Caddywhompus wrote:
Given the choice, I would take a manual transmission in ANY tow vehicle over an automatic. Way more advantages than disadvantages. I know autos have come a long way, and I don't hate them like I used too, but nothing compares to a human being with a brain who can choose the gear based on what he sees ahead of him.

Interesting... care to list those advantages/disadvantages? Just for clarity, can't you shift an auto trans manually to whatever gear you need? I know with my 6-speed Allison, I just push the button and presto, I'm in that gear. I can also do this with our GMC Terrain toad only instead of a button it's a rocker switch.

Personally, I will never own another manual shift vehicle. For years we had our 86 Toyota PU for our toad (still have the PU). As mentioned, you get into traffic or on steep incline at a stop light, and you'll wish that you had an auto real quick. Our new Terrain with the 6-speed auto has an anti-rollback feature that when you are on an incline stopped at a light and when you move your foot from the brake to the accelerator, it won't roll back. Neat feature.

But, we're all different and unique. Get what YOU want, that's all that matters.

Ron

Sounds like you are stuck on Ford, not entirely anti diesel, have you looked at either Ram or GM if you want a diesel?

If truly stuck on Ford then the V-10 is a good choice. It will be far more reliable than a 6.0 or 6.4, but it will suck fuel while towing.

To the rest of the question, I daily drive my Cummins 5 speed, no issues and no issues towing! Even on 6% to 7% grades, I only need to drop to 4th (direct), with 3.55 gears.