Manual vs Automatic transmission in TV

An automatic transmission can put more torque to the ground than a manual.

The torque converter will multiply the output torque of the engine by about 2.

RJCorazza wrote:

aftermath wrote:
Nobody has talked about driving backwards! I had a small PU with a manual and I towed a small tent trailer years ago. Getting down the road, up the hills and down the hills wasn't a problem. Backing the trailer into tight spots was really tough. I think I burned up a good part of the clutch over those years.

Stick with an automatic. You will be glad you did, especially when you back into your first campsite.

Very true. I do recall hacking the 4wd LO in my F150 manual so that I could backup in low with a landscape trailer. I gave up on the idea when I realized the transfer case was still turning. Anyway... Yes, backing up with a load is much harder on the clutch.

Not so with a manual and the '03 and up Cummins forward or backward.
Cummins gives us a zero throttle launch system. The G56 manual tranny has a 6.29 very low 1st and reverse gear which means with a 16k GN stock trailer fully loaded with 1st year heifers we just let the clutch out without touching the go pedal while the Cummins keeps the rpm up with no killing the engine.
The Cummins idles in the 380-390 ft lb range for launching a load so no need to keep the rpm up for hp.
Agree a small block gasser needs rpms to launch which is hard on a clutch.

As I mentioned in my above post the big auto take more power to operate vs the ZF6 in the GM/Ford or NV5600/G56 in the Dodge/Ram. Some dyno numbers for the big auto trannies and a manual tranny behind a diesel have very similar numbers at the wheel which reflects that power drain.

aftermath wrote:
Nobody has talked about driving backwards! I had a small PU with a manual and I towed a small tent trailer years ago. Getting down the road, up the hills and down the hills wasn't a problem. Backing the trailer into tight spots was really tough. I think I burned up a good part of the clutch over those years.

Stick with an automatic. You will be glad you did, especially when you back into your first campsite.

Very true. I do recall hacking the 4wd LO in my F150 manual so that I could backup in low with a landscape trailer. I gave up on the idea when I realized the transfer case was still turning. Anyway... Yes, backing up with a load is much harder on the clutch.

I would switch to a manual transmission in a heartbeat but it is not to be.

The last of the true working vehicle transmissions were discontinued in the 1990's.

The technology switch to the development of automatics for a number of reasons and the truth is they are remarkable pieces of engineering. The towing modes, manual overrides and other features reflect the market demands.

Had the market demand been there, they would have developed a suitable manual tranny, instead they decided to down rate it for light duty service.

For those who miss the feedback of clutch and foot, I suppose we're in the same boat as the old wagon teamsters. A rather limited niche market.

I used to drive a 14000lb ice cream truck based off an Isuzu NPR Walkin Van. It had the 5spd with crazy linkage up towards the grill, and down to the transmission. I would eat sandwiches, talk on phones, shift with my knee, move along. It had an exhaust brake and never needed to use the brakes. 5 years, 12 hour per day operation. I loved that NPR

Nobody has talked about driving backwards! I had a small PU with a manual and I towed a small tent trailer years ago. Getting down the road, up the hills and down the hills wasn't a problem. Backing the trailer into tight spots was really tough. I think I burned up a good part of the clutch over those years.

Stick with an automatic. You will be glad you did, especially when you back into your first campsite.

Bought my 06' with a manual on purpose. It was the strongest tranny at the time. If I was to buy new today I'd opt for the automatic. They have improved enough to be considered reliable. If your considering a gas engine you probably won't have a choice. Not many diesel trucks today have a manual option.

Manual transmission is superior for towing in the mountains. You are always in the right gear. Again, it depends on gas or diesel. New(er) or used (older).

Automatics make it easier to drink coffee, eat, text, and talk on the cellphone at the same time.;)

I like automatic transmissions. Easier to drive on hills, traffic, and when trying to eat a sammich.

And allow me to add two things to the list. First, a clutch works by wearing out (similar to brakes). You sacrifice the clutch disc incrementally to absorb the torque load of engaging the tranny. Manual clutches are subject to human error also.
Second, engines hooked to auto trannies last longer because the turning parts are always under load from the torque converter and the risk of accidental over revving is all but eliminated.
I'd never consider towing with a manual transmission.

Teach