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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Pickup tow ing trucks

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bob

01-17-2004 17:02:04




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I just brought a new tractor back from Chicago & my '86 pulling a gooseneck laid down on me twice with wreckers being called, etc. Thought I'd never get home! Looking for newer used truck 99% are automatics. I'm from the old school that says you pull with a 4 or 5 speed & autos arent trustworthy. Has technology left me behind again? Are you pulling with autos now? Or should I stick with stick?




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fixerupper

01-18-2004 19:45:31




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
Been involved with a Dodge 1 ton Cummins with a five speed and it can NOT be used for towing in fifth. The tranny locked up on this truck because the guy driving it didn't know that. It lasted 600 miles. I don't know what model or number the tranny is, but I put this tranny in the truck before he left on his journey and it seemed really light weight, maybe because it has an aluminum case. On the other hand we have a 94 chevy 3/4 ton with a 454 and automatic, that has 316,000 hard miles on it and it has never been worked on aside from a few water pumps and alternators. The tranny is the original one.

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shaggy

01-18-2004 06:57:11




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
I tryed a auto after ownning 5 stick shift pickups in the last 25 years my wife said I would not like the auto she was right I traded a 2001 truck for a 2000 6 speed stick.



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buickanddeere

01-18-2004 05:20:10




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
No make or model of automatic trans can survive having the oil that's overheated and has quit lubricating/cooling parts. Mineral oil will fail before synthetic.Cheap insurance. An external cooler can fool the computer in the winter. My wife's truck's computer has a fit on extended trips with the trans failing to warm up. Taking the external cooler off now that we tow with a bigger/newer vehicle. The manufactures all recomend "Joe Average Public" to tow with an automatic WITH THE FACTORY TOW PACKAGE OPTION. Costs the manufacture less on warrenty repairs. Vehicle towing problems most often can be traced back to avehicle without a trans cooler pulling a too heavy load, too fast for too long. Every May 24th weekend the highway shoulders and trans shops are littered with class I,II & III tow vehicles with class II,III & IV trailer loads attched. Towing anything with a front wheel drive just isn't a good idea.

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Nebraska Cowman

01-18-2004 04:59:13




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
I'd stick with a stick. I use the clutch as much as anyone, lots of start stop going through gates, fixing fence. I wear the rubber clear off the pedal in 100k but have never done any clutch work, or tranfer case work, or frontend work, in 30 years driving. Yes, I buy mine new. and I drag a trailer all over too!



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CH

01-17-2004 20:52:55




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
I've lost two auto trannies, I've replaced 10 clutches in 30 years. You don't usually break standard transmissions, you eat clutched.



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wdTom

01-18-2004 17:59:52




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 Re: Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to CH, 01-17-2004 20:52:55  
You won't eat clutches if you have a low enough gear so you don't have to rev the engine and slip the clutch to get going. For pulling with a standard you need a LOW first gear. It can't be too low.



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marlowe

01-17-2004 19:44:01




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
it's a truck!!stick with a stick real trucks don't have autos.



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Greg F.

01-17-2004 18:02:29




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
Well in my book the automatic is the way to go if it is a good one. When I say good one I mean some autos aren’t going to hold up to much towing. The 700R4 that GM used in the eighties is an example of one that will give you problems. That thing will die every 40,000 like clock work if it is towing much at all. The 4L60E in the newer GM trucks is better and the 4L80E is very good. I don’t know what Dodge and Ford are using in the newer trucks. I wouldn’t get a half-ton and expect to tow much without problems. The three-quarter and one ton models will have better transmissions in them. I would also recommend an add on transmission cooler for any auto. They really seem to help fight the heat. I would also recommend that you have it serviced at least one time per year or every 15,000 miles if you are towing. That really helps the life of them. My 96 GM one ton has almost 80,000 miles on it with a 454 and a 4L80E auto and I have had no problems. It seldom gets driven when it is empty. Always towing or hauling something.
When I bought it I took the VIN number and went to a dealer and found out what transmission it had and what gear was in the rear end. Nothing like finding out after you have bought it and learning that they are not going to do what you want. I have had both standard and autos and have had fewer problems with the autos. Allot of it is personal preference. I am lazy and don’t like to shift and truck manually.

Greg

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F-350 w/6 spd manual

01-17-2004 17:12:01




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 Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to bob, 01-17-2004 17:02:04  
linked up with the diesel. best tow yet for me. mudstuck



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T_Bone

01-17-2004 19:07:38




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 Re: Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to F-350 w/6 spd manual, 01-17-2004 17:12:01  
Hi Bob,

The F350 DRW 6spd works very well. Easy to shift, with a hydraulic clutch. Great control and fuel mileage.

Just depends if want to plan for a tranny rebuild every 100k or so with the auto's. The 5spd auto is pretty close to a manual when pulling from what I've been reading. Had they offered the 5spd auto in 2k2, I would probably own one, even tho the 6spd still has that edge over the auto. Getting old I guess.

T_Bone

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Bill

01-24-2004 08:41:36




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 Re: Re: Re: Pickup tow ing trucks in reply to T_Bone, 01-17-2004 19:07:38  
When towing with a manual, use whatever gear offers a 1:1 ratio while travelling at highway speeds. That way there is almost nothing inside the transmission that is being used. In a 5 speed that would be 4th in every transmission I've ever had.



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