Just need input in regards to these 2 trannies. I have 48 hours to decide if I want a 6 speed 2005 3500 or just go with an automatic. Do they get better mileage city or highway. I will be driven mostly unloaded in the cityand used to tow a trailer in the summer. My current truck is an auto,and the first in a long time so a standard will not be new to me.

My last Dodge truck was a 1974 club cab with a 440 4 barrell. Couldn't afford to run that one now.

Any replys are greatly appreciated.


Darcy

 

I vote auto for mostly city unloaded.

 

Is there really any question???

6 speed for the win!!

I have a 6 speed in my truck... never going to auto again!

 

If you like shifting all the time and holding the clutchinduring trafficget the 6 speed. I am lazy and got the auto.Get what YOU wont. You have to pay the notes.

 

You'll get better mileage with the stick in city driving and I'd personally prefer it for towing. If you're lazy get the auto Me I can't get enough of the gear slapping and am saving the coin up for a gear vendor over/under unit so i can split em

 

If your going to mod the truck I would go with the 6 sp for the added durability. but then again I've got 2 trucks with autos and 2 trucks with sticks
so what do I know?

paul

 

First, keep a clear mind
that this year's Cummins Rams
have such tough new NOx pollution rules
and requirements for ULSD (ultra-low-sulfur-diesel)
that you should not expect as high MPG of previous years diesels.

The six speed manual will get better MPG than the automatic, especially in city driving.

You will find first gear on the 6 speed manual so low (combined with 3.73 differential gears) you will rarely use it and do most driving from a stop from 2nd gear. With the American Axle Inc. differentials being used in both GM and Dodge products now, if you want the best highway MPG you might want to consider how GM has had American Axle create 3.42 ratio gearsets this past year. These may soon be available aftermarket.

Considering acceleration,
with the torque converter in the 48RE doing effective gear ratio muliplication, most automatic Cummins Rams will beat a 6 speed manual in an all out drag race, but that depends a little on the skill of the manual driver and what his differential ratio is. Drag racing and daily driving are two entirely different matters.

If you are willing to buy a Ram 3500 cab and chassis model,
you can buy a different automatic transmission,
the Aisin AS68RC automatic with the Cummins 6.7:

Aisin ratios:
1 - 3.74:1
2 - 1.96:1
3 - 1.34:1
4 - 1.00:1
5 - 0.77:1
6 - 0.63:1
R - 3.54:1

If you want the highest potential horsepower Cummins Ram
as well as the highest MPG
buy a 1998 12V Cummins Ram manual 5 speed
and spend a dozen or so thousand dollars
swapping in
the New Venture NV5600 six speed manual
an improved clutch for extra torque capacity
some 'bombing' power modifications of your choice
and a 3.21 or 3.55 diff gears for the Dana 70 rear.

 

Its pretty cut and dry with me, I have a 6spd and love it, but I pull a 27ft heavy trailer 30k a year. But I gotta tell ya , the auto would be my choice if I did not work out of it. I had a 2000 CTD auto that gave me no trouble. It just did not have the guts the 6sp does. Id say go with the auto if your not working it. Enjoy no matter what you choose, either way your still gonna be the MAN on the block!!!

 

alright guys. . theres only one problem with what EVERYONE is saying.

that was the year DC switched from the NV5600 to the G56. if it was an early 05 then it will have the NV5600. if you have 3.73's in the axel with the 5600 you will get pretty good fuel mileage. . .HOWEVER, if it has the G56, even with 3.73's the engine will be running high RPM's to get good highway speeds. the way to tell which trans it has is look at the shift pattern, if reverse is next to 5th then you have a 5600, if reverse is next to 2nd you have the G56. now the issue here is that the G56 is geared MUCH higher than the NV5600. this gearing difference is what I dont particularly like. The Cummins engine makes its power down low, and there is no reason to be running such high RPM's.

my opinion, if you have to make a decision between a truck with the NV5600 tranny and 3.73's, and one with the auto and 3.73's. that would be hard. personaly, unless you plan on towing heavy, get the auto, you'll get way better mileage.

 

Drew,

Thank you for the very informative post. The truck has the reverse beside the 5th gear, so that looks like it's good news. This will be my wife's rig day to day but she has always wanted the dodge diesel. Don't worry she's pretty slick with the stick. What I have seen for sale is not many sticks and mostly autos. This is going to be a real treat getting rid of the 350 Vortec that will lose power in a mild head wind and get some jam, especially in the Rockies.

Any other issues with that year you might be able to give me a heads up on?

Thannks,

Darcy