I have to say that Dodge is stepping up to the plate with a good warrany. 7yr, 70,000 mile powertrain is plenty of time to see if the new auto tranny will handle the 325hp and 600 ftlbs of torque. I have had the 5sp and the 6sp but I realy like the auto. The 6sp is great for towing but hell in the city. A comparable Dodge cost less than the Chevy also. The $4000 back from Dodge don't hurt either. I picked up my new Dodge and that evenig I had to leave for Mexico for 28 days, I can't wait to get back and drive it some more.

Yes they did raise the bar. And I agree that an auto is much more prefered over the stick. My thought is that I'd rather wear out an automatic transmission than my left knee. Now Dodge just needs to add another gear or two to that tranny...

How about a 7th gear to the 6 speed?


Agree that the manual is rough to use around town. Guess over the years we all got spoiled. Ain't it wonderful?

I think 6 is enough. After a two week delay getting my hitch put it I did my first real pulling test this past weekend and I can honestly say that I LOVE IT! I have now towed the same camper with three different trucks, 99 Dodge CTD (AT), 02 Chevy HD D/A and now with the 04 Dodge. Hands down the HO 6 speed does a better job than all the others. The cummins was just hummin along at 65! http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif Edited by: MABurns

I have pulled my 32ft horse trailer with a 99 Dodge 2wd 3500 CTD 5 spd, 01 Dodge 3500 4x4 CTD H.O 6sp, 02 Chevy 2500hd 4x4 D/A. I have to say that the Chevy did a better job than the Dodges. I will have to get my hitch put in my 04.5 Dodge 2500 4x4 CTD H.O auto and then tell you how it compares to the rest. Seat of the pants feel, it will do better than a Dmax. I don't pull in the mountains so I don't have that to worry about. This is my 4th Dodge CTD and all of them got stronger with miles. This new one is stronger than my Dmax with only 500 miles on it. I started with 150 miles on it and drove across La. At 500 miles my milage went from 11.5 to 15 mpg. Not bad for only a 350 mile trip. I have to say that I got sucked into the Chevy like alot of other people only to see the real story after the warranty.

The GM D/A was definetly a better puller than my previous Rams (94 and 99--both had ATs) . Then again the D/A was rated a lot higher too. But it still doesn't pull as good as the 04 6 speed. I didn't have any problems with my D/A, but opted for something "new". And surprisingly cheaper too (as in inexpensive).

I couldn't agree more. The main reason that I went with the auto was for my wife. She has a bad back and shifting gets to her. I loved my 6 sp in my 01 3500. If you could hook it, it would pull it. My buddy wanted to show his butt and hook his 02 Chevy 2500 4x4 D/A to my 3500 4x4. I obliged him and took him for a ride backwards and I was shifting gears. To me the Chevy's just aren't trucks anymore. Not to mention the bodies are made like a beer can. I like the ride height and the not so smooth ride of a Dodge. You know you are in a truck.

I have to say that Dodge is stepping up to the plate with a good warrany. 7yr, 70,000 mile powertrain is plenty of time to see if the new auto tranny will handle the 325hp and 600 ftlbs of torque. I have had the 5sp and the 6sp but I realy like the auto. The 6sp is great for towing but hell in the city. A comparable Dodge cost less than the Chevy also. The $4000 back from Dodge don't hurt either. I picked up my new Dodge and that evenig I had to leave for Mexico for 28 days, I can't wait to get back and drive it some more. I read recently that DC upped the entire drivetrain behind the Cummins to 7 yr./100k so you will have another 30k to breathe easy.Congrats on the new truck,you won't miss the Chevy...Doug

i had a 2000 6.0 silverado and tow 6000 every day. 113000 miles good truck but! now i own a 04 quad cab 4x4 auto with that badass 600. what a truck hands down smoked a 04 silverado d/a and a ford 6.0 this thing is bad to the bone. even stock no mods yet dont need them. any one wanna drag!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gif Edited by: wood9969

wood9969,


Ok, I'll provide the obligatory come-back...


I'd be surprised if your stock 4 speed auto would beat either a Ford 6.0L or an LLY D/A. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

Only brag with what you can afford, Ray403Dmax.


If you are going to talk about a Ford or anything else, better be able to own one. Think your 01 Chev can step up to the plate.

Frank,


I thought those Dodges were dirt cheap, or did you get taken to the cleaners?


And in case you don't know vehicle comparisons have been done for quite some time without owning all three brands. Note that wood9969's preceeding thread did just that. Aside from that, I have a very comfortable income, I'm just a bit more selective than you. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif


As far as stepping up to the plate, the wood9969's original comparo was versus a 6.0L and '04 Dmax. Try to keep up with these fast-paced details. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif

wood9969,


Ok, I'll provide the obligatory come-back...


I'd be surprised if your stock 4 speed auto would beat either a Ford 6.0L or an LLY D/A. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif








Years ago I was in high school and I had a yamaha xs400 with a six speed tranny a classmate had a susuki gs 850 with a 5 speed tranny one other classmate asked the teacher why wouldn't the larger bike have 6 instead of 5 the teacher responded it don't need it because it has more power.

Hopefully that mechanically challenged teacher wasn't teaching auto mechanics.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

actually he was the auto mechanic/welding teacher. He is right though especially with a auto that is how the auto makers got away with running 3 speed autos for years if it would not have been for needing to get better mileage hence the reason for overdrive with lockup. I run the four speed auto I never have the need for another pulls great loaded my father inlaw has a 03 d-max and seems like it shifts a lot he also has a 96 1500 and it is a real busy tranny also once my dodge gets in OD it never needs to come out unless I slow way down otherwise it stays put.

Actualy I was not comparing the Dodge to the ford. In my experience I have never had a problem of my Dodge out pulling a Ford. Up hill or down hill. They may have been faster in a drag race, but when we loaded them and hit a hill. The Ford did not pull with the Dodge. As far as the Dmax / Alli combo. After owning one and pulling some heavy loads. I don't think that the Chevy would even be in the running if they didn't have the 5 sp Alli or the 6 sp Man. The extra gear makes a big difference in pulling. Pulling 6000 lbs is for a 1/2 ton P/U. Load it up and pull across the scales @ 36,000 lbs and then see what happens. A diesel pulling 6000 lbs is like a 1/2 ton pulling a 14ft aluminum flat boat. For pulling I like the DCT. That is my opinion.