Auto vs manual transmissions for towing

[Pasang@aol.com]

Re: Auto vs. Manual for Towing
These trannys should be about the same if handled correctly and with a look 
over to what the motorhome people are doing. The GrossMobile owners usually 
get some aftermarket hardware that greatly assists lugging around the large 
load they carry. Off the sales lot the engines and trannys are about what has 
been talked about thus far. However one of this first ads-ons is a large 
tranny cooler and then a Banks Power Pak exhaust/intake combo. This frees up 
engine breathing. Together they get much better power going over the hills 
with this harware and with lower transmission temperatures. Price: about 
$2000. Next is adding a "splitter" to the driveline sometimes sold as an 
overdrive/underdrive. This will give for example a Ford C6 tranny at least 6 
speeds forward from a sub low to a 0.78 ratio overdrive, all manually 
selected to maintain the revs in the desired best torque range for the 
engine. These aftermarket items are made by US Gear of Chicago and Gear 
Vendors of LA. Your local shop does the insallation, which includes hacking 
about 1 foot from the drive shaft before bolting in the splitter 
transmission. The gear selector control can be mounted on the dash or shift 
lever and will work with either a manual or automatic transmission. A little 
better mileage can be expected and better power too. Price: $2k to $3k 
installed. Thus you can balance spending say $5k to enhance your present rig 
or pay later on when the metal wears out. The motorhome people seem to like 
this suff and they really do los of hauling as you've seen going down the 
road.
Don MacIntosh