2014-2015 Ram cummins 6 speed auto vs 6 speed manual

I'm not sure about the fuel economy differences but I can definitely tell you I wish I bought a manual instead of my 68RFE in my 2012 3500 megacab. By far the worst shifting transmission I've ever driven in a truck. Yeah I could get the H&S overdrive software but I shouldn't have to for a virtually new truck. It constantly lugs the engine, hunts for shifts, dead pedal and makes a hell of a clunk sometimes when the torque converter unlocks. The only reason I haven't flipped the truck is because its paid for and I don't want to have a truck payment in this economy.

FWIW my truck is not stock:face-icon-small-win. Im seeing an average of 16.5-17.5mpg in town and around 19-20mpg highway at 65mph/110km/h. Thats with a 3.73 rear end too.

I have an 2005 srw 3500 6 speed stock truck. I have 2009 drw 6 speed with h&s and a 2013 4500 with 4.10 and Aisin auto. The 2013 4500 is junk! My stock 2005 will out pull the stock 4500 everyday with the exact same load.
I know it is not the same truck transmission you asked about, but there is no way a more powerful truck with 4.10 gears can't pull as hard as a 2005 3.55gears (I think) 6 speed manual with 180000 miles.
I hate the auto transmission!

rooster740 said:

I have an 2005 srw 3500 6 speed stock truck. I have 2009 drw 6 speed with h&s and a 2013 4500 with 4.10 and Aisin auto. The 2013 4500 is junk! My stock 2005 will out pull the stock 4500 everyday with the exact same load.
I know it is not the same truck transmission you asked about, but there is no way a more powerful truck with 4.10 gears can't pull as hard as a 2005 3.55gears (I think) 6 speed manual with 180000 miles.
I hate the auto transmission!

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I know this doesn't help out the OP with the manual vs. auto question, but I have a friend with a 2006 2500 SRW dodge and a 2012 3500 SRW. Both have 6 speed manual transmissions, chipped, exhaust, and intake. The 2012 came with 3.42 gears and he swapped them to 3.73s and it still won't pull as well as his 2006. So there must be something more to do with how the newer generation motors pull than just the transmissions that are mated to them.

I have a fleet of '14 and '15 autos. Not sure which are rfe and which are Aisin models and at 30 below zero don't care to look under them lol!
Can't comment on mileage as we get 4-5mpg idling a lot on the N Slope.
My observations about the new autos are they up shift way too early under easy driving. They'll go into 5 or 6th gear at 35-40mph lugging the engine at real low rpms. Also the dead pedal syndrome. Again don't matter where we drive them but there is no way you're getting any split second throttle response. Seems like an issue in traffic for accident avoidance.
I have an 07 5.9 G56 truck and love it for towing and hauling but if I had my pick of new trucks tomorrow, it would be an Aisin HO. Especially after driving mine in stop n go traffic for the last month with a 3500# single disk clutch!
Mileage won't be your determining factor IMO.
The new autos are waaaaay better than the old 4 speeds. Can't believe Dodge put those janky @ss 47 and 48re's in their trucks for so long.

I have a 2014 2500 crew cab short box Cummins with the G56 6 speed manual. It's stock other then 34" Duratrac tires.

I love it! I love the manual for what I do. I only have 8k miles on it but about 1500 miles towing. It's not my daily driver. I use it to tow sleds, dirt bikes and side by sides. I am also always driving in the mountains and some forest service road when camping and dirt biking. Love the control of the manual.

I had an 01 6 speed and 03 Auto. As well as an F150 Ecoboost.

My older diesels were heavily modified and felt faster and obviously the Ecoboost was faster.

However, pulling a 28 ft enclosed sled trailer this truck feels the best. Tows with ease.

12-13 MPG pulling the big trailer
17-19 MPG highway around 70-75
23 MPG is my personal best with slower two lane driving around 60 MPH

I prefer a manual but mainly chose it because I didn't like the 3.42s with the auto. I might of picked the auto if I could of gotten 3.73s or 4.10s.

My truck is about 2000 RPM at 75 MPH.
Auto is about 2000 rpm at 90 MPH

I like my gearing for the two lane highway I normally drive and towing in the mountains.
If did a lot of empty 85 mph empty highway the 3.42s would probably be ok with the auto. Otherwise 6th gear is almost worthless towing.

my 2012 auto was a slush box when it was stock. i was not too fond of it at all. my wife was pressuring me to buy a ford, or a different dodge with a 6 speed because i complained every time i put a load behind it. well, it wasnt in the cards to take a big $$$ loss on a new pickup, so i stuck with it. with the work of the boys at anarchy diesel performance, we got the tranny finely tuned. the torque converter locks up in 2-6th gear immediately when in tow/haul. its a beast now. but if i was to leave it in stock configuration, AND pull alot with it (and the wife didnt drive it alot)........i would go manual.


video of converter lockup https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORmVeiInSpo

your other half will appreciate it. mine "can" drive a manual, but not very damn good haha. i have a manual tranny cavalier i drive for work, and she HATES it. its like all cars, its geared pretty high. so you can just let the clutch out in 1st gear without giving it a little throttle. i told her she start out in 1st or 2nd with a diesel pickup without giving it any throttle, and she just rolled her eyes.


i dont want to say i got the auto just for her, because i sure dont miss rowing through the gears. but in a rural area, the closest stop light is 70 miles away, and she rarely drives the pickup. when i have a load behind me, i wish it was a manual, but that transmission tuning i got made night and day difference. when that torque converter locks up from 2nd gear on up, that slush box feeling is gone.