[VACList] Transmissions

["DOUG & VIRGINIA STANLEY" <fdsacres@xxxxxxx>]

We don't have much experience pulling Airstreams, just bought a 1970 29' to restore, but 
we have well over a million miles pulling large heavy loaded horse trailers and another 
million miles cross country with a tractor trailer.  A manual transmission will not hold 
up over the long haul.  If you haul occasionally over fairly flat terrain it will probably 
be ok.  The cost of rebuilding an automatic transmission vs a clutch and pressure plate 
will change your mind for you.  The clutch and pressure plate are much cheaper.  I will 
admit the convience of an automatic is much nicer in heavy stop and go traffic, but going 
downhill in steep mountain roads with an automatic transmission has always made me nervous.  
I grew up driving in the mountains of Colorado always pulling some kind of load.  Your 
choice should be based on how often you will haul and the total mileage you will haul 
every year.  We have a '92 Dodge 3/4 ton diesel with 400,000+ miles and had the automatic 
transmission rebuilt 2 years ago.  There are no new transmissions for this truck (Dodge 
didn't make any).  This truck is our horseshoeing rig and we put 45 -60,000 miles a year on 
it with a lot of heavy weight in the back.  We also have a 1988 Ford 1 ton diesel, original 
manual transmission, 425,000+ miles, first new clutch 2 years ago.  This old Ford is our 
haul truck and we just can't wear it out.  The main thing to remember is if you are going to 
haul 3-5 days a week every week then a manual transmission is the only way to go.  If you 
are going to haul 3 times a year then go with an automatic and you will probably be ok.

Doug and Virginia Stanley
fdsacres@msn.com