6 speed or 10 speed Allison. Which do you prefer?

[Gray]

I bought a 2019 GMC 3500 Denali 4x4 dually, and now I am second guessing myself if I should have waited for the 2020. I tow a 24’ stock trailer almost everyday and actually only tow at most 14000 lbs. Truck handles nice and is way better than my 2012 Dodge 3500 that I traded in. Are the 2020 going to be that much better?

[Thankful]

I've owned several of the 6 speed Allison transmissions since my first  GM Duramax in 2005.  Without a doubt, the 10 speed Allison is much better.

[i82much]

there is always something better next year.  your 2019 is a fantastic truck that will do anything you ask of it.  don’t fall into that trap!

[J-man67]

there is always something better next year.  your 2019 is a fantastic truck that will do anything you ask of it.  don’t fall into that trap!

Especially for 14,000lbs. Your truck will handle it just as well. The 10spd is a great trans, but I'd say it's more for getting crazy heavy loads going and keeping them going.

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[Colossus]

Ditto on sticking with the 2019.  Having the newest and latest isn't always the greatest.  In fact 9 times out of ten it isn't. 

[Donstar]

6 hours ago, Gray said:

I bought a 2019 GMC 3500 Denali 4x4 dually, and now I am second guessing myself if I should have waited for the 2020. I tow a 24’ stock trailer almost everyday and actually only tow at most 14000 lbs. Truck handles nice and is way better than my 2012 Dodge 3500 that I traded in. Are the 2020 going to be that much better?

Your truck is outstanding!  You recently purchased the top dog in the GM pickup department and may never utilize its full capabilities.  Enjoy your truck!  

[Gray]

Thanks for the feedback. Up to 1996 I was a GMC man, switched to a Dodge Dually and loved that truck. At the time I thought the Dodge had a better truck. It was a 6 speed with the 5.9L. Great truck. Still have a 2001 Dodge dually and sons both drive Dodge 1 tons. Then I got a 2012 Dodge Laramie Limited, and although that was a great truck, never felt good about the 68rfe transmission. So I thought I would change to the proven Allison transmission in the GMC. Only have 16000 Kms on truck, but already know it is way smoother at shifting, and being a dually, a lot more stable. Not sure about the independent front end yet, as all my dodges had solid axles, but wow, is it smooth riding! I bought the 2019 as it was the last year of the 6 speed transmission which has been proven reliable. Thought about the 2020, as it has a few upgrades I liked, one being a camera in the bed when you back up trailer, the other being keyless start. Got a great deal on the 2019 and the 2020’s were not out yet. Anyways, I like the truck as I think it is a pretty solid unit in all. My buddies all bug me that I bought a GMC, but hey, I needed to find a reliable transmission as I haul a trailer with cattle in it almost everyday. 

[Jglew82]

I think yours will give you all that you’re looking for. Stick with the proven platform! Also I was pretty sure the new 10-speed is a GM designed and manufactured unit with Allison branding, while yours is Allison design and mfg. if that makes any difference to you. Time will tell how the new one holds up.

[CRApex]

11,000 miles on my 10spd and so far I prefer it over the 6spd.  Like others have said, time will tell on reliability but so far so good.

[RyanbabZ71]

I've owned several of the 6 speed Allison transmissions since my first  GM Duramax in 2005.  Without a doubt, the 10 speed Allison is much better.

Why do you say this? The 6 speed has been around much longer and is well documented to be very reliable. Not disagreeing with you as I think the 10
Speed will turn out to be very good but we haven’t seen the longevity of the 10 speed yet like that of the 6 speed


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[Thankful]

1 minute ago, RyanbabZ71 said:

 

Why do you say this? The 6 speed has been around much longer and is well documented to be very reliable. Not disagreeing with you as I think the 10
Speed will turn out to be very good but we haven’t seen the longevity of the 10 speed yet like that of the 6 speed


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Ryan, better doesn't mean the reliability is the same.  Only time will tell.  Better means the ten speed transmission performs better than the six speed.

[Colossus]

I'd like to give it another 3-4 years to see how the 10 speed holds up.  Here's to hoping.  the 6 Speed has done great since it came out in mid 2007.  They won't handle heavy performance tunes without being built up a bit but long term, they are solid 500,000+ mile trannies if you service them right and don't limp and overheat them. 

[i82much]

Marginally related, but I bought a 4.3 Silverado back in 2006 because I did not trust those newfangled LS engines and wanted something based on a good old small block architecture.  Looking back, those non-AFM engines of that era are some of the longest-lasting engines of all time!

[FP53]

On 12/29/2019 at 4:31 PM, Gray said:

I bought a 2019 GMC 3500 Denali 4x4 dually, and now I am second guessing myself if I should have waited for the 2020. I tow a 24’ stock trailer almost everyday and actually only tow at most 14000 lbs. Truck handles nice and is way better than my 2012 Dodge 3500 that I traded in. Are the 2020 going to be that much better?

Well good question. Towing our camper the 6 speed never downshifted. The 10 speed shifts downshifts quite a bit. The 10 speed is much smoother. I prefer the 6 for towing and the 10 for smoothness.

[Wish i had my LBZ]

How do I get paid to lie and say the 10 speed out performs the 6 speed? 
Facts, if you pull a big camper or loads 15000lb or better you will be disappointed with the stock Ford copied 10 speed if you had a real Allison 6 speed.

Fact, you will blow through the converter on any grade. 
Fact the lockup doesn’t work effectively to use the torque of the l5p. 
Fact, you will feel like you are pulling with a mid 90’s gasser downshifting and popping off the rev limiter.