Manual or Auto for towing

[texelburger]

Looking to change our pickup,we currently have a manual l200 but the gearing is quite high especially when starting on a hill with 60 spring lambs in a Gamic tri axle livestock trailer.So we are considering an Auto and I was wondering what the pros and cons are.We are looking at a Ranger,Hi Lux or L200 all 2nd hand about 3 to 4 years old.
Thanks

 

[Binc]

love my ranger auto for towing! wouldnt be going back! decent engine breaking too!

 

[Nearly]

@Drillman

 

[Pieces_of_Eight]

Auto for towing, every time.

 

[WillYorkshire]

Looking to change our pickup,we currently have a manual l200 but the gearing is quite high especially when starting on a hill with 60 spring lambs in a Gamic tri axle livestock trailer.So we are considering an Auto and I was wondering what the pros and cons are.We are looking at a Ranger,Hi Lux or L200 all 2nd hand about 3 to 4 years old.
Thanks

Had L200 auto some time ago. With horse trailer and 2 horses aboard, would stick in 2nd. Mitsubishi said no fault. Didn't keep it a year....

 

[Drillman]

@Drillman

Why on our small crowded island would anyone want a vehicle with a “make work” stick? besides what is the point of 3 pedals when were only born with 2 legs?

 

[Drillman]

Looking to change our pickup,we currently have a manual l200 but the gearing is quite high especially when starting on a hill with 60 spring lambs in a Gamic tri axle livestock trailer.So we are considering an Auto and I was wondering what the pros and cons are.We are looking at a Ranger,Hi Lux or L200 all 2nd hand about 3 to 4 years old.
Thanks

Pros auto is better in every way.

cons, there isn’t any!

 

[Nearly]

Why on our small crowded island would anyone want a vehicle with a “make work” stick? besides what is the point of 3 pedals when were only born with 2 legs?

there's 6 strings on a geetar. Were they invented in Norfolk?

 

[neilo]

Looking to change our pickup,we currently have a manual l200 but the gearing is quite high especially when starting on a hill with 60 spring lambs in a Gamic tri axle livestock trailer.So we are considering an Auto and I was wondering what the pros and cons are.We are looking at a Ranger,Hi Lux or L200 all 2nd hand about 3 to 4 years old.
Thanks

With the same trailer and a steep climb out of the end of our drive, I changed my manual L200 for an automatic (Musso) last Autumn.
It is massively better for towing a trailer, but I would guess a manual pickup with a lower first gear would have been better too.

I was intending to get a newer L200 with an automatic box, but all of those I saw in decent order seemed crazy money.

 

[Macsky]

Auto without a doubt, 6 speed minimum.

 

[Timbo]

Looking to change our pickup,we currently have a manual l200 but the gearing is quite high especially when starting on a hill with 60 spring lambs in a Gamic tri axle livestock trailer.So we are considering an Auto and I was wondering what the pros and cons are.We are looking at a Ranger,Hi Lux or L200 all 2nd hand about 3 to 4 years old.
Thanks

Auto. End of.

 

[PSQ]

Just check the towing limit is the same.
On a Kia Sorrento they derate the towing capacity on the diesel autos to something less than useful, and significantly less than the manual with the same engine.

 

[dynosoar]

I think Freelander 2's are derated on torque/ power with auto if I remember although it could be the other way around.
Something to check though.

A

 

[nick...]

Auto all day long.ill never have another manual car,unless I buy a GR Yaris
nick...

 

[neilo]

Just check the towing limit is the same.
On a Kia Sorrento they derate the towing capacity on the diesel autos to something less than useful, and significantly less than the manual with the same engine.

On the Musso, the opposite is true iirc, with the one manual option having a lower (legal) towing capacity.

Maybe they just make those figures up anyway?

 

[JHT]

We have a L200 barbarian auto, 69 plate - the very last of the series 5. Tows our 14ft Gamic for fun. I test drove the manual before purchase and thought it was pretty high geared so went for the auto. She has a serious drink problem though- 12/14 to the gallon when towing. 29 to the gallon when not towing and you have to drive like a granny to do that. She’s only got 5 gears which I think contributes to her drink problem- I think the newer ones have more gears. Also BF all terrain tyres probably don’t help. Really pleased with it apart from that though- also fantastic off road, had landrover 90’s before and she’ll go places they wouldn’t.

 

[How much]

Ranger with an 10 speed auto here there is gear for pretty much anything on road even in high range drop to low for off road and there are more than you would ever need but as has ben said the more gears the better not sure anyone makes autos with 4 gears these days but they would I think not be as good as an manual .

 

[MrNoo]

Am old school, manual here, Isuzu 1.9, the old D-Max was shocking for towing re first gear, way too high but the new 1.9 is excellent re first gear. Would never have an auto unless I lived in a city then I may consider it.

 

[carbonfibre farmer]

there's 6 strings on a geetar. Were they invented in Norfolk?

We are rum buggers here in deepest darkest narfolk

To come back on topic and in reference to the OP

I've gone from a late 3lit trooper to a 57plate ranger, both manual, to a 14 plate auto amarok.

I was very, very sceptical about an auto for towing...... not anymore! Now the trooper was a rum thing and could pull like anything and with low box was excellent. The amarok is just so, well, effortless really. It's such an easy drive and the 8speed auto is a treat. I tow a fair bit,(admitted very much on the flat.....this is narfolk after all), and reasonable loads, up to its legal limit. The box just holds it in gear when it's got a good load on but not unobtrusively so.
We are currently looking at a newer car for the OH at the moment, and one of her requests is "an auto like your truck". That says a lot I think.
I do miss having a low range though. Mine hasn't that option. I believe some the OP is looking at do? As much as anything for reversing. It's just a tad too high geared when reversing a heavy trailer.
I also occasionally drive a 18? plate ranger auto with up to the legal limit of oil tanks/slabs/sand etc on board. That's a lovely thing too with the auto, and selectable 4wd/low box. It is maybe a bit more aggressive changing but that's probably just the difference between the vehicles.
If you could get a test drive it'd be a good idea. With a trailer on, even for a short drive, would be helpful.
Some autos are programmed differently to others. IIRC I think @Will 1594 on here tested one, and couldn't get on with it as it was constantly changing up and down the box. That would put me off too.

 

[deleted user 837354]

Automatic, just change the gearbox oil at 40,000 miles.