The one feature that keeps bringing me back to old pickup trucks
Modern pickup trucks are faster, more powerful and more technologically advanced than ever, but one key feature has quietly disappeared along the way. Manual transmissions, once a defining part of the pickup truck experience, have been gradually phased out in favor of automatic systems and complex driver aids. For drivers who grew up changing their own gears, this change removed a level of involvement that today’s trucks simply can’t replicate.
Older pickup trucks offered a direct mechanical connection between driver and machine. A clutch pedal and gear lever required attention, skill and timing, turning even routine journeys into something engaging. Beyond nostalgia, manual gearboxes also brought simplicity and durability, with fewer components to fail and a reputation for being able to handle hard work without complaint. They made towing, exploring, and on-road driving seem deliberate rather than automated.
As manuals disappear from modern lineups, they become symbols of a more practical era of truck ownership. That’s why so many enthusiasts return to older pickup trucks, not only for their rugged styling or proven reliability, but also for the experience of shifting gears themselves. In a push-button world, this feature is deeply lacking.
In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article comes from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources.
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Manual vans are slowly but surely disappearing
The six-speed gearbox is becoming rare
One of the main reasons to look for an older pickup truck is that newer pickup trucks simply don’t come with manual transmissions. While it makes sense that many small cars and crossovers have become fully automatic, manual transmissions and pickup trucks seem to go hand in hand. With fewer new options for rowing with your own equipment, it makes more and more sense to use something.
There is only one new pickup with a manual transmission
As mentioned, most new trucks have ditched the six-speed entirely and opted for traditional automatic transmissions. While there’s nothing wrong with having an automatic transmission, it’s a shame we didn’t have a choice. Currently, there is only one new pickup truck on the market in the United States that can still be purchased with a manual, and even then it’s not that simple.
The Toyota Tacoma is the only new pickup with a manual option, but it’s not the easiest option to equip. Of the eight trim levels offered, only three benefit from the six-speed gearbox. You also have to select the double cab option and equip the truck with four-wheel drive, which obviously adds quite a bit to your bill. Needless to say, it’s not easy to get a new truck with a manual.
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Modern trucks have gained in comfort but lost their character
The manual transmission is satisfactory and functional
Obviously, people like me who yearn for the return of the manual transmission in pickup trucks are driven, at least to some extent, by nostalgia. There’s a lot to be said for the convenience that automatic transmissions offer. However, rowing with your own equipment is actually quite convenient. Manuals not only help us connect emotionally to our trucks, but they also provide additional functionality.
The practical advantages of a manual
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Better control of energy supply
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Simpler, more reliable engineering
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Stronger engine braking
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Improved driver engagement and awareness
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Theft deterrent
There are places where a manual is simply nicer to use than the most advanced automatic transmission. A manual lets you choose your own equipment, giving you control over the amount of power you expend. This makes things like towing, off-roading, and handling things like steep hills a little easier. Rather than trying to circumvent how the automatic reads your throttle inputs, you have direct control.
There are also many secondary benefits. Engine braking is obviously much easier, which means less wear and tear on things like your brake pads. Many reports also suggest that vehicles with manual transmissions are less likely to be stolen. They are also cheaper, on average, on the second-hand market.
But the most important thing for any truck driver is extra reliability. Manual transmissions can take a lot more abuse and require a lot less care than automatic transmissions. For farmers, contractors and travelers, manuals have proven they can survive decades of abuse with basic maintenance.
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There’s nothing digital about a good driving experience
Connecting with your car is taken for granted in today’s age
Of course, modern trucks with modern transmissions are more comfortable. They make driving simpler and, in a way, it’s nice. But along the way, we lost something. People who see their pickup trucks as tools to get a job done and nothing more might not feel it, but gasoline enthusiasts who have a passion for the cars they drive know that the connection a manual transmission provides isn’t just about practicality.
The emotional side of things This is what non-motorists don’t have. They see all cars as one and a half, two tons of wires and glass and metal and rubber, and that’s all they see. People like you or I know. We believe that cars are living entities. You can develop a relationship with a car and that’s something non-motorists don’t get. When something has weaknesses and doesn’t behave correctly, it gives it a particularly human quality because it makes mistakes, and that’s how you can build a relationship with a car that others won’t have.
Yes, manual transmissions in pickup trucks make sense from a practical standpoint. Yes, they make your car more reliable. But all of that is secondary to how you feel. This line of thinking may be a little old-fashioned and maybe a little bland, but it’s getting harder and harder to connect with cars, and that’s something that’s really, really sad.
Getting in your truck and doing your job, changing your own gears, having full control of the machine, all contribute to a more satisfying driving experience. At the end of the day, you feel like you accomplished something and that you and your trusty van worked together to make something happen.
