[fcatwo]

Also, like automatics, the "big-3" usually offer more than one standard transmission. We towed a 27' 5th wheel for 10 yrs and 80,000 miles with a light3/4 Chevy PU equipped with a HD 5sp stick shift. Our clutch/trans was rated for 16,000 lbs and was the same one used in much larger trucks. The clutch/stick shift offered in their 1500 at the time was much smaller and was the same one used in (and probably developed for) their S-10 pickups. Those weren't rated to tow much.

There are still 18-wheelers on the road with standard transmissions so it IS possible to make one that will pull a TM. You also hear a lot about clutch failures but we drove our chevy for 127K mi before selling it and the clutch was still good.

Frank