I have the earlier trans. There are def days when I wish I had the newer one, but then days when I'm so glad I have the earlier. The low gear has been very helpful every time I tow and exceptionally helpful when towing other trucks on the car trailer. It usually trips me up when I have to go back and forth between the 3500 in my 92 and the 4500 in the Hoe. Of course now that I have extra power, I think I wouldn't miss the granny gear so much. The tranny I went with was a junkyard unit and Ive got some bearings that may need attention. I think when I'm ready to change it out, ill go with the newer one. The 6.0 is fantastic. I actually drove around for a couple weeks with a bad injector and didn't even know it. Once I replaced it, the engine smoothed out and gained a bunch more power. I think its just a matter of time before I break something else in the driveline. Its hard not to keep my foot in it and with that manual, it just pulls like a freight train when I punch it. I have broken the 38's loose on dry pavement on more than one occasion. I don't know how I haven't tossed a ujoint, driveshaft or axle yet.