I pull my boat and my 50ft car hauler with a 2wd 6-speed manual.

Even when launching my boat and backing the rear tires up to the lug nuts in the water, I just slowly let out the clutch and the truck climbs up with no problem. Don't even need to accelerate, just idle up.

A modified automatic on a modified diesel for daily driving is a BLAST though. You can turn up the truck, blow black smoke all over, and have a fun ride without the slow shifting.

Towing more often the stick is awesome, more reliable, stronger, less maintenance, less heat, etc.

Echoing what others have said. I sought out a 6sp manual. Don't even use the right pedal to pull out of the ramp, just granny gear and slowly let out the clutch.

If I could afford a new truck with a new automatic, I would be all over it, but being relegated to used trucks, I stay with manuals because:

1) Nothing bugs me more than driving an older auto that has two modes, acceleration and coast. Newer programming provides more engine braking, cool.

2) A manual is just a box of gears. I can tell more from a test drive with a manual versus and auto. Buying a truck with 100K+ on the clock and an original tranny is asking for trouble IMHO. Clutches are comparatively cheap.

Ive been towing professionally (mostly ford 350's 450's) nearly 25 years. After the c6 went away almost every automatic trans has been junk. It was rare to have a trans last past the orginal 36k warranty. They typically didn't last a year. And in a commercial app you couldnt get an extended warranty. With the new stuff, knock on wood, I haven't had a failure under 100k.
I understand some people prefer stick shifts for various reasons, but the vast majority of the general public prefer automatics.

With how good Ford/GM's auto's are I don't see a need for the manual really, Dodge finally made an ok trans with the newer 6 speed, but for some reason I still like the manual behind the Ram. Especially in the past where your only choice was the manual trans or the pos weak 48LE with it's crap gearing, god that trans sucked donkey balls and made towing feel lethargic.