Surge Brakes vs. Electric BrakesSurge BrakesSurge brakes are hydraulic brakes that are operated by a cylinder that is built into the coupler and compresses as the tow vehicle slows. The more the brakes are applied in the tow vehicle, the more the coupler compresses, which applies the trailer brakes more. It is a very reliable system and is especially nice when you are towing really heavy loads. The only real drawback to using surge brakes is that sometimes they will begin to lock in as you back up, especially if you are backing up even at the smallest grade. Some systems are equipped with free-backing brakes, which allow you to lock out the surge coupler to prevent the brakes from locking when you back up. One nice thing about surge brakes is that the system can be used on any vehicle with a hitch, whereas electric brakes require a brake controller in the vehicle.
Electric BrakesThis type of system operates by wiring the brakes on the trailer to the brakes in the tow vehicle vis- -vis an electronic control unit in the cab that engages the trailer brakes when you press down on the brake pedal. The controller unit also allows you to set the amount of brake drag you feel comfortable with. This means that the extent to which the trailer brakes are engaged is determined by the controller (ie. you), not by how hard you apply the brake pedal. A pendulum-type control will electronically add more brake as you stop, but if you have your controller turned all the way up, the slightest pressure on the pedal could lock your trailer brakes. Using electric brakes takes a little practice getting use to and requires that you give more thought to setting up the controller than would be necessary with a surge brake system.
Automatic vs. ManualAutomaticMost people use their trucks as much for running around town as for hauling and towing - probably more. If so, an automatic tranny is far more convenient. Continually shifting up and down through the gears gets old fast, especially on a big truck with low gearing and a lot of torque where the shifter throw is probably very long. In addition, on modern computerized trucks, the computer will choose the shift points as well as, if not better, than most people, which will translate into better fuel economy and faster acceleration from light to light.
On the highway, manual transmissions used to rule the road in the mileage department. However, in recent years, automatics have become available with Overdrive. This was once the sole province of manuals. While this makes cruising speeds more comfortable and fuel efficient, your gas mileage will still not be quite as good as it would with a manual; close, but not quite.
The biggest advantage, as well as the biggest problem, with automatics is that they require very little maintenance. Little maintenance does not mean no maintenance. With automatics, people tend to forget to occasionally check the fluid and change it at the appropriate intervals. This can shorten the life span of the tranny, and, if allowed to continue, result in an early death. With a manual transmission, it's much more difficult to ignore a failing clutch, which means people are more likely to perform the necessary upkeep.