Chevy SWB 5 spd to a Jeep Liberty 6 spd?

i everyone, I'm new to the forum. Since I've been a kid I've always owned a Chevy SWB 4wd 4 or 5 speed - my latest is a 2004 SWB, skid plates, locker, and Goodyear MTR's. Trouble is I'm 62 and it's no longer fun to drive the thing, especially urban traffic. The upright seats are killing my back. A crew cab with automatic is out of the question - too big for off road.

My wife just bought a Liberty 2wd - and guess what? I like it. The dealer has a strippo 4wd 6 spd on the lot, and I'm interested.

Question to all of you - how does the Liberty perform off road? I'm not a heavy duty off roader - more like bad dirt roads in the canyon country of northern Mexico (I live in Brownsville, at the extreme southern tip of Texas). Sometimes I go north to visit relatives in the Appalachians of Pennsylvania and would be driving on designated trails in the Laurel Highlands.

How much would I be giving up going from Chevy SWB to Jeep Liberty? It is interesting that Chevy no longer offers manual trans. in its half-ton pickups. I wouldn't be suprised if in 2008 the Liberty is automatic only.

So, dealer has a 6 spd. and wants to get rid of it. Should I?

Go for it, on the safe side, slap the factory skids under it for about $250 and you should be good to go. The people with the manuals sure love them. Very reliable, capable, fun rigs.