jimbo486

my dad's ready to buy a new truck. unfortunately he's undecided about which year model to get. he's torn between an '06 and '07 megacab. they're both the exact same truck with the exception of the '07 having a couple less options that my dad can live without. some research i've done here has turned up a few bad things guys have run into with theirs, but only seem to have problems after engine mods are done. i'm sure the stock trans can't hold up to much more than stock power.

this is what has him on the fence... information i've found has stated that the '06 auto trans is a 4-spd and the '07 auto trans is a 5-spd. i think the '06 auto trans is the 48RE? not sure what the '07 is. can anyone elaborate and provide some good information about both so that we have a comparison. anything good or bad about the tranny(s)? if anything bad, what can be done to improve it? so far a good heavy duty shift kit is what i can think of. thanks in advance for any advice/information.

Purplezr2

Almost sure the O6 and 07 use the same 48RE trans, the 07.5 used the 68RE trans. The 06's had an issue with the number 4 injector line cracking, that is about the only bad thing I have read about them

jimbo486

so would it be safe to say that the ad for the '07 was a misprint when stating the trans is a 5-spd auto, it's really a 4-spd, correct?

Diesel87

Yes it is a 4 speed 48re just like the 06. Is the 07 a 5.9 or 6.7? The 6.7s have a 6 speed auto. If the 07 is a 5.9 truck the ad is wrong.

jimbo486

the '07 is a 5.9. not too crazy about dealing with a DPF and EGR so he and i are staying away from '07.5+. would be nice if the 6-speed auto could be had on any earlier model trucks. thanks!!

now we're just trying to figure out what the rear ends have. do they have a LSD w/ 3.73's or do the auto's have 4.10's?

Ra'am

I have an 06' Mega, 4x4, auto they came standard with 3.73's, 4.10's were optional. Lsd was optional with either ratio.

Shagginwagon

yes the 4:10 was an option, and 3:73 was the standard. LSD was also an option.

jimbo486

thanks a lot for your help guys!! really appreciate this. both trucks we've looked at are at a carmax dealer and we're having the mechanics try and find out if both or either one have a LSD. so far the salesman says that in their computers "dodge doesn't offer a LSD." i knew right away that was BS. who knows if their mechanics will even know what to look for in a LSD. but if they're ASE certified (as they claim) and know their stuff, they should be able to figure it out. i hope! all my votes are going for the '06 though cuz the '07 had some scratches that had been "touched up" with a white that wasn't a good match for the color and the bumper, bumper brackets and hardware all looked new. wasn't a good sign. we suspect that it had obviously been replaced. if it had been, we'd like to know why. but i don't care to know, i like the '06 better thanks again for letting me pick your brains!!

HMX-1

Pull the VIN's and take them to a Dodge dealer. I've got a buddy in the service department of my local dealer and used him to get info on the two trucks I bought last year.

Oh, and I greased the deal with a bottle of his favorite whisky .... it's the little things like that which really help you in the long run, savvy?



Kris

ColdCase

Yeah, somewhere here someone posted awhile ago about how to get a build sheet (or original window sticker) based on the VIN.

jimbo486

that would be cool. i'll have to look into that.

zulusafari

Reviving thread, I know, but look in the Glove box -- I had a sticker in my 2001.5 that listed the rear end size, gear ratio, and Limited Slip Differential. I hear the 3rd gens also have the sticker, though I haven't looked specifically for them Perhaps someone can confirm the location??

Grit Dog

Having looked at these 2 particular models quite a bit since the Mega came out in 06, I'm not aware of any significant differences in the 2 trucks with auto transmisions (manual trans has a slightly higher OD ratio in the early 07's right before they switched to 6.7L).
I've read on here that the 06 models have more of an issue with the guage cluster going bad, but can't confirm that.
Otherwise thier the same truck. I thinkt he 07 seats are supposed to be more stain proof, but they're both bad. If you get cloth seats and their clean, scotchgard the crap out of it. Did mine and I can get the kids juice stains, etc out easily.
To my knowledge their is no indicator on the truck anywhere that shows the axle ratio. If you have the orig window sticker, it will list the 4.10 as an option. If not listed, it's a 3.73. Or check it manually by spinning a tire/driveshaft, counting revs. Or check the posts on here what the rpms should be at a specific speed/tire/axle ratio.
Unless towing heavy all the time, I wouldn't recomend the 4.10 gears. IMO, 4.10s are waaaaay to low of gears for normal driving on the highway.
Good luck with the purchase.

RowJ

'Build Sheet' is a lot more than window sticker. Lists all stcok and optional items on the truck...as it came from the factory.
Should be free from any Dodge Parts Dept., just go in with the VIN #.

RJ