20tony20

Hey guys, I spend lots of time reading this forum, but don't post to often. I have learned alot, but still consider myself pretty ignorant on lots of issues with these trucks.
Here is short backround, I have a early 04 2500, stock with the exception of a transgo shift kit and a K&n air filter. The truck has 247,000 miles on the original 48re. I pull a 18ft enclosed work trailer est. about 5-6000lbs, 9000lbs 5th wheel and a bass boat. Needless to say this truck is pulling something 90% of the time. I have just traded for a new 5th wheel that weighs 10,700 empty, after DW loads it and with a weekends worth of water we are looking at prob. 12,000 or 12,500lbs.
While there is nothing wrong with my tranny now, I'm easy on it, same for the brakes, still on original front rotors, I know that tranny time is coming.
I have been looking at options and reading about aftermarket transmissions for weeks, want to be preemptive about replacing or rebuilding the trans. now, because I think at 247,000 asking it to pull 3,000lbs more than it ever has is asking too much. It seems there is no middle ground, you either go stock or Jasper at 3-4k or you can go Georend,ats, or suncoast beefed up like crazy at 5k plus. My question is, if I don't plan on doing any mods to my truck and all I want to do is pull a heavy fiver on the weekends, do I really need a 5k tranny? Does installing a performance tranny not have a negative impact on other stock parts of the truck, rear end, ujoints, etc.? Are there any other options? I don't have a recommended Goerend installer here in East TN or any of the other aftermarket companies either. This is my work truck and I plan on keeping it, so I don't want to experiment and cause myself unneccessary problems. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Hodge

Sorry- I can't help you with much of what you have asked, but I would say this- I doubt if you will experience any negative affects on the rest of the drivetrain, if you upgrade the transmission. The transfercase, u-joints, and axles are all up to the task of hard work. You never hear from posters here that their axles or other components are marginal. Guys pull and drag race on the stock axles and transfercase. The weakest link in the system is the auto transmission. Address that, and you should get many more miles out of your truck.

no_6_oh_no

Forget Jasper, they are not even as good as stock at times. You can have a good solid trans built for $3500. Just tell the builder you don't want and need all the expensive billet parts.

Goerends basic rebuild that is rock solid with no extras and just fixes used to be around $2800 and then you added $600 to $1200 for the TC.

If your not racing and pulling a good billet cover single disk is all you really need.

If you want to take a little trip, give Garmons Diesel in Griffin Ga a call and see what they will do for just a good rebuild and TC. I think you will be able to get what you want at a good price.