I am driving the family around 1200 mile next month for a much needed vacation and am kinda nervous about this whole 47RE being a weak point thing. I'll be pulling around 8500 lbs worth of camper. I'm wondering from the ones who have had this trans. fail if there is any pryer notice or does it just *die with out any warning?
I changed the oil and ajusted the bands recently which improved the shift a lot. Only worried about the first 48000 mile used by the previous owner who hauled cattle and never done any trans. maintenance.
Nothing would P.O. the wife more than sitting along the interstate in sweltering heat listening to the kids ask why we had to stop and just why is Daddy under the truck...
Thanks for any thoughts on this as it weighs heavy on my mind as of lately

*Edited by Moderator

 

If you have performed a recent maintenance, (fluid &amp; band adjust), you're not running large performance enhancing mods. and you keep the OD off on big hills, you should have no worries. ;D<br><br>Enjoy the Vacation. 8)

 

You should be fine, but I would definitely recommend a tranny temp gauge for some piece of mind. <br><br>I bought my '99 with almost 90K on it and judging from the looks of the fluid, I would bet the previous owner never even thought about it. But I had it flushed and that improved everything quite a bit. I tow around 1500lbs less than you and haven't had any problem. But I'm still saving my pennies for an aftermarket trans.<br><br>Russ

 

I really do have quite a bit of confidence in this truck making the trip ok, just would like to know if there is any noticable warning signs other than burnt oil on the stick a guy could look out for.<br>The recent oil change and band adjustment did make a world of difference in the smoothness of the shift and my piece of mind <br>A badly needed lift pump last week and rear Diff. oil change this week and we will be ready to go!<br>In the process right now of installing a fifth wheel hitch....not as bad of a job as I thought it would be....(so far).<br><br>Thanks guys.

 

Install a temp. gauge in the line to the cooler, it will let you know how the trans is doing. As far a failure the trans will give plenty of notice of impending doom. Watch out for TC slipping in OD &amp; do not climb hills in OD and you will be fine. The clutches and band material starts to degrade at 300*, it is best to stay below 250* going to the cooler.<br>Bruce