03CTDCO

Has anyone added a ATS towing valve body, commandor
TC controller and a PacBrake ?

Since I have a 03 HO with the 48RE auto trans and it does not
appear Dodge will ever approve the 03 and early 04 48RE's
for use with a DC approved exhaust brake I thinking of having
ATS perform these mods for me. I'm only 20 miles from ATS Diesel
Performance out here in Colorado. I also spoke to them on the phone Friday afternoon.

Their recomendations are
tow version ATS valve body (higher line pressures and better lubricating for the rear planatary gear thrust washers)
ATS Commandor TC controller (allows the TC to lock up in 1st
down to 8mph)
Pacbrake exhaust brake.
Its a pricey set-up (installed of course), but I'm sick of waiting
for Dodge to ever approve our trucks for the Jacobs EB. (dont
think it will ever happen, and I camp/tow in the Colorado Rockies
so I'm not going to take any chances when its comes to down hill
braking)

During my conversations, ATS more than once mentioned the 48RE is a stout tranny, but with there mods the exhaust brake
will work better and the tranny will last longer with the valve body mods. I cant afford their triple lock TC, and with only 4K miles
on my truck I think I'll take my chances until something brakes.


Any feedback for be great !!!

Thanks

Robert Rausch

I can't help you on the 48RE part, but I got a complete ATS Stage IV upgrade to my 47RH and it is the best thing I ever did to my truck. I wish I'd done it 50,000 miles sooner, I can tell you that! Their customer service is great. Clint seems to have the knack of hiring and keeping honest, dedicated people. I can't praise them enough.

03CTDCO

I must agree, those guys know there stuff...Cant wait to meet
them in person.

How many miles do you have on your PacBrake?
Does it retard as advertised?
Do you have the Commandor TC controller ?

Robert Rausch

Pacbrake has about 85,000 miles on it. I like it a lot and use it every day. The only thing it needed was once it wouldn't work and I cleaned out the little vacuum thingy on top of the engine which tells it to turn on.

I also have the TripleLok Commander. I added it after I got my ATS but it works great too. I've never had a problem after 2 years of use. I generally use it more for the Pacbrake than shifting locked, although shifting locked is fun!

y-knot

I can only say positive things about ATS and there products, but I think I would do with-out the Pac-Brake and go with the Triple-Loc if it was me. I belive that is the heart of 90% of all problems. It wasn't my transmission that gave out, it was the TC that kept slipping. Good luck

sdaves

If you dont mind me asking...what was the cost for those upgrades gonna be?

Also, how much was the triple loc TC gonna be?

Thanks

03CTDCO

y-knot, Thanks for the feedback. The reason I'm looking into
this is to "add" the exhaust brake. I need an exhaust brake
for safely decending mountain passes with my 5er attached.
I agree it would be benifical to add the ATS triple lock TC but
I cant afford another $1800 right now. Seeing that the truck
only has 4K miles on it currently I think I save the money and
see how the truck performs while towing this summer.

Maybe next summer my stock TC will be toast and I'll go back
to ATS and get there triple lock TC. I really dont want to touch
the trans (and void the 7/70) but we mountain camp in the
summer months and I need a EB for safety reasons. I know
many people out here that have diesels and camp in the
mountains and they "all" say it is needed and would not tow
without one.

I'm holding off til March to visit ATS and get the mods installed.
Thanks, 03CTDCO