Ok. I have one more question.

I am looking at two different trucks. I don't need a gas vs. diesel debate...just a straight forward facts and opinions reply. I am looking for problems, etc with the newer auto trannies. The biggest thing I tow regularly is a 1800lb boat. MAY tow a 8k lb bobcat 1-3 times/year.

First truck:
2500 4wd QC HEMI automatic

Second truck:
2500 4wd QC with the Cummins. Was initially looking at a 6 speed, but would like for my wife to be able to drive it EASILY.

Whatever I buy I NEED it to last for 7-10 years with little to no problems. I know that is a crapshoot, but I dont wanna buy something with a tranny that is troublesome. I have heard the past dodge tranny horror stories.

I am one that believes that Dodge is putting out a truck that is good or even better than the other of the BIG 3. They are without a doubt putting out the BEST looking trucks.

Thanks...and I look forward to your replies.

 

I have the auto and I have not had any trouble with it.
I have towed about 7500 lbs with it for 4000 miles and works good. You can do a search on 48RE and you will come up with alot of reading. It shifts hard but that is the way it should . I get 11.9 towing , 19 out on the hiway and 15 on the island.

 

I have the so called 47RE(old) tranny and have NO problems. Go for CTD with the auto for the long haul. The tranny will not let you down ???. There has been no major problems reported and DC & Cummins have worked on it to help insure it is almost bullet proof.
I think you will enjoy the power of CTD over the 5.7ltr unless you want GO REAL Fast NOW power and pass everything but a gas station when towing. 8)
Just my .01 worth

 

Hi guys! First post, though I've been lurking for awhile...

I'm in much the same boat as sdaves, although it is more a matter of initial investment. I tow only a trailer which is around 7,000 lbs. It would be wonderful from a torque/longevity/fuel economy standpoint to have a Cummins, and as a Californian, I'm pretty jazzed that I'll have the option of the HO shortly. But six grand buys a lot of gasoline, and I've recently changed careers and money is a little tighter than I'd like.

My current tow vehicle is, believe it or not, a 98 Dakota CC, 318 stick, with 3.92 limited slip. Does quite nicely towing, but of course gets scandalous mileage doing it. It was nice to have a V-8 and a stick again after too many years driving 4 bangers, though it isn't quite like my old AAR 'Cuda!

Anyway, my daughter's legs are getting too long to get through more than one more trailering summer in the jump seat of the Dak; I'm going to have to step up within a year or so and go to a full-size. I'm a Mopar man to the bone, and will look first at Dodge. Can't see any point in having a full-size with weak underpinnings, so will be looking at QC 3/4 or 1 tons.

The Cummins makes sense for me if I can make the truck last ten or twelve years. I know the engine is up to it, but how do you early Gen 3 buyers feel about the durability of the rest of the vehicle? I'm afraid I'm going to have to get an auto - my wife welched on our agreement for her to learn to drive the Dakota, so I don't think she'll be ready to tackle the big truck with a 6 speed.

I'm concerned about the 48RE and the new American axles - I had a strong affinity for the Danas. I'm fairly certain that these are the drivetrain components I'll have to deal with in a year - can't see them getting another auto to market that quickly.

So, finally, after all that...

Do you guys with 48RE HOs feel like you've got a ten year, 200,000 mile vehicle based on experience thus far?

Jim

 

Mopar Jim,

I recently got my '04 HO 48RE and I think it is made very well. I have also had a '74 360, an '83 318 and a '93 Cummins with the auto (may have been the 47RH). As far as quality, there is no comparison. Not just the styling but the quality of the truck. Painted well underneath, no rattles, engine is much more oil tight and the oil stays clean, electrical system is far better, just the general quality of the hoses and underhood fittings are better. The rear springs and the front suspension are excellent. I could go on and on. Don't know if the axles are better but I blew up a Dana 70 behind a Ford 6.9 diesel with an automatic! The castings look good and the front knuckles are very strong looking (no hubs though, bummer) The limited slip doesn't seem to work any different (from a drivers point of view) than on my '93. They are both excellent in my view but I do like the new design better. It's similar to the Gleason design, very simple, and won't let one wheel rev up under power because of the reverse worm gear design.
The older trucks were great because of the Cummins. The new ones are a complete package. There has been a lot of fear expressed about the 48RE but I don't think they are proving to be a problem. I worked my old truck to the max sometimes and definately pushed the tranny to the limit. I was able to burn the oil badly. The new one is programmed differently and uses lockup more. As long as it can stay cool it should be no problem and they are much stronger inside. Time will tell, but I'm not worried. I hope the new computer on the Cummins lasts. It will be hard to beat the old Bosch type injection pump for reliability.
Who knows how long anything will last? I'm another Mopar guy but I have owned a Ford diesel and I looked at the Chevy before I got the Dodge. I felt really ripped off after getting the Ford with its recalls and repair costs (this is not hype, I had to put on a new injection pump, several water pumps, two new heads, two drag link assemblies, at least four sets of front brakes, and a new ring and pinion in 100,000 miles). It had a C6 tranny and one day when I was getting the fluid changed a broken snap ring appeared in the pan. The tech brought it to me and said "we service a bunch of these trucks, I've seen this before and shortly afterward they broke down and wouldn't move". I sold the truck and told the guy that bought it. Gave him a good deal and he pulled the tranny. Sure enough the case was all scarred inside and ready to blow. I could go on and on. Never again!
I also had a 2000 Dakota club cab 4WD, V6. My new Cummins gets better mileage and will tow or haul so much more! Faster too. I loved the Dakota and I think they are well made, but Dodge did cut some corners with them.
I get the feeling if there was ever a vehicle I could rely on for the long haul, this is it. I do wonder about all the electronics but that's what we get with anything these days.
Wetspirit

 

Wetspirit, thanks for the time you took on the analysis. Greatly appreciated!

The V-8 manual Dakotas are moderately quick, especially with the 3.92s, but not really fast. I do sort of hate to part with it since I have it set up exactly the way I want it and I like the tidy dimensions in a daily driver that I need to park in some tight spots. Fun to occasionally surprise a rice driver on a twisty road, too. The Hotchkis suspension package is a hoot in the canyons.

But, it looks more and more like I'm heading in the direction of the CTD. And here I was finally going to buy a Hemi - sort of missed the window on 426s - bought my first musclecar (the aforementioned AAR) in 1974. But 75 ft/lbs more torque than my 318/5.2 in a truck that weighs a full ton more isn't going to cut it with the trailer, methinks. 600 ft/lbs at 1600 RPM sounds good for the Sierras!

Jim

 

Cummins with the 48RE will do just fine. Drive it responsibly, change the filters, blah, blah, blah. You know the drill it sounds...you've kept your other vehicles long enough to understand the maintenance issues. Keep them clean and they'll keep you clean.

I think you'll do well with the auto and Cummins combo.

 

I've owned both a '02 six shooter and my current '03 48RE and both are fine transmissions. I've got well over 15,000 miles on mine and haven't had a problem with it ever. Both have their purpose based upon the duty they will see and both are solid transmissions. I wouldn't be afraid to purchase a truck with either transmissions.

I know the autos have gotten some bad press in the past but this one has performed perfectly...and from what I've read, the '04 had been upgraded. Thus, a great transmission has been made even better...time will tell but I love mine.

When I bought mine, my wife informed me that she wouldn't drive it....until she rode with me in it for the first time and saw it had an auto tranny. She loves it so much now that she's considering getting one for herself...better mileage than her HEMI, cheaper fuel and alot more fun to drive!

 

I think it's just too early to tell. I haven't heard of anyone with significant mileage on a 48RE yet...so we'll see...although I agree with the rest that at this point, it seems pretty solid!

 

Mopar Jim,

Your comments about the old 426 hemis take me back. I always wanted one of those and never did get one. But I have had, I think, five of the older 392 hemis. My favorite vehicle with these was the '58 two door Imperial. They were all old at the time but I sought them out and loved to drive them. In a way they are like the Cummins. Those cars were geared very high and would pull any grade in high gear. My favorite road trip at the time was to go from Reno to Lovelock (about 100 miles plus a few miles in town) in an hour. I was always very disappointed if it took longer than one hour. They weren't especially quick, but they would cruise at any speed you dared to go and do it seemingly all day. Great for pulling heavy trailers over the Sierras too, and always at a slow rumbling RPM.

Wetspirit

 

31,000 Trouble free 48RE miles and counting. I use my truck to WORK, pulling excessive loads in rough conditions. Have not had problem one. See previous posts regarding 48RE by myself and Cummins Luke regarding 48RE unofficial durability tests.

Get it, you won't be sorry. 8)

 

Yea, you will hear all sorts of stories about the 47re and the 48re. For the type of towing you are describing, just go ahead and get the 48RE. Change your fluid and filters regularly and you won't have any proble. If you do, it has the 70K warranty on it.

By the way, I also had an 03 with the 6 shooter. Great trans, but my wife never did get the hang of it. Takes a lot of getting used to the shift points to go up and down the gears with ease.

2 cents

 

Well I was one of those that bought a 2500 QC LWB HEMI auto. The power was great, fuel milage SUCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 6-7 mpg around town, and the BEST I evere saw was 13.5! I really didn't care for the 5 speed auto either. It seemed like it was always downshifting. I towed a 35 ft 5th wheel and it did great!!! If the fuel milage would have been better I would have kept it. However at 7 months and 6500 miles, I traded in for an 04 HO auto. I LOVE THIS TRUCK!!! I just put on a box, 4 inch exhaust and I'm sure it will run with a HEMI, and plus I get at least double MPG!

My best buddy Bought an identicle HEMI on the same day I bought mine. His does a little better on milage, but he still wants to trade in for a diesel. He is coming to visit for the weekend, so we will see how the HEMROID does against the HO!

None the less the Ram is a nice truck. If you can justify and can afford the diesel, DO IT!! It would have saved me a lot of $$$!