Here here Old School 8) 8) 8)

 

I too love the 48RE/HO combo. About 6 weeks ago I pulled my 5er(10k) about 4000mi through mountains on the east coast. My "old" 99 CTD with 47RE used to have trouble knowing when to shift. Not this new baby. Actually I even found it great with the cruise on. It seemed to know when to down shift to 3rd and upshift back to 4th. It never went below 3rd and it never really lost any speed..either maintained it or gained a little. A buddy of mine pulled a lighter 5er (7k) through the same trip about a month before me. He has an 01 2500 with the 360 gasser. His baby was in first gear on a couple of the hills and he still wasn't sure he would make it. To top it off he spent about $400 more in fuel that I did....Those gasser guys never learn.

I had an 01 2500 HO/6sp. It was a nice truck but nowehere like this one!

 

[quote author=Sir Kaos link=board=20;threadid=8175;start=15#msg81328 date=1040139079]
I am really interested in getting a 2003 3/4 ton with the 48re. I am in CA, and I am a little confused over what is currently availible where I am. Are both availible or is the 47re being discontinued and the 48re taking over?
[/quote]My CA model is a 48RE and while shopping I found window stickers that listed 47RE's also. It is my understanding that the 47 is being replaced with the 48.

 

I'm glad to here you guys are having good luck with the 48RE, I had a lot of problems with the trans in my 97 dakota 318 (replaced 3 trannys, all under warranty thank goodness).

My 03 HO 48RE is the first diesel I've ever owned. I don't haul as big a load as far as some of you do, just a 23' enclosed trailer (about 5000#) 150 miles to the sand drags or 200 mles to the dunes.

I just made a trip to the sand drags & it was nirvana compared to the Dakota, I could pass any time I wanted, accellerate Going up hills!!, got tripple the fuel milage & didn't have to worry that I was pulling the guts out of my truck!! ;D

With the Dakota I was really stressed out by the time I got to the track, I couldn't run the A/C, had to plan all my passes way in advance, going up hills in traffic was a nightmare & I'd burn through 45+ gallons of gas in 300 miles!!

This trip was a breeze!!
I averaged 70 mph, ran the cruise control, ran the A/C & left it in OD the entire trip, while it's not big hills it was constant rolling hills almost the entire trip..
It never once droped out of OD & I intentionally ran the cruise to see if it would.
I arrived at the track cool & relaxed!!

The only thing I was disapointed in was the 11.5 mpg fuel economy, but it was hilly terrain, running the A/C cranked in 100 degree weather, the cruise control set the entire trip & only 1300 miles on a new truck, not exactly the way to get max fuel economy!!
I was glad to see some one posted that their fuel economy improved by 2 mpg at 10,000 miles!!

I am a diesel convert for life, as long as I have a trailer to pull I'll have a diesel!!! ;D 8)

 

[quote author=TheMoose link=board=20;threadid=8175;start=60#msg173192 date=1061013687]
The only thing I was disapointed in was the 11.5 mpg fuel economy
[/quote]Yes but hang that 5000 lbs on the back of a big block gas motor and you would see 1/2 that.

 

OK, maybe i'm asking a dumb question, but I have to ask.
Is it possible to install one of these in a 2nd gen 12 valve 4x4.
What do these units need to run as far as electronics?
Is the tranfer case the same old New Process?
Is the case length the same, Do I need to have driveshafts shortened, lengthened?
Are they available to buy through the parts department?
It seems like a trans like this would be just the thing to put in a truck like mine.
Am I asking too much?
Would I be better off Installing a DTT or ATS?
Just thinking out loud on a Sunday morning.

Rich

 

[quote author=Richard link=board=20;threadid=8175;start=60#msg173475 date=1061119408]
Is it possible to install one of these in a 2nd gen 12 valve 4x4.
Would I be better off Installing a DTT or ATS?[/quote]Hey Rich, the 48RE is a modified and beefed up version of the 47RE so to keep things simple and get the most bang for your buck I would go with a DTT or ATS that is a no brainer swap.
I think an aftermarket bombed trany would be the same or more stout than the 48RE.

 

[quote author=Matt400 link=board=20;threadid=8175;start=60#msg173463 date=1061100386]
[quote author=TheMoose link=board=20;threadid=8175;start=60#msg173192 date=1061013687]
The only thing I was disapointed in was the 11.5 mpg fuel economy
[/quote]Yes but hang that 5000 lbs on the back of a big block gas motor and you would see 1/2 that.
[/quote]
Absoulutly!!
I know a guy who hauls an enclosed car hauler with a 1 ton 454 & he gets 6 mpg, that's why I got the diesel!!

 

I just finished a trip to Sturgis in South Dakota from St. Louis MO. 1000 miles each way or so. There are really only a few tall grades, but there are a lot of rolling hills. I towed mostly with the cruise control set to 67mph which seemed to be right where the truck was most happy running. (around 1850-1900 rpm). The truck rarely shifted out of OD and when it did I would just lockout OD until I crested the hill and then let it shift back into OD. Going up I got a high of 12.1 MPG and a low of 10mpg gross weight was 17400 per a CAT scale. EGT max was 1200 and boost max was 22.4 and the highest tranny temp I saw was 167deg. Outside ambient temp was in the middle 90's.

Coming back I had on the BD exhaust and airbox which I had installed while in Rapid City SD. Coming back we had a killer headwind and I still ran in cruise, I helped the cruise a little by building some boost at the base of a hill and then letting the cruise control catch up. This seemed to work well. My max boost was 23.5psi, max EGT was 1145, max tranny temp was 155 with outside ambient temps hitting 104. MPG min was 9 and max was 12.1.

While I would like better MPG otherwise I am thrilled with the way this thing tows. Everyone raves about the Chevy/Allison combo, and having owned a 2001 Duramax/Allison with the Hot Juice installed. I can say I like this truck better in every way except for the lack of grade braking (nice feature) otherwise the 48RE shifts firmer and has better gear selection. The Chevy did get better unloaded mileage 19mpg to the Dodges 16mpg. But towing the Dodge is doing slightly better. Keep in mind though I am comparing a chipped Chevy to a Stock HO.

 

[quote author=Mark Guebert link=board=20;threadid=8175;start=60#msg173889 date=1061219328]
Going up I got a high of 12.1 MPG and a low of 10mpg gross weight was 17400 per a CAT scale. EGT max was 1200 and boost max was 22.4 and the highest tranny temp I saw was 167deg. Outside ambient temp was in the middle 90's.[/quote]Wow! I think those are impressive numbers Especially the tranny temp/gross weight.
That is nice to hear from a prior owner-Thanks.
Maybe the difference is the axle ratio/tire size? I have 3.73's and 33" tall tires and get 19.5 unloaded in mountain driving 40 to 60mph average.