This is my first post on what looks like a great group of members on an extremely helpful and useful forum!!!

I have been reading/researching for the last couple of weeks about buying a new Dodge. Before I learned of the great CTD I was more interested in a Ford Powerstroke. Everything I read about the CTD is stellar. I am pretty much sold on buying a Dodge because of the motor alone.

But it seems that the rest of the truck is, frankly, a piece of crap. The main issue looks like the 48RE. Why should I have faith that the truck is going to hold up? Worse yet, if the truck does have imminent problems, it sounds like the Dealerships aren't really going to want to help me anyway. Cost of minor repairs seem to be through the roof...

I understand that the majority of posts on a forum are trouble-shooting/ problem-solving/ and lots of venting, Am I just focusing too much on all the negative crap?

Thanks
Z

 

Welcome to the forum, first of all! The 48RE tranny is JUST fine. Contrary to the beliefs of the PSD and Duramax owners out there and the few Dodge owners as well who simply like to "band wagon bash the DC auto tranny", DC has been putting together a pretty reliable automatic transmission for these trucks for YEARS now. I don't know what your intentions are with your truck, be it sled pulling, racing, pulling a trailor and wanting just a little extra "pep in your truck's step", or just using her as a daily driver...however, if all you're planning to do with your truck is daily drive or pull a trailer, a 48RE will be FINE. If you want to pull sleds and race, then obviously, just like the Ford and Chevy owners have to do as well, you're going to have to build. Don't be scared to buy an auto CTD because of rumors, go off of numbers and the opinions of all the SATISFIED customers out there and make your decision off that. I'm one

Derek

 

I am pretty much a newbie at all this. My wife and I recently bought a 2006 3500 Laramie 4x4 SRW SB. (Plan soon to get new 5th wheel....) My thoughts were pretty much the same as yours.

Really, at first, wanted a Ford King Ranch, but my research showed that their diesel engine had too many problems for us. Drove and very much liked the Chevy with the Allison trans. But, we liked the Dodge better and bought it.

Since we only have a few miles on it, it is obviously too early to tell. But, I will share this: a) looks like our interior is pretty good even compared to Ford and Chevy; b) Cummins is quieter than either PSD or Duramax; c) so far drives sort of like a car versus a beefy truck.

Additionally, note that in 1998 Chrysler and Daimler-Benz merged. In our eyes, it has been in the last 3 or so years that the Daimler/Mercedes engineers started having the influence on Dodge that one might expect. It seems that they have focused on the basics to yield a decent truck.

Time will tell as to whether our judgments will hold up.

Happy Holidays!

 

Yep.

I have driven my 06 46k this year. I drove my 04.5 46k the year before. Both of them automatics with no problems. After reading hundreds of posts, I would say there is very little issue with 48re failures. You rarely read about a 48re failure on a stock truck. Most of the discussions involve building the 48re to handle the other modifications that caused or may cause failures i.e. boxes, turbos, nitrous, exhaust etc.

On the 06, there are few if any chronic issues that we read about consistently. If there are issues, it does not involve the motor.

I went through the same experience you did 2 years ago. I was new to diesels and initially was going to by an F250 Powerstroke. I joined this forum almost 2 years ago because, in general, the folks here usually are interested in helping each other out. I actually belong to 3 forums, two of which have membership fees, and this one that gladly accepts donations. DTR is by far the most enjoyable to be a part of.

Good luck and Happy Holidays

 

The 48RE seems to be holding up very well. Some squack about only have 4 speeds. Personally, I dont see a problem with it. It tows just fine and the motor is a proven design. Good luck in your purchase whatever you decide.

 

Buy it, i talked to the diesel tech at the 'ship i used to work at, and he said thay DC has prity much got there head out of there a$$ about the auto's and bult a good one. and just remember, you have 100,000 miles (one hundred thousand miles) to let someone else wory about the price of repairs.

 

I can help you out, as I have owned all 3. The CTD is more work truck than any of them.

The auto tranny in the CTD and PSD are junk, with the Allison the better of the 3.

The CTD engine is the cream of the crop, the 6.0 PSD is crap, and the Duramax finally got it figured out, but nod still goes to CTD

Rear end's? Toss up.

Brakes. I liked the PSD brakes better, the CTD's are good, but I am getting alot of brake dust and noise out of mine. The Chevy wore out quick. Brakes PSD.

Ride? I personally like the Ford better, Chevy 2nd, and the CTD 3rd.

Looks? I like the Dodge, PSD, Chevy, in that order

Quality, overall? PSD, Chevy, CTD in that order.

Now, which truck do I like the best???? CTD, hands down.

Why, if I gave more nods to the other trucks? Simple. The motor. I would trade all of the above....Ride, trans, quality, etc....just for the best motor, and the CTD wins that hands down.

I bought a manual this go round because of the crap auto. But I have to swap over to an auto now because of knee surgery, but I will have it built, as stock auto tranny will not hold up. My PSD auto went out at 38K. Yes, it was bombed, but I was there with the guy that rebuilt it, and the poor quality control in the tranny was horrible. The clearance's were so off it was insane.

The CTD will be in my stable for a LONG time, love it!!!

 

The new 48RE seems to be running a lot better, or you could look at a 6 spd. Also remember that as soon as you start dropping some bombs in these trucks (if you plan on doing that) all of them will need a built tranny.

 

I love my CTD.

My parents have a 2500 Sierra. Its rides pretty smooth but the interior GM use are crap. You get the rattles lol

 

I don't see how you can call the CTDs auto trannies JUNK? Sure, there are autos out there that have their quirks and there are even trannies out there that have failed miserably...but not many that I know of (ones that haven't had some substantial mods done to have perhaps CAUSED the trannies to fail anyway). My father has a 2nd Gen 99' with 450,000+ on his stock as bought tranny...they are miles built up with a gooseneck pulling our cattle behind it, so not easily earned miles and all he has had to do is the maintenance....how can you call that junk? Sure, like I said, you can't expect to put 500+hp to the ground with these stock trannies without failure, but then again, the "big bad Allison" you speak of is a MUCH more expensive tranny than the 48RE is...I bet if a man put a good aftermarket TC and valve bodies on his 48RE he will have just as good as or BETTER tranny than the stock Allison.

Derek

 

I don't recall reading about any 48re problems (with stock engines) when the owner stuck to the maint. schedule. In fact, I've only read very good thing, in those cases. I prefer manuals for towing but would have settled for a 48re after everything I've read - especially the 48re/4.10!

 

As a technician, I've seen Duramaxes come in with blown up Allisons too. The last one was a stock truck that was already on its 2nd transmission. It happens to all of them. I have a hard time trusting any automatic on a tow vehicle, so I chose a manual.

 

I had been a die-hard Ford owner since 1963. This is my first diesel and I chose the CTD hands down over the other two. I cannot comment about the auto tranny since I have the G56. Personally, I have had auto trannys and sticks and prefer the stick for towing, actually I prefer the stick period. I am like torquefan, I just don't trust automatics, I was left alongside the road once by one without any warning, will not have that happen again. I absolutely LOVE the MegaCab, short bed and all.

There are tons of these trucks on the road performing flawlessly. Pay attention to what you see pulling the big stuff down the road, they are primarily these CTD's. The conversion industry chose them too, that speaks loudly about what does the trick. I have had mine into the dealer for a couple of flashes related to white smoke, bad fuel mileage, and rail pressure. Once you get through the little stuff, if you have it, you will find your new truck to be just fine and ALL that you thought it would be and then some.

CD

 

Had a 98.5 dodge 1 ton 2x4 with 47re auto and 4.10 gears., run it 120k towing 11k trailer. No problem with motor or trans. Towed that big trailer all over the US, and did hit some 14% grades.
Now have a 06 with 48re 2x4 .Can tell you the 48re with the tow haul is much better then the 47re which worked just fine. 06 is a 1 ton dually with 3.73 gears. Opted for faster gears because 06 has 1/3 MORE HP and torque then the 98.5 Love the truck . I find nothing wrong with the quality of eather the 98 or 06 truck.
Were I going to pull a bigger try axle trailer or 5er, I'd op for the 4.10 gear with the auto. Or manual 6 speed trans which only comes with 3.73 gears because the trans are geared lower.
I'v never seen a need for more then the 4 gears in the auto with the cummins. I know everybody wants MORE gears and MORE power. Dont make much sence to me . Only thing my 06 will do that my 98 couldnt is pull a long hard grade faster.

 

Easy there trigger. I am glad your Dad has 450K on his tranny, and I am glad you know of your buddies auto that has held up, and so on and so on. I am glad you know that a BUILT 48RE will be better than a stock Allison
. I am still calling the stock 48RE and the 4R100 in the trucks that I have been are junk. They shift like crap, and do not hold up in MY experience. I am not going by what my Neighbors cousin best friends father has on his truck. I am also NOT saying the Allison is the icing on the cake, just stating the obvious, it is a better tranny of the 3, in MY experience. So, you like your Dads tranny, great. I am really glad that his has held up.

Comes down to this, when I stop seeing so many other blown up 48RE on this webiste, as well as the piece of crap Lift Pump on our trucks, then you can say they are quality pieces. But then again, the 48RE is no more

So, from my experience the 48RE is crap. Oh yeah, if you want a real testament to the 48RE ask my best friend and his 06 QC LB 2WD DRW auto with 8K and a completely stock truck that has had my trailer behind it one time and just got out fo the shop with a blown up tranny Yeah, real good trans there