I have a 04 2500, long bed, quad cab 4X4, with about 85,000 mi. I've recently began towing a 36' fifth wheel (about 12,000 lbs) and concerned about the transmission life. What kind of life is anyone getting from their 48re when used for towing? Am I better off to install a "beefed up trans" (at estimated $5000) or or trading off to a newer model model with the newer trans, (not the 48re)? What year has the better trans? Is it better than the after market products? Is my $5000 estimate close, in San Diego, Calif? Thanks.

 

With the lower mileage you have, it would be more cost efficient to get a new trans. You can get a fully built Goerend's with LIFETIME warrantied triple disc TC and I'll tell you he sets them up like a dream. Just go with his advice and he won't sell you what you don't need. Figure around $5500. I would not sell to get another 48re though. If I was intent on swapping trucks, I'd go 6.7 with the 68rfe.
The six speed is sweet, is better than the 48re comparing stock to stock but in my opinion is not better in reliability or as stout than a well built 48re.

 

Ya know......it's really disappointing that we should even need to consider transmission upgrades to be able to pull or carry what even a stock 5.9 Cummins is capable of for any conceivable distance. Dodge really let us down IMO. My truck was $42k and change so it's not like I bought an economy truck and should have to accept limitations as to be expected. Threads about weak Dodge transmissions and $5 or $6k rebuilds as the norm make my blood boil!

 

What makes you think dodge let us down with the transmission? There are literally thousands of 48re transmissions pulling that load or more on a daily basis. Don't fall into the trap of what you read on these forums....If you add hp and tq to the mix, yes you will have issues. If you run the truck like dodge built it, you won't have any issues. Yes it doesn't run as fast, or spin the tires as easily without the extra power, but it was never intended to. Just hook up to the rv, leave it stock and pull it all over the US.

 

I have a 03 3500 qc 4x4 long bed auto. About a yr ago I put in a full billet tranny with input and new torque conv. The guys are right if you add HP the stock will not hold up. I paid close to 8k for my tranny but I've also done several mods. So needed a very strong tranny. Prior to the new tranny I pulled anything I wanted. It can all be controlled by the right foot!! I have almost 300k on my truck and have not had any issues that I didn't cause! (mods). If you like your truck and don't want to sell then just bite the bullet and spend some money and don't cut corners. It will cost more in the long run. Good luck

 

Well I hope that you're right Lrdchaos but I have read about a lot of folks having tranny problems and even the "truck guy" at the dealer where I bought my truck new speaks of a lot of expensive repairs to these trannies so it doesn't seem to me that Dodge tranny problems are a simple case of misperception.

I don't want to spin my tires and my truck is plenty fast enough, I love driving it, but it's a work truck that gets driven loaded and off road, not some pavement queen that's going to live a pampered life. It's my gut feeling that Dodge mated a transmission to the Cummins that is not the Cummins' equal. That's my opinion, you're welcome to have your own.

 

about the only upgrades I've done to the power plant is banks 6-gun, left on stage 3 for towing, and the banks intake.

 

I'll say that we most often hear the problems and failures but rarely the successes. I drove mine, outfitted exactly like Mr. Birdsongs here, for 115k miles without a hiccup. I bought the Goerend's tranny not because I had problems, I didn't, but because I didn't want any when I started bombing. That turned out to be the best investment I made.

As far as others, do a search here for "luvnacummins" threads on his tranny. He beat the heck out of the tranny trying to kill it with big HP and very heavy loads to see how far it would go. It held up surprisingly well.

That said, the trannies are built to hold a certain power level/load quotient. We often exceed these parameters. If you go to the Ford forums or the Chevy forums, you'll find problems/failures with those trannies (yes even the vaunted Allison!) that is on par with ours. In fact, the consensus opinion is that for the most part, the torqueshift is the worst of the bunch, the Allison best for towing, the 48re best for racing. Many of the hard core racing D-max guys will use a built 48re for drag racing over the allison. Not that the allison is bad, but it is a clutch to clutch tranny that tends to weld plates together at high hp and doesn't like to drag race. The 48re is really not all that bad a tranny all things considered.

 

Guys the 68 is great but will fail if you add HP and push it. Im running my Smarty on SW5, but I dont get to rough with it. Its holding, but Im not gonna push it. 100hp over stock seems to be its upper limit.

For the OP, while I love the 6.7 - 68 combo and will say it probably is a bit better in its stock clothes that the 48, if I were in your shoes, Id go with a built 48.

 

I have to say that it is all in the what you do with your foot controller, and the modifications that you have done. If you add HP and Torque. You will break the transmission.

 

I pull a 14600 lb fiver on a tow setting of 40hp thru the mountains of B.c. ,4th trip to AZ/ Palm springs coming up .I have approx 52000 miles on the truck ,mostly towing,no issues as yet.I always run the trans in tow mode,have serviced it ,adjusted bands ,oil etc myself.Hard to say how long it will last,but mine has had a pretty good workout and still shifts and runs great.A 12000 lb fiver is not a big weight for these trucks to haul,just keep it serviced at a Good shop regularly.

 

Thanks everyone for the info!

 

Lrdchaos said it very well. Don't dream up a problem and let it dominate your thinking. However, if you want more power, you'll have to do something with the tranny.

Also, it's not just a simple matter of building it up to make it fine for towing. One big problem with the 48 RE that will never be fixed is only having 4 speeds. Another is that 1st is really high geared. This leads to slow starts and a lot of torque converter heat.

I tow a lot in the mountains and really wish I had a G56.

 

Do what I did, Drive it......LOL I did upgrade though and it was a decision well worth the money. A 68rfe would be great but my truck is no where near needing to be replaced.

 

You dont have to spend $5K plus to get a fully built trans either. You can get a rebuild with a new valve body and converter for much less and it will do exactly what you need. I understand hp guys need billet parts, but billet parts make things very expensive. A towing truck does not need billet shafts. Again you have very low miles on your truck, if you have done your maintanence you should be able to tow 12K no worries that is what the truck is built for. If not you can get a rebuild for under 2K.
Do not go for a new truck. Yes they are nice but mileage sucks.