Clear back in 2002, I bought a new Dodge Cummins 2500 and was quite active on this forum at the time. Biglar then, I'm Gogittum now.

I drove that wonderful truck for 10 years, all over the continent - literally - with camper on board and towing a boat. 165,000 miles worth - among the happiest years of my life. I had a huge blog at the time - over 250 pages - and was well known.

If things work out as planned, I hope to buy another Diesel Dodge and camper later this summer....and some quick checking around has shown me I have a lot to learn about the newer trucks.

1st question...(many more to come 😎&#128526...is the 6 speed stickshift still available ?? Truck this time will likely be a 3500. I really enjoyed the 6 speed in my old truck and don't like the auto in these trucks.

I would hope that the big problem with the 6 speed has been resolved over the years - twice, mine spun the 6th gear on the shaft - broke the weld - spot weld - holding it in place. I was able to continue my trips both times, but with 5th gear as top. Cost me over $1,000 each time. 1st time was under warranty and wonderful Chrysler cheerfully replaced the gear....handed to me over the counter. I had to pay to have it installed. 2nd time was all mine and I wasn't pleased....either time.

 

Nope...
Your only choices are a slush box or a different slush box....
However, that "different" slush box is an Aisin that you pay a premium for....
Cummins engine, Toyota Transmission....

 

You want a stick shift Cummins truck now a days?
You have to build it, or buy an old one....or both.

 

Funny.... I went to the Cummins site for this info and it is for the 2021 model year...

HD pickup buyers can get an impressive 1,075 lb-ft of torque. This high-output (HO) rating is offered exclusively in the RAM 3500 equipped with the Aisin transmission option. The new high-output engine boasts 420 hp and 1,075 lb-ft of best-in-class torque.

For RAM 2500 and 3500 (equipped with a 68RFE Auto) HP and torque have increased to 370 hp and 850 lb-ft to provide the right power for these models.


I also noticed the compression ratio was 16.2:1 for the HO vs. 19:1 for the standard output....

https://www.cummins.com/engines/cumm...bo-diesel-2021

 

Well, that's the *****. What year did they discontinue the 6 speed ?? Besides really enjoying my '02 with the 6 speed, I've ridden in a couple of Cummins trucks with the auto and they have a heavy droning sound that I strongly disliked.

I've been giving some thought to buying a clean gen 1 and going thru it to restore it. No more electronics. A friend had one and boosted the pump, etc., and the thing screamed. I would be more moderate in the interests of longevity.....but do like lotsa snoose under the hood.

No one commented on my question about the 6th gear failing on those transmissions. Thanks all.

 

This is the only issue I have had with my 6 speed transmission....
No damage to the corresponding gear.... The tooth simply fell off and stuck itself to the magnet in the bottom of the transmission.

I had no idea this had even happened. Found it when I went to change the oil one day.
Still driving it like this.

 

It happened to me as well and it took me the whole day to find that broken piece.

 

Interesting.... Here I thought I had been struck by lightning. Apparently not....

How many miles on the transmission?
.

 

Will it cause a problem?

 

Well,
I had no idea it had happened until I opened up the PTO cover to change the oil in the transmission. How long it had been there, I don't know.

I fished out the tooth, cleaned the little square magnet in the bottom and sealed it back up and filled with oil.

Been driving it like that ever since..

Knocking on wood, it hasn't caused an issue so far....

 

The AS69RC is a very dependable and robust transmission when maintained by the book.