I'm in the market for a truck and I've heard plenty of rumors about the quality of Dodge transmissions. I like the Mega Cab 2500, but I'd like to hear from a few of you about the transmissions in general and more specifically if I went with the diesel and modified it for less towing and better mileage am I going to regret not going with different truck if the tranny gives out?

 

just ask bigblue. he knows all about dodge's auto trannies and thier longevity

 

Other than folks bombing the hell out of the truck and leaving the tranny stock, which can lead to "strain" on it, I have had nothing go wrong with my 48re's. Nor have I heard anythign bad about them on this or other forums on CTD's

 

Mine is stock except for AFE intake and Magnaflow exhaust with 91k+ on it and tranny has never had any issues. And I drive it like a truck and tow my G/N horse trailers and a 20' G/N flatbed (usually loaded to the hilt) and no problems whatsoever.

 

You mention "and modify it for better mileage and less towing." You best have a big budget set aside, as soon as you modify that $50k truck's computer, you warranty is done. I fully support this, by the way. If you can afford $50k, you can also afford to feed it... If you want mileage, look at smaller vechiles in general - taking an 8000 truck and expecting it to get around 20mpg is rather pointless. You'll still do better than a Hemi, but it's going to cost you $$$$ tio drive such a rig.

 

Hey Tab, welcome aboard. I'm not sure if you were asking about the auto or manual tranny's, but I've got a 2500 with a 6 speed and love it.

Something to consider - If you intend to pull a trailer of any heft, you may want to look at the 3500's only because they carry a slightly higher gross vehicle weight rating. My 2500 has a GVWR of 9000, and the 3500 single rear wheels have a 9900 lb GVWR. This will come in handy later on if you intend to pull a heavy trailer and stay within the trucks ratings. I didn't say that a 2500 couldn't pull it easily....

Again, welcome aboard.

edit - the same 2500 & 3500 GVWR issue holds for the competitors too.

 

I replaced my stock automatic with the ATS right at 159K. I only did this because I was going to install my injectors and TST shortly after. My stock 47RE was functioning perfectly when it was replaced!

I towed about 8000lbs. for 80K of those miles.



I always changed the filter and fluid in the 47RE at 25K and only towed with it in OD on level ground with no to little headwind.

 

Ebay's Dodge 2500 Mega Cab

Thanks again guys for all the help- I'll be sure to consider all of it before I buy. The truck above is similar to what I'm interested in. I've only heard the negatives about Dodge from the Ford and Chevy folks I know so it's good to hear they're not all bad. My brother in law just picked up a F-250 PSD (dealer in family = heckuva deal on a new truck) because he said that the diesel will get better mileage than the comparable gasser. He did say that the Cummins can be tuned more easily than a PSD or Duramax and it's a proven engine and that the GM's Allison tranny has more problems than the Dodge.

I wouldn't start out with alot of towing, but I will need the capacity to haul stuff around (putting on an addition to the house) including my family on occasion so the Mega Cab seemed like a good start for some research.

I'm just getting my feet wet with trucks so thanks again for the heads up.

 

I gross 29,000 lbs weekly with over 70,000 miles and not a problem yet....

 

Not only are the 48re's not a big problem, they actually fail way LESS than ford's torqshift or the allison. The ford/chevy guys telling you about all the terrible transmission problems with dodge are perfectly correct-as long as you ignore the fact that it's not 2003 or earlier anymore. Assuming you're not planning on going through a time warp to the past, back before the 48re, then they're spouting the same old rumors. It's kinda like the ford guys pretending the new powerstroke is reliable because the 7.3 was. They talk about previous dodge transmission problems like they're current, and they talk about previous good powerstrokes like they're current. Neither is the case. Go buy a dodge with an automatic and sleep soundly. I've owned 2 trucks with 48re's, and I'm about to get another. I've had not the slightest problem with any of them.

 

I have an '04 2500 CTD 4x4 Quad Cab. I pull a two horse trailer which is no problem at all for this truck, so maybe I am not working the tranny too much, but I have (knock on wood) had no problems at all with the tranny. I do drive almost ALL city miles when not towing, so that has to have an impact and like I said, Good So Far!!!! I would recommend one!!!!

Tony

 

Funny little story pertaining to Dodge trannys
When I bought my first CTD in 98 I went to 2 of the most reputable local trans shops in my area and asked hows the autos in the big 3 trucks with diesels and both shops said the same thing. " We see few of the dodges but make are living off the Ford & Chevs" Other than this board I have never heard of the Dodges having problems? I must say knowing the grunt a Cummins puts out and the reliability (in stock trim) of these things I dont understand the shadow surrounding them?

 

what he said. almost 40 yrs. in the business. made my living on ford and chevy. one can guess what i drive.

 

A coworker toasted the auto in his F250 not too long ago, with only about 70k miles on it. Waiting for a meeting to start someone asked how my truck was doing, and when it became apparent that I had a manual tranny a few people commented that they couldn't believe that in this day and age that someone would want a manual in a truck. Two Ford owners then commented that although they had autos in their trucks, they'd get a stick the next time :^)