ellerman

If you look at my signature you will see my current truck. I love my 01 but my family has expanded and I really need four real doors. The 5th wheel I tow weighs in at just over 16,000lbs and am wondering how long a stock or near stock 48re will hold up to that amount of weight? If I stick with a Dodge I would be getting an 04- 06 3500 4x4 and in my area they are much more common with the auto than the manual. My regular towing route includes long steep hills leaving San Diego heading toward Arizona. Any thoughts?

ShutupAndHoldOn

I tow a 16k in the mountains with no problems. I have a zero tranmission issues. You do need to shift it manually from time to time in order to keep the revs up and the EGTs down because of the limit number of gears. If you do tow that weight in the mountains a exhaust brake is a definate.

peobryant

I'm sure you could probably find an automatic for cheaper than a manual in the same condition. I would take the money you saved and beef up the auto.

I'm not sure how well a stock auto hold to heavy towing.

CoastalDav

I will purchase an 06 3500, 3:73's with the Auto tomorrow. I've been driving a NV5600 since 2000. See signature.

I believe I really need a 4:10 or 4:30 gear. RPM's for the 3:73 at 66 mph are 1800, 4:10 are 2000, and for the 4:30 about 2200 rpm's. Its my opinion that 2200 rpms is perfect for towing at 65 mph in O/D. That would be like having a 4:10 with the NV5600. When the R's are up already, downshifting should be kept to a minimum.

I also think the lower gear ratio would reduce tranny temp and wear having a better mechanical advantage. Fuel mileage should should be better than with a 3:73. I would think 12.5 or so. I have no base line yet for the 3:73 and the mush box, so I could be blowin smoke.

I'm going tow with the 3:73 for awhile and see how it does. MPG etc. The 06
Trailer Life Tow guide shows Max Tow at 13,800lbs with 3:73's and 15,900lbs with 4:10's. Thats quite a differance. (2WD Auto)

Will change the signature this weekend. This truck is loaded.

I'm guessing DAVE

ellerman

Coastal, congrats on the new truck. I think if I take the plunge I would have to have the 4:10's. I'm just concerned that the auto won't hold up like my manual. I keep reading that some have good luck with the 48re but I would hate to get one and have the family and the 5th wheel on the side of the road trying to figure out towing. With the manual I never worry about reliability, with the auto I feel like I would have to. This kind of makes consider a duramax allison combo. I hate having to think about this.

hamilton71801

I'm not towing anywhere near 16K but I'm impressed with my wife's '03 48RE. What I really like about it is if you set the cruise...or just let off the pedal, it'll slow you down and won't freewheel (not as much as my 47RE does anyway). My only complaint is that it slips too much when not locked up, I guess I got used to my HTS in the '01 and almost died at least 2 times this trip trying to merge. Not to mention the brake fade coming off BlueRidge Parkway (thanks Garmin). Other than that I like it and plan on upgrading to a Suncoast single disc and an HTS valve body.

annabelle

So,what would be the advantage of the Allison?

ellerman

I have lots of friends that tow with them and not one has ever had an issue. I think it's a big bonus not having to worry about a tranny without sinking $5,000 into it.

annabelle

B-I-L owned a transmission shop. He had more Allison break downs come in than the 48RE. That's just one shop. I got 220,000 miles from my stock 48RE before I had it built up. Nothing magical about the Allison.

apwatson50

Just a magical name, reputation, and a good add program.
But agree that they all have their problems, even manual transmissions...

gomulego

I had the same concerns about my 48re at first and it pulls around 17,000. I pull in generally mild hill country, and so I can't say about your environment specifically, but I've been surprisingly impressed with mine. I'm willing to go the gorend route with it and probably will at some point, but so far it's been fine for me. I have a friend that has a Duramax/Allison that pulls a somewhat lighter trailer and the Allison has had some issues, but nothing major. I like them both to be honest.

jpajax

You have realize that that Allison got it repetition from motor homes it is not the some transmission that is in 2500 or 3500 trucks.

grantx5

52k on mine, pulling my Sunnybrook a lot, no problems. So far I've been very happy with the 48re.

Allison is a good tranny, just don't like driving the trucks, too plastic or something. I just never liked their interior.

klx650a2

Regarding Allison transmissions, when the tranny shop was putting in my shift/reprogramming kit, I asked what was their big money makers when it comes to diesel trucks (I was expecting dodge to be the answer). He said #1 was duramax with the Allison, #2 was ford transmissions. He said dodge has their issues, but nothing like chebby or ferd. He said he likes to see the Chevy's show up... good coin...

isb07

i was in a very similar situation, i had a 01 six speed and wanted a new four door. to be honest if i were to line both of them up with a 12k trailer my 07 auto would walk all over my 01 speed wise at the top of the hill, however with the stick i can keep the rpms at 1800-2000,but the auto likes to rev up to like 2500 + rpms till the converter locks. with the amount of weight your pulling you might want to lock at a goerend converter and valve body to reduce slippage while pulling because it will drive you nuts especialy when your use to a stick.