2011 Silverado/Sierra

[Builder]

The 4.88 gears do seem steep, but I know the tire size eats some of that.


Brian

How's that? 19.5's are maybe 1" taller than a LT pickup tire. Never got more than 10 MPG out of my 450 with 4.88's. Diesel's gonna be $5 gallon this summer. A single axle tractor with a 10+L engine can get 10MPG.

Looking back on experience, the biggest problem with my 450, other than unreliability, was I outgrew the truck in 1 year. Thought it would be the answer to towing heavy loads, but soon found despite the paper ratings in the Ford brochure, was weaker at pulling than a higher powered pickup. I thought the chassis was going to be the end all, but worked more like a pickup with helper springs. Soon as one came along, I bought a real truck capable of towing heavier loads with not much greater fuel consumption.

Maybe you won't need the the room to expand your hauling needs and this works out great for you, but I never saw the payoff between the horrible fuel consumption for only being in the end, just a beefed-up pickup.

 

[timswi]

Well, I officially came to the dark side. I am now the owner of a Ford. I can't wait to get my gooseneck hitch in this thing, and see what it will do.

Brian

Congrats Brian...Hope it does everything that you need and expect it to...Nice looking truck too!!!.....Skip the Ford tatoo though

 

[Peacock]

The Aisin is more of a medium duty truck transmission, kind of like the Alison in the Chevy's. I wouldn't want a 68rfe Dodge transmission combined with a CTD, but buy the same token I wouldn't buy a Duramax combined with a 6L90 transmission. Today's diesel pickup engines need medium duty truck transmissions as far as I'm concerned. And for that matter I think that a CTD equipped Dodge combined with an Aisin transmission would be a real winner.

I've yet to see a 68 fail. The Dodge diesel transmission have been very reliable since the common rail 5.9 came out in 2003.

The CTD has got to be harder on transmissions than the D'max or PS. The difference in lugging power and bottom end torque is pretty substantial.

 

[Dmace]

I like the idea of a Ford tattoo, but make it realistic like this:

 

[Lt CHEG]

I've yet to see a 68 fail. The Dodge diesel transmission have been very reliable since the common rail 5.9 came out in 2003.

The CTD has got to be harder on transmissions than the D'max or PS. The difference in lugging power and bottom end torque is pretty substantial.

I believe what you are saying. However for me, based upon my uncle being on his 5th transmission with his 2001 Ram CTD (the current and last transmission were custom made by B&D by the way) I have no faith in the ability of Dodge to design and build a transmission suitable for use with the CTD. His story isn't the only one like that amongst people I know either, so I just have no confidence in Dodge transmissions.

To be fair, it took a lot before I was willing to accept the Ford Torque Shift 5R110 transmission too, based upon experience of hunting buddies with the Ford 4R110 transmission.

 

[Peacock]

I believe what you are saying. However for me, based upon my uncle being on his 5th transmission with his 2001 Ram CTD (the current and last transmission were custom made by B&D by the way) I have no faith in the ability of Dodge to design and build a transmission suitable for use with the CTD. His story isn't the only one like that amongst people I know either, so I just have no confidence in Dodge transmissions.

To be fair, it took a lot before I was willing to accept the Ford Torque Shift 5R110 transmission too, based upon experience of hunting buddies with the Ford 4R110 transmission.

I totally agree with your situation. The earlier 46 and 47 transmissions were junk behind the cummins.

It's going to take awhile before people realize that Dodge builds a good transmission.

Personally, I couldn't stand the 4R100 either.

 

[Dmace]

I believe what you are saying. However for me, based upon my uncle being on his 5th transmission with his 2001 Ram CTD (the current and last transmission were custom made by B&D by the way) I have no faith in the ability of Dodge to design and build a transmission suitable for use with the CTD.

If your uncle's truck or any truck for that matter went through 5 transmissions including two professionally built then the problem is not the transmission but the operator. Transmission's do require periodic maintenance...
Also, 2001 was the last year of the not-so-great A618/47RH-RE 4-speed transmission which is no where near as good as the newer Chrysler built 5 and 6 speed RFE transmissions.
The Aisin transmissions in the cab-chassis trucks are great but we also have many RAM 2500/3500 diesel pickups with the 5/6 speed RFE auto and none have shown any problems with regular maintenance and some with over 200k miles. These trucks are worked hard every day!

 

[Builder]

I went through at least a dozen Ford 4R100 transmissions from 1990-2004. E4OD's were even worse. Even my Fords not used to plow snow ate through them. Opened up on a bench, I was amazed to see how cheaply they were built inside. Local tranny shop owner used to joke with me "if it weren't for Ford, I wouldn't be in business". I always noticed he drove a GM truck, but what would he know......Ford sells more trucks, so they must be better.

Definately get the Ford tattoo. :thumbsup:

 

[tractorboy5500]

I went through at least a dozen Ford 4R100 transmissions from 1990-2004. E4OD's were even worse. Even my Fords not used to plow snow ate through them. Opened up on a bench, I was amazed to see how cheaply they were built inside. Local tranny shop owner used to joke with me "if it weren't for Ford, I wouldn't be in business". I always noticed he drove a GM truck, but what would he know......Ford sells more trucks.

Definately get the Ford tattoo. :thumbsup:

I dont have any tattoo's as of now, I might make one up just for the big three, that way if i every buy either Ford, Chevy or Dodge, I cant go wrong, Or is this just stupid.

 

[Builder]

If your uncle's truck or any truck for that matter went through 5 transmissions including two professionally built then the problem is not the transmission but the operator. Transmission's do require periodic maintenance...
Also, 2001 was the last year of the not-so-great A618/47RH-RE 4-speed transmission which is no where near as good as the newer Chrysler built 5 and 6 speed RFE transmissions.
The Aisin transmissions in the cab-chassis trucks are great but we also have many RAM 2500/3500 diesel pickups with the 5/6 speed RFE auto and none have shown any problems with regular maintenance and some with over 200k miles. These trucks are worked hard every day!

Definately considering the C&C 3500 w/ 6.7 & Aisin for next truck. Like someone mentioned above, these trucks need true medium duty transmissions, like Aisin or Allison. I couldn't imagine not having one and not having lots of transmission building experience, a big tailshaft and plaenty of lockup gears.