New Dodge Diesel Truck - Auto or 6 speed?

rswyan · Jul 26, 2005

( I was under the impression the dodge diesel still uses the "old" auto transmission. The new one is for gas only. )

There's two models at least that I believe I have heard being discussed on TDR (turbodieselregister.com) - the 47RE and the 48RE (I think those are the correct model numbers ... someone please correct me if I'm wrong) Not sure when the model changed .......

Egon · Jul 27, 2005

Pulled my foot of my mouth and looked up 48re

This site will do better than me at explenation.

My original statement did not take into consideration of the 48RE transmission???

web page

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

budman72 · Jul 27, 2005

The 48RE came out in the latter part of the 03 model year. The 47RE was used on the lower powered "SO" Cummins, they couldn't take the power of the HO (305 HP 555 lb-ft torque) engines.

The first HOs were only available with a manual tranny. When the 48RE came out you could get an auto with the HO.

In mid 2004 the HO was upped to 600 lb-ft torque and 325 HP (often called a 2004.5 model). The 2005 models have 610 lb-ft.

If you're looking at a truck and want to know what engine is in it, there is a sticker on the left side of the valve cover, it lists HP and torque.

Kelvin · Jul 27, 2005

Randall,
( I just picked up the attached this evening. (Dealer was out of bunch of stuff so I'm waiting on things like mudflaps, etc.)

It's a RAM 3500 4x4 SRW QuadCab Long Bed, Big Horn Edition, with the 3.73 rear. Has the older NV5600 heavy-duty manual tranny in it. )

Sounds like you are a good 24 hours ahead of me. I got mine late on the evening of the 26th. I decided on a Bright Silver Ram 3500 SRW QuadCab Short Bed, Big Horn Edition with the 3.73 and new 6 speed tranny. I was satisfied with a price $8975 below sticker price but maybe could've gotten it cheaper. Mine did have the driver electric seat and electric pedals; even though I really didn't need them, having them will be a bonus if I decide to "re"-teach my wife how to drive a stick shift.

I have heard more than once that the automatic transmission for the diesel was changed (improved) during the 2004 model year (don't know if it was early or late during the 2004 year). I have heard nothing bad about the automatics in the 2004 and 2005 year model Dodge diesel trucks. I now feel a lot more comfortable with automatic transmission, but I went with the 6-speed because it was the only way to get the one-ton 3500 Singe-Rear-Wheel (SRW) truck.

Kelvin · Jul 27, 2005

Egon,
( Gosh; I wished I was facing your dilema! Finances dictate my 96 Dodge diesel will have to go many more miles before its even considerd for replacement. )

If your '96 was in pretty good shape, I believe that I'd rather be in your shoes and not be shopping for another truck. I really don't like the idea of buying a NEW vehicle or tractor, and I especially don't like having payments on anything. The one problem that I might have with your truck is that I really wanted 4 doors; I learned to like 4-door pickups when pulling SAC alert for the Air Force in the mid-1970s and have wanted one ever since.

When looking at a tractor or vehicle, I generally try to define the capabilities that I want, then look for the best deal on a used product and if I can't find a deal, then look for the best deal on a new product. In the case of my 2 Kubotas, they were both used with less then 100 hours (the BX23 was about 3 months old).

[I've just realized that I never updated my profile for the BX23 /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif]

I wanted a used 4-door diesel truck, but there were no deals to be had, and in a lot of cases the used trucks were priced higher than the new ones. I geniunly hope that this will be the last truck that I ever purchase, and that my 2 Kubotas will be the last tractors that I ever purchase.

Kelvin

Kelvin · Jul 27, 2005

Dave,
Here are some thoughts supporting my "buy a new vehicle now if you plan to buy a vehicle within the next few years" attitude. These are statements that I believe to be true but have not personally verified (some have been expressed by others in this thread):

(1) These "employee" prices may not ever come back,
(2) This is supposedly the last year for tax breaks for sales tax paid on large purchases
(3) For Dodge vehicles, the 2006 models will have the power train warranty reduced from the current 7 years/70,000 miles down to 3 years/36,000 miles.

DaveNay · Jul 27, 2005

Kelvin, I was i no way telling you that you needed to justify your purchase to me or anyone other than yourself and family. Trust me, I'd love to replace my 1993 F-150 with 226K miles on it! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Dave

Kelvin · Jul 27, 2005

Dave,
I understand.

I normally credit myself with giving sufficient analysis (usually too much) to most all decisions that I make. However, as in computer programming, my analysis is only as good as the input parameters that I have to work with. Therefore, I have a tendency to give a lot of detail about my decision making process because you (or others reading these posts) may be able to point out a fault with one of my input parameters.

I appreciate when folks politely challenge decisions that I am about to make, such as "Are you SURE you want to do that? Have you considered..."

Kelvin

rswyan · Jul 28, 2005

Kelvin,

( Sounds like you are a good 24 hours ahead of me. I got mine late on the evening of the 26th. )
LOL !!! (Probably one of the few times in my life where I've been early)

( I decided on a Bright Silver Ram 3500 SRW QuadCab Short Bed, Big Horn Edition with the 3.73 and new 6 speed tranny. )
Cool !!! How's about a pic or two ? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The 2004.5 dualie I looked at back in January was silver .... it was a very sharp truck. I've heard the new G56 tranny shifts real nice .... my NV5600 is pretty stiff at this point (560 miles) Having a shortbed would be real nice as far as manuverability goes ..... I can barely make it around the turnaround here at the house with the longbed .... plus it doesn't fit real well into a single parking space. I like the SRW and not having the extra width of another two wheels though, although if I was pulling frequently I'd imagine that a dualie would be nice.

( I was satisfied with a price $8975 below sticker price but maybe could've gotten it cheaper. )
I'd say you did pretty good. I was $7,355 below sticker myself ..... but they offered me more for my trade than what I really expected to get so I was happy ... plus I didn't have to mess with detailing it out and selling it.

For me having the electric driver's seat would have been nice, so I could lower the seat a bit ..... although I'm finding as I drive it more, the seat height isn't really the problem I thought it might be. The electric pedals weren't a real high interest item here either ...... I will probably never be able talk the wife into driving a truck that she needs a stepstool to get into /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I haven't really heard anything bad about the newer automatics either ... not that I've been following it all that closely. I would think an automatic would be nice if one was doing alot of city driving .... and probably if one planned on plowing in the winter as a business.

I'm with ya on really not wanting the payment .... however for me my previous vehicle (Honda Oddessy van) just wasn't all that useful at the current time. I had originally purchased it for a business venture that I eventually ended up not pursuing. At present I have alot of fixup work and renovating that I'm going to be doing over the next few years and a pickup truck is just more practical for me. Hauling 10'+ lengths of pickled & oiled steel and lumber home in the van wasn't doing a whole lot for it's condition. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I'm also hoping that over the next year or two I can start my own business doing light excavating and small pond/water garden construction .... so it will be useful for that as well.

Egon · Jul 28, 2005

Kelvin:

I'm quite happy with my truck. It only has 100K on it . Needs a paint job as the hood is peeling. A power seat and power mirrors are all that I feel is missing.

From what I read think I'd prefer the more mechanical 12 valve as compared to the 24 valves.

More power would be nice but it has managed to pull gross weights of 24,000 across Canada and get 14 mpg so I will not complain.

It's always the thought of something new that is intriquing!
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon

RedRocker · Jul 28, 2005

No wonder my life is messed up, I don't use input parameters, I'm not sure we have those in Texas. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

rswyan · Jul 29, 2005

Egon,

I too wouldn't mind being in your shoes. For one thing, I actually prefer the more squared body styling on the older RAMs more than the rounded newer ones.

I looked around for used but the problem was 1. they were hard to find and 2. and the ones that were out there were pretty pricey compared to a new truck.

( I'm quite happy with my truck. It only has 100K on it )
Then it's just getting broke in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Egon · Jul 29, 2005

I also prefer the extended cab to the four door models. The regular cab just does not allow for any of the necessary junk one seems to carry.

One of the RV dealers in town has a 97 with 738,000 on the oddometer. No major problems - three auto transmissions. It's used for bring RV's up from down south of the border.

Egon /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Tom_H · Jul 29, 2005

Will Mrs. Kelvin ever be drivin' this rig? Some ladies get excited pushin' that lever back and forth and others think it makes drivin' too complicated. What are her "input parameters" on the trannie?

milkman · Jul 30, 2005

Reading the posts in this and I haven't drooled this much except when I get into the RTV threads. Just can't seem to get my "WANT" to lay down. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Kelvin · Jul 31, 2005

Hghbeam,
Regarding your statement...

( .... if you go to sell it I would assume that there is a larger market for the automatic. Regular Joes don't want to shift gears. )

I won't presume to KNOW what the actual truth is (and these numbers could easily be different for various areas of the country or various terrains [flat or hilly/mountainous?]), but based upon many 1st hand conversations from Dodge diesel owners as well as a few "hear-say" quotes from several other Dodge diesel owners, it appears that so far 0% of the manual transmission owners wished they had gotten an automatic, while around 50% of the automatic transmission owners said they wished they'd gotten a manual transmission.

The numbers for Ford & Chevy owners may very well be quite a bit different (I'd say those with the Allison automatic transmissions are very happy with them; I only know one person and he really likes his).

Kelvin

Kelvin · Jul 31, 2005

Tom,
( Will Mrs. Kelvin ever be drivin' this rig?)
Back in the mid 1980s I taught my wife how to drive my old 2wd truck with manual transmission (no granny gear). She had to drive that truck back-and-forth to work for about a month, and the drive to work included at least one stop sign on a steep hill. She was pretty proficient at driving that truck when that month was up, but didn't try to drive the truck again until 8 years or so later, and had COMPLETELY forgotten everything about how to drive that truck (so much for the "riding the bicycle theory").

( What are her "input parameters" on the trannie? )
Her first priority was for me to get what I would be happy with, but she preferred the automatic. This truck is huge, and I think the size will be as much of a deterrent as the manual transmission is. She has no problem mowing with the hydrostat Kubota (which is the main reason I two: "his-n-hers") so I suspect that she'll eventually start driving this truck, especially if we take a trip in it.

( Some ladies get excited pushin' that lever back and forth and others think it makes drivin' too complicated. )

I had gotten rid of the old truck with manual transmission when my daughter started driving. She has been driving several years now and has always expressed a strong desire to know how to drive a stick-shift, but I had nothing to teach her on. My wife was very hesitant to operate the tractor until she saw my daughter operating it, then she HAD to be taught how. I expect that if my wife does not try to drive this new truck initially, she will after she sees my daughter driving it.

Kelvin

Kelvin · Jul 31, 2005

Milkman,
( Just can't seem to get my "WANT" to lay down. )

Here is one of my favorite quotes: "Be careful for what you ask (or pray) for; you might just get it!"

I have always wanted a truck with all of the capabilities of the one that I just bought; I just never had that strong of a desire to get one NEW. I don't anticipate any regrets other than having vehicle payments that I haven't had for over 10 years! Hopefully 5-10-15 years down the road I'll still be happy with this decision.

Kelvin

wroughtn_harv · Aug 1, 2005

I've been driving bud's 98 four wheel drive dually with the Cummins and five speed while Lucy has been in the shop getting warranty work done ( injectors replaced at seventy three thousand).

Bud asked me if I was going to tell them to keep my chevy after driving his dodge. I pointed out to him what his dodge would be like if it had two pallets of Portland on all the time. That would put his dodge at the weight of my chevy before I pick up a load.

Driving the dodge manual has helped me firm up my choice on Lucy's replacement next year. It will have an allison.

That said, if I was wanting a one ton I'd probably go with dodge.