'08 Superduty recall

[Builder]

My Ford still has one, it's a 99. But I don't deal with the diesel stuff either, it's a gasser. So much for cheaper diesel. $7000 for the right to pay $.60 more a gallon for fuel.

that's it in the background of my avatar. Crew cab and a very rare 8' bed.

You genius, you. You probably knew in the future that diesel was going to cost more than gas when you bought your truck in 1999, right?

Don't forget that it's been proved that diesel gets you an average of $5,000 more at trade in than a comparable gas truck, so that evens things out a bit, doesn't it?

Wonder if all the gas guys are as happy as you with all that "gas torque" when the 12K trailer gets hooked up?

 

[RobJ]

You genius, you. You probably knew in the future that diesel was going to cost more than gas when you bought your truck in 1999, right?

Don't forget that it's been proved that diesel gets you an average of $5,000 more at trade in than a comparable gas truck, so that evens things out a bit, doesn't it?

Wonder if all the gas guys are as happy as you with all that "gas torque" when the 12K trailer gets hooked up?

Actually I am a genius Builder, you smart guy you.

Actually it didn't take a genius to see that diesel was going to outpace gas in the long run. (but hindsight is 20/20) It's been upside for some time now. Being around the oil patch I also knew there was more in that diesel exhaust than "soot". The more it's run the more the EPA and folks in the CARB were going to look closer. I mean who would ever think that 2 cycle boat motors (and eventually weed eaters) would be on the way out? I believe many lakes around the country ban 2 cycle engines...some for noise I think to. I read years ago that eventually gas walk behind lawn mowers and edgers will eventually be gone because we can produce electricity more efficiently. Not saying I like it, but it wouldn't surprise me that its coming. But I digress...genius word there huh!!

I bought my truck used in 2000 with 20k on it. I never will or ever intended to hook up to a 12k pound trailer. A 2500# tractor and a couple 600# atv's is all I need. At the time an F250 SD was the only CC with an 8' bed. I would have bought a Supercrew if not for the 5' bed and all. Ahh the genius of it all.

And if you pay $7000 more for a diesel truck over a gasser, I hope you get more in resale later. Apples and oranges man.

Haven't we gone through this before?

 

[RobJ]

On the other hand, leaving the exhaust stock presents an opportunity to "win the lottery" uh, err ah, I mean sue someone with really DEEP POCKETS (FoMoCo) for big bucks. If I can somehow FORCE my truck to put out flames I can drive through waist high dry grass on a windy day and set fires better than using a drip torch and then sue Ford for damages. If I want to get serious I can arrange to have the truck burn up in the conflagration and let my insurance company (yet another outfit with massively deep pockets) sue Ford for the value of the truck and the fire losses as my farm & ranch policy is with the same company as is my umbrella liability policy which will be involved with any collateral damage done to neighbors and any cars damaged due to low visibility when the smoke obscures the highway. Gee, I can be a one man disaster area!

Pat

Dudes a genius. hear here people...

 

[patrick_g]

I don't feel like I can rip Dodge, since I have never owned one.

I think Dodge is a good truck with an excellent powertrain.

Never having owned one, how did you reach your conclusion?

Mine is a 1997 and the reason it is set up the way it was, stock, is that the WEAK Dodge tranny and drivetrain could only handle about 450 lb-ft of torque. The Cumins is a terrific engine and is capable of doing, reliably, a lot more than the Dodge will stay put together trying to handle.

The drivetrains have undoubtedly been improved over the years but the most frequent comments I hear from knowledgeable sources is that they still suck compared to what the Cumins can safely continuously produce. The same Cumins B5.9 in marine trim will put out over 400 HP 24-7 till it comes up for scheduled maint.

My tranny is 4 speed auto and the 4th gear is OD. There is definitely a missing gear as the gap between 3rd (1:1) and 4th (OD) is just tooooooo big. I am on my third transmission. I twisted off the input shaft of the trans on the first one. I am now runing an aftermarket beefed up BD brand tranny with the features that Dodge should put into the tranny before attaching it to the wonderful-I-can't-say-enough-good-things-about-it Cumins B5.9 engine.

Pat

 

[JESSE1]

Never having owned one, how did you reach your conclusion?

Mine is a 1997 and the reason it is set up the way it was, stock, is that the WEAK Dodge tranny and drivetrain could only handle about 450 lb-ft of torque. The Cumins is a terrific engine and is capable of doing, reliably, a lot more than the Dodge will stay put together trying to handle.

The drivetrains have undoubtedly been improved over the years but the most frequent comments I hear from knowledgeable sources is that they still suck compared to what the Cumins can safely continuously produce. The same Cumins B5.9 in marine trim will put out over 400 HP 24-7 till it comes up for scheduled maint.

My tranny is 4 speed auto and the 4th gear is OD. There is definitely a missing gear as the gap between 3rd (1:1) and 4th (OD) is just tooooooo big. I am on my third transmission. I twisted off the input shaft of the trans on the first one. I am now runing an aftermarket beefed up BD brand tranny with the features that Dodge should put into the tranny before attaching it to the wonderful-I-can't-say-enough-good-things-about-it Cumins B5.9 engine.

Pat

Well, I've driven lots of Cummins diesels and I know their reputation. I have heard that the trans was a weak link but that's info I've read over the internet and not first hand experience from owners. Personally, The only experience I've had driving a Dodge pickup was a '79 half ton that was a company truck. Slant six, three on the tree. If Dodge had continued to make that quality of truck they would have been gone long ago. I figure that they are bound to be pretty good trucks owing to the fact there are lots of them around.

 

[scesnick]

trucks. For people to say a certain brand is no good when they've never even tried one makes no sense.

I haven't tried a Ford diesel. I didn't have to. My neighbor was a HUGE ford loyalist. Until he bought Powerstroke few years back. He had nothing but trouble. He traded up for another,new and improved 6.0 still nothing but trouble. Then he showed up in a new CTD and he is still driving that truck to this day....

 

[scesnick]

Don't forget that it's been proved that diesel gets you an average of $5,000 more at trade in than a comparable gas truck, so that evens things out a bit, doesn't it?

I get right around 18-20MPG depending on my driving habits. I have yet to see a 3/4 ton gasser get that mileage. My co worker has the Dodge gasser 1/2 ton and he only gets about 13-16MPG. So, it all equals out in the long run with diesel being more expensive. BUT !! I have WAY more torque and can pull whatever I want to pull. AND the resale value.

 

[Egon]

Dagnabbit Pat, you are just going to have to put an egg on the accelerator pedal.

Three transmissions ehh???

I'm still on my first and am pretty sure I've towed heavier and for more miles. Course my truck is a year older too!

And it's in stock configuration other than the exterior dings and dents cause I'm not the best of drivers!

 

[JB4310]

My 95 ram 2500 4x4 with 5.9 CTD was only 160 HP with the auto, had an 8 FT utility body, just sold it last year, never missed a days work due to unscheduled service!

My 2007 3500 4x4 quad cab 6.7 CTD has over 300 HP, DRW 9FT utility body, this has the new Japanese Aisin 6 speed auto (supposed to be bomb proof) wicked smooth with a tow/haul mode and when used with factory VGT turbo brake (exhaust brake) trailer towing is a pleasure.

My own custom seat delete/shelf unit with flat floor.

 

[Builder]

Nice truck. I wish the GM HD had an exhaust brake.

Never knew you could get the Aisin tranny on the 3500.... thought it was 4500/5500 only.

The only thing I dislike about your truck is the back seat is too small for these big goons that work for me.

 

[Z-Michigan]

The Aisin tranny, which is a 6-speed auto, is the only auto you can get with a 2007+ Cummins in a Dodge pickup. The 4-speed auto will not be missed. Oh, I have one and it works, but any 6 speed is a huge upgrade over it. I'll bet my Dodge would gain 1-2 mpg just by having that transmission.

 

[Builder]

The Aisin tranny, which is a 6-speed auto, is the only auto you can get with a 2007+ Cummins in a Dodge pickup. The 4-speed auto will not be missed. Oh, I have one and it works, but any 6 speed is a huge upgrade over it. I'll bet my Dodge would gain 1-2 mpg just by having that transmission.

I do not believe that to be true. I think the Dodge pickups have the 68RE 6 speed auto which is an adaptation of the old 48RE trans. The Aisin is an option or found only on the heavier chassis.

Apologies if I'm wrong in advance.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I do not believe that to be true. I think the Dodge pickups have the 68RE 6 speed auto which is an adaptation of the old 48RE trans. The Aisin is an option or found only on the heavier chassis.

Looks like you're right - oops! It appears they are unrelated 6-speed autos, the 68RFE being a DCX internal design (not clear how much it shares with the prior 48RE) while the Aisin is an outsourced Japanese transmission. The aisin apparently has a PTO, the 68RFE doesn't. Otherwise both appear to be well regarded.

Who would'a thunk that they would introduce two new 6-speed autos for their diesel line around the same time?

 

[Builder]

Looks like you're right - oops! It appears they are unrelated 6-speed autos, the 68RFE being a DCX internal design (not clear how much it shares with the prior 48RE) while the Aisin is an outsourced Japanese transmission. The aisin apparently has a PTO, the 68RFE doesn't. Otherwise both appear to be well regarded.

Who would'a thunk that they would introduce two new 6-speed autos for their diesel line around the same time?

The Aisn & 68RE are quite different. My neighbor is an equiipment mechanic that specializes in Aisin & Allison equipment repairs. We discussed the differences in both of these chunks quite a bit.

The 68RE doesn't lock up in lower gears (1 & 2) -it only drives lower gears in unlocked mode (converter only). Converter drive above 3rd gear is usually reserved for a lighter duty transmission-it can't handle direct lockup in lower gears because of engine torque will destroy it.

As Allison like in my truck or an Aisin will apply the lock-up to gears 2nd-6th. Only 1st doesn't lock up. This allows them to be more efficient, they act more like a traditional clutch in a manual trans and that also increses fuel economy and efficiency.

If you look at pictures of both units, the Aisin & Allison have huge tailshafts and input shafts compared to the 68RE & Ford torqshift transmissions.

I believe that the Allison & Aisin will routinely go 150-200K and the 68RE & Torqshift are 100K transmissions, but that's just my opinion.

 

[JB4310]

Nice truck. I wish the GM HD had an exhaust brake.

Never knew you could get the Aisin tranny on the 3500.... thought it was 4500/5500 only.

The only thing I dislike about your truck is the back seat is too small for these big goons that work for me.

The brake is nice, the more weight the more it comes on, alot of guys with empty pick ups are asking what they should be feeling, or they think the exhaust brake isn't working because they are at curb weight, but put a heavy body on and load it up or hook up a 6 ton trailer and you wont have to ask what it should feel like, you don't have to touch the service brakes on the steepest hill.

As far as the Aisin, Ya, the 07 3500 cab/chassis was kind of a prototype for the future 45-5500's, Dodges way of testing the cab/chassis waters after the x number of years they didn't offer one. My 3500 (class 3) has the same frame and same tranny as the much higher rated class 5, 5500. Their main goal was to compete for Fords market dominating 550's, I read somewhere that Dodge now has the class 5 market, at first I didn't think that was possible but so few class 5 trucks over all are sold compared to pick ups that it really isn't that hard for one brand to sell more than another.
John,

 

[Rara Avis]

Dodge - 2008 Ram 3500 HD Chassis Cab - Powertrain - Transmissions

Aisin 6 speed still available on the 2008 3500 C&C...

 

[jcmseven]

Patrick,

The reprogramming of your truck, in my opinion, actually makes it run BETTER. In fact, if you bought yours after June 1, 2007, it has already been reprogrammed. Usually, but not always, a sticker was placed on the front bulkhead indicating it had been done. My truck seemed to run smoother and get about 1 mpg better after the reprogram. The stacks would then likely not be needed.

John M

 

[jcmseven]

Builder,

I have been posting in this forum since 4/07, and I cannot recall your "ripping" any other brands than Ford in that time, although I could certainly be wrong--but I am apparently not wrong about my Ford purchase. A quick update: we are still running OK, no major failures yet. Actually, no minor failures, either. And my mileage is really not that bad at 15 in combo driving and 17-18 on the road now. I suppose these 6.4's CAN do pretty well on fuel, after all.

John M

 

[gemini5362]

I was reading an article on the Allison transmission. The article was from a company that takes transmissions including the allison and makes them a lot more heavy duty for trucks that have been modified for higher horsppower. The article talked about what needed to be done to the allison to make it heavier duty. I did find one thing interesting. The allison in stock form can take about 75 horses more then the last version of the duramax engine which should mean that it is good for about 435 horse or so. After that it needs more clutches in the clutch pack and higher hydraulic pressures internally. The article said that in a totally stock truck with the duramax engine there is pretty well nothing you can tow or do with the truck that is likely to damage the allison transmission.


I found one of the previous posts interesting they talked about a dodge pickup with a jake brake. I dont know too much about jake brakes but from what I think I know the jake brake is incorporated into the engine itself and it has to be designed with the brake in it. It is not a add on item. I have noticed several places in towns where they have a sign no jake brakes. I am assuming that is because of the noise ?