Considering 6.7 w/ 68RFE vs G56

[Deleted member 995608]

I've ALWAYS have been a MANUAL guy but have been thinking about the auto after driving one. Some on this site really like the 6. 7/auto/EB combo



Any die hard MANUAL guys love their 68RFE's for towing ??

 

[CumminsBu]

If I was in the market for a new truck it would be an auto all the way. Tired of all the city shifting and the noise of the dual disc.

 

[jgillott]

Other than a couple of test drives, I have very little experience with the 6. 7/68RFE combinatinon. But I can tell you that after almost 2 years with my '07 G56, I'm not real impressed with the way mine shifts. I'm probably the only one that feels that way, but the NV4500 in my last truck was much more comfortable to drive than this one.

 

[Simplysmn]

pulled a total weight of 25,400 lbs with my 08 auto and it pull's great I would Deffently buy another if the time comes again .

 

[CUMMINZ]

The 68rfe is the greatest auto transmission on the planet especially with the little manual shift button. I have towed 26,440# up Monarch Pass and many others in the BlueRidge without a single hitch. :-laf

 

[Regcabguy]

Other than a couple of test drives, I have very little experience with the 6. 7/68RFE combinatinon. But I can tell you that after almost 2 years with my '07 G56, I'm not real impressed with the way mine shifts. I'm probably the only one that feels that way, but the NV4500 in my last truck was much more comfortable to drive than this one.

The NV 4500 does indeed shift great. The G-56's,however,are way more precise and easier to shift than the NV5600's in my opinion and I drove three '5600's before buying my '07. If the 68RFE would have been offered in the '07 5. 9,I would have ordered one. I drove a 48re and coming out of a DTT upgraded 47re on my '99,I knew $4500+ was in my future. I like the G-56.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Good to hear.



My NV5600 shifts like crap but I'm used to it.



I have driven the G56 and like it better.



How about downhilling and curvy roads? Can I make the auto transmission stay in lower gear and use the factory EB to control down hill speeds?



It just remember towing with someone elses auto and always riding the breaks!

 

[jgillott]

The NV 4500 does indeed shift great. The G-56's,however,are way more precise and easier to shift than the NV5600's in my opinion and I drove three '5600's before buying my '07. If the 68RFE would have been offered in the '07 5. 9,I would have ordered one. I drove a 48re and coming out of a DTT upgraded 47re on my '99,I knew $4500+ was in my future. I like the G-56.

I've talked a lot about it on here recently, but I truly believe that I have the single worst G56 produced. I'm not the smallest person ever to walk the face of the earth, and I swear it feels like there are times I need 2 hands to get that thing in reverse when it's cold out. It's even tough to get in to 1st and 2nd until it gets some heat in it. If I was running that truck long distances all the time, it may be different. But I spend a lot of time off road and my commute to work is all side roads. It really just frustrates me at times.



My brother-in-law runs a '04. 5 with the 48RE. That truck is beat, but surprisingly the trans has held up quite well. I'd probably lean toward the new automatic if I ever buy another one.

 

[CUMMINZ]

My 68rfe and EB handles my rig down steep hills great using the buttons and EB. I was super impressed descending the backside of Monarch Pass grossing 26,440#s in June with this rig and a ton of red CO. rock in the bed.



#ad






Does this photo look steep?



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[Deleted member 995608]

Yeah, that's what I want to see Cumminz!



I've got a triple axle, 36' trailer-about 18k loaded + truck. Haven't had time to weigh both, yet and scared to do so. You can see in my sig what my current tow rig is; I'm over weight on trailer by a long shot.



I'm ready for a dually. The auto is calling me and the manual is telling me to trust what I know.



May have to think a while?

 

[Simplysmn]

go with the auto you won't regret it

 

[Garlic]

Love the 68RFE, Pulled a 39' Newmar from Springerville, AZ into NM back to Alb. Not a bit of trouble. The EB holds extremely well and the gear selector switch is real convienent. The previous trailer owner had an '05 with no Eb and he smoked the brakes coming out of Springerville, Mine, I did not even touch the brakes, just set the CC and went for an easy ride and it held 55 from the top to the bottom (about 7% for 8 ? miles)

The trailer weighed 18K.

 

[HBarlow]

I have no experience beyond a couple of test drives with the new MOPAR 68RFE but I do have 43,000 miles of experience with an Aisin 6 speed automatic.

With absolute confidence I can say that the new generation of Dodge-Cummins automatic transmissions are great. They are completely modern, full lockup, well-programmed, offer six forward speeds, and are very durable. They make up for all the years with the loose converters and only four forward gears we had to tolerate with the 47RE/48RE automatics of yesteryear.

Best of all they are fully integrated with the exhaust brake function and the cruise control feature.

The new automatics excel in mountain towing. I recommend them to anyone considering a new truck.

 

[RVTRKN]

It is a matter of an opinion what some like, but both are capable. In my opinion, I don't like an auto behind a Diesel and believe it robs the Diesel of power and generates unwanted heat.



The Aison and the 68rfe are far better than their predecessors, and as you have read, and are very well liked. But when the time came for me to make my decision, I couldn't go with the Aison auto in my C&C. I have towed at or over the recommended Dodge GCVWR and have been pleasantly pleased with the G56. I also currently own both the NV5600 and The G56 and like both.



I also had to drive a 05 Duramax/5spd,Alison for my old HVAC company I worked for, for a short period (25K miles) and hated the Alison. The torque management system controlling the engine to protect the Alison from high torque situations was really troublesome and I always had to make sure I had enough room to pass someone, even without towing heavy.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I test drove another Auto yesterday. I just can't used to the idea of the transmission shifting for me. I do like the -/+ features on the colum but I think I'll have to stick with the STICK.

 

[SNGLESHOT]

While I do not have a lot of mileage yet ... only 15k+, I absolutely love the auto 6 spd, crisp lock up shifts, excellent braking with the EB and tow/haul mode. I have driven long distances and never touched the brake till I had to come to a complete stop at a stop sign. I only pull an 8,000 # TT but it handles it will great ease. I wanted a manual shift but could not find one... so settled for the auto and I am so glad it happened that way. Go with the auto, you will not be dissapointed. Good luck to you.

 

[PLevesque]

Auto!

I switched from a 2001 HO with a NV5600 6 speed manual to a 2007. 5 6. 7 with the 68RFE and won't look back. While the manual was great, the constant shifting got to me. The new 6 speed auto and integrated exhaust brake was designed to work with the cummins like it was supposed to. I hardly ever need the brakes on decents, I love it. The thing I like the best is the creep speed at "idle". This really helps when getting your towed vehicle in tight spots. Backing up is a dream. The manual would cause "jumps" and suddenly move the camper in the wrong direction when backing up without slipping the clutch. Performance is better in the sense that boost is not lost between shifts and acceleration is smoother. Go auto, you won't be sorry!