68rfe trashed

[spark]

I don't know if my experience is unique but I have had a terrible experience with the 68rfe. I had to have it rebuilt under warranty at 51000 miles. I hadn't towed anything heavy at that time. Now at 97,000 miles with the truck out or warranty since it is a 2014 it just went out on me again. I even had to replace the case on it. I have towed a 12000llb fifth wheel 4 to 5 times a year for the last two years. I would recommend that anyone looking at buying a ram to consider getting the better transmission. I sure wish that I would have.

 

[Cummins12V98]

WOW, that really sucks!

I had a 68RFE in my 11 DRW towing a combined 29-30k for over 1/2 of it's 65k I owned with ZERO issues even with 3.42's.

Basically same truck now but a 15 with AISIN, awesome also.

 

[Jim W]

Ok need some more information! Do you have a tune installed if so, what tune is it? How often has the transmission been serviced and at what interval has the service been done!

There are several of us you have used the 68RFE with no problems. Some have gotten 200,000 miles of of them. I am at 136,000 miles and towing a 34RL Cedar Creek 5TH wheel since 2015, with my truck.

My transmission is serviced every 40,000 miles with both filters being changed. I am also using a Smarty that is 60HP/120lb-ft TQ over stock measured at the rear wheels.

 

[Blackbrush]

Mine cratered at 92k. Fixed but not replaced under warranty. I dropped the pan 5k after the rebuild and it was full of metal crap. Cratered again at 123k and I was surprised it made it that far. Truck was stock. Towed an 8k trailer less than 5% of the time. Now tuned with a RevMax 550 and going strong at 224k. 68's are a crapshoot. My new '20 just arrived and you can bet your ass it doesn't have a 68 in it.

 

[spark]

Ok need some more information! Do you have a tune installed if so, what tune is it? How often has the transmission been serviced and at what interval has the service been done!

There are several of us you have used the 68RFE with no problems. Some have gotten 200,000 miles of of them. I am at 136,000 miles and towing a 34RL Cedar Creek 5TH wheel since 2015, with my truck.

My transmission is serviced every 40,000 miles with both filters being changed. I am also using a Smarty that is 60HP/120lb-ft TQ over stock measured at the rear wheels.

 

[spark]

It was a stock engine nothing no chips added. I didn't need to service it since I had to rebuild it before it needed servicing.

 

[BarryG]

Wow, I have not heard much about them crapping out like that. Knock on wood my 2017 has 130k on it and so far so good. My fifth is only about 11k lbs and of that 130k miles maybe 6ish k miles towing that trailer, another 5k miles towing a 4-5k trailer.

Any given reasons during the rebuilds that caused the issues?

 

[Blackbrush]

No explanation in my case. It was a disappointing experience in every way for me.

 

[JR]

Any given reasons during the rebuilds that caused the issues?

Can't speak for the OP but this is often the case and the transmission itself gets inaccurately blamed. A competent rebuilder can improve on a system, of course assuming the owner is on board and willing to spend the money to make it so.

 

[JR]

No explanation in my case. It was a disappointing experience in every way for me.

What year is your truck?

 

[spark]

Wow, I have not heard much about them crapping out like that. Knock on wood my 2017 has 130k on it and so far so good. My fifth is only about 11k lbs and of that 130k miles maybe 6ish k miles towing that trailer, another 5k miles towing a 4-5k trailer.

Any given reasons during the rebuilds that caused the issues?

 

[spark]

The first rebuild they said the accumulator plate had broken. The second rebuild, they said the whole transmission had failed. Neither case did they give specific reasons for the failure. I did ask the dealer if they would warranty their work since they rebuilt it the first time and it had been less than 50,000 mile, they would not cover it since the truck was more than five years old.

 

[jacknife]

Towed a 14000 lb 5 th wheel 6 yrs . No problems . I did add a deep pan. Just didn't like how hot it ran at times . 220 at times . 2020 Aisin never gets hot !

 

[Jim W]

Where were you measuring the trans temps?

I also have a deep dish pan on my truck and tow a very heavy 5th wheel. My probe is in the pan and my temps with 90F ambient temps is usually around 195F.