48RE almost didn't start the load

[SMasters]

I just got back from Branson, MO with my new 5th wheel. I am pulling it with a 03. 5 HO 555, 48RE totally stock. I had to stop halfway up a hill for a red light. The hill was probably close to a 19% grade. When I took my foot off of the brake the truck started to rollback before I could get my foot on the fuel. I had to put the peddle clear to the floor before the truck would move. The engine revd up and nothing happen until the peddle was to the floor and then it took off. The truck and trailer loaded was 18,000 lbs (I weighed before I left). Does it sound like I cooked the trans fluid? There was no smell and I didn't have a problem the rest of the trip.

 

[dhill]

I had to stop halfway up a hill for a red light. The hill was probably close to a 19% grade.

Where is that place? 19% grade? Has someone set up picknic tables? That sounds like more fun than Disneyland. A guy could make a lot of money selling videos to the networks.



Dave

 

[RAvery]

Was your foot on the brake while this was happening. I thought I read on the 48RE if you were on the brake pedal at all the engine would rev slightly, but would not give full throttle for a short delay. How many miles on your truck now, have you serviced the trans at all. I've been told every 25,000.

 

[SMasters]

I had my foot on the brake until I got the engine idled up so it wouldn't roll backwards. After I got the engine to hold the truck from rolling backwards I let my foot off the brake. With the engine reved up it didn't roll backwards but it wouldn't go forwards until I was pretty much floored. My truck has 28,000 miles on it. I thought trans change was around 30,000 miles.



Dhill - Branson is in the Ozark Mountains. The reason I say it was a 19% grade is because when you get through the red light and start down the other side their is a big sign that says 19% grade. They carved the town out of a bunch of hills and hollers. I don't think their is any natural flat ground down there.

 

[RAvery]

Your right everything around here is either uphill or downhill. My driveway is at least a 19% incline, and I can stop on it and restart without much effort. My loaded wieght is about 17,000 lbs. 03 QC DRW 4X4 ,with a 250 S/O 48RE Trans. I would check with your dealer and have the stall checked on the converter. I doubt you caused any thing to cook. If nothing else, it's at least documented in case their ever is a problem. Y'all come back and see us heah.

 

[bmoeller]

Is there a flat spot in Missouri at all? lol Not many that I have found, anyhow.



SM-



Did your transmission even start in first gear? If it did, I would get a tighter T/C.

 

[SMasters]

I assume it was in first gear. I was at a dead stop. I didn't pull the shifter down manually.



RAvery - We will be back. We come down from KC about once a month from now until Christmas. We take the kids to Silver Dollar City. Branson is a fun little town.

 

[bpenrod]

If the new transmission is like the older Mopar units putting the lever in 1st as opposed to leaving it in drive would be better in that situation. In the old 727 manual low uses an extra clutch if I remember correctly. Still sounds like the TC was slipping way to much!

 

[DPKetchum]

Just hitting the stall speed of the torque convertor. Sounds normal to me with that weight. The v10s and older CTD's had a looser convertor and I've known them to NOT move that kinda weight on that kinda incline at all! A quicker locking/grabbing convertor would change that. But its normal. Trans service is usually 30k.

 

[BHolm]

Sounds normal to me too. That is an extreme situation, lots of wieght and a steep hill. You have two things working to delay forward progress, the convertors stall speed and the turbo spinning up to produce enough power to move that load.



It is easy enough to check the fluid in the trans. Pull the stick and wipe it with a white rag or paper towel. The fluid should be red, almost pink. If it is dark and smells burnt have it flushed asap. I doubt you did any harm though. It would take a minute or two to build up enough heat to cause damage. I think I would be dang happy I didn't have to do that with a six speed

 

[Coolslice]

Mine does that with only a small bass boat. Last summer I went to pull the boat up a steep ramp and I thought I would just yank it out of the water. NOPE! I had to rev it up to at least 2600 rpms before it would even move. I felt pretty stupid when all the people around the ramp looked up to see if the cummins was going to blow up or not pulling that jon boat up the ramp. I thought it would pull that little boat out of the water without even having to give it fuel. I think if there was 19,000 lbs behind there, I would have had to have my truck fished out of the lake. I was told that this is normal.

 

[Giachino]

No experience with a load, but lots of steep (19% +) hills... I find that you have to manually drop the auto down to first to get it to move with authority, otherwise it doesnt seem to want to drop down and it tries to torque in a higher gear... . friends live on a mountain with a very steep grade that's all dirt... . if I leave it in drive it feels as if there is no power, drop it into first and it hauls *** up the hill. My 2 cents.

 

[SMasters]

I checked the fluid and it is as pretty pink as when the truck was new. So I guess next time I have to stop on that hill, I will pull it down into 4 low. Surely that will get the truck moving. Thanks for all your help.

 

[Tim]

I checked the fluid and it is as pretty pink as when the truck was new. So I guess next time I have to stop on that hill, I will pull it down into 4 low. Surely that will get the truck moving. Thanks for all your help.

Not a good choice. 4wd is not for use on the pavement with part time systems.

 

[DPKetchum]

Heck I'd pull it down quicker the I'd gut the trans tryingto get that kinda load up that kinda incline.

 

[RAvery]

SMASTERS Hope you got your answers on your truck. I'll pay closer attention to mine next time with heavy load. So run it like you stole it. Have a safe summer.

 

[WoodChuck]

If the new transmission is like the older Mopar units putting the lever in 1st as opposed to leaving it in drive would be better in that situation. In the old 727 manual low uses an extra clutch if I remember correctly. Still sounds like the TC was slipping way to much!

Shifting to manual low engages the rear band on all CTD Autos. This won't make any difference in operation unless your overrunning clutch went south and you had no first gear. In that case manual low would hold and give you first gear.

 

[sardoghauler]

4 wheel lo

Moving in a straight line shouldn't be a problem in 4wd. It's only when you put into a turn that the 4wd can do damage and you'll know. the hopping and skipping will get your attention real quick.



someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

[Tim]

Moving in a straight line shouldn't be a problem in 4wd. It's only when you put into a turn that the 4wd can do damage and you'll know. the hopping and skipping will get your attention real quick.



someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

You're wrong. No matter what, with the front and rear axles locked together, there is going to be binding. These Diesels have a lot of torque, and if your tires don't scuff and spin, you're going to break something, plain and simple.



Part time 4wd is NOT for hard surfaces regardless of the direction of motion.

 

[WoodChuck]

Moving in a straight line shouldn't be a problem in 4wd. It's only when you put into a turn that the 4wd can do damage and you'll know. the hopping and skipping will get your attention real quick.



someone correct me if I'm wrong here.

You're right in a straight line there is no problem being in 4 low on hard surfaces. I do this on a regular basis (on my old 1st. gen. and the new 3rd. gen. ) before I change the fluid in the transfer case to keep everything moving and lubed. If you never use something mechanical it might not want to work when you need it and I haven't been off-roading much the last 10 years.