48re and axle ratio

[cmills]

I imagine in the 3rd gen trucks with the auto you can get either 3. 73's or 4. 10's right? If so what works best for towing? I have a 99 5 speed with 4. 10's and it works good, I was just wondering about the 3rd gens with the auto.



Also how does the 48re compare to the 47re, is it built heavy enough to be worked and still be reliable? I ask because I have heard that it was best to stay away from the 47re if you did a lot of towing, and I do tow quite a bit and would like to go with the auto but not if it is not going to be reliable.





Thanks,

Cory

 

[BILLUA]

Cory, 48re is a good transmission stock. It is much better than the 47RE. I can't think of more than a couple of problems that have popped up with the 48... The 47 had loads and loads of threads.



I only tow 6-7000 lbs and even stock the trans worked great. I did a full DTT "just because".



Now, if you get a 2005, which I have, there is a minor issue. That issue is that you can't lock out overdrive. So, try driving at 50mph through hilly, winding terrain in a national park... . However, BD is to the rescue with an overdrive lockout that fixes my only complaint with my year 48RE.



If you are going to add no more than an Edge ez and tow within the limits of your truck, then a stock 48re will suite you just fine...



I also have 3. 73 gears and have no problems towing even up to 80mph... Again, this is only with 7k max...



Cheers, Bill

 

[Matt400]

The auto's OD is taller than the manuals OD so from a towing standpoint I would ask yourself what weight you plan to tow, at what speeds and if in the mountains, in addition to what size tires you like to run?

 

[cmills]

thanks guys, so if I was going to do much towing I would probably be better off with the 4. 10's I suppose, I would think that even with the taller OD it would still do better than my 99 just do to the fact that it has quite a bit more power, right?



When you say you can't lock it out of OD you are talking about just being able to push the button on the shift lever, right? Why would they not have it where you could lock it out.



Also what is all involved in getting the kit from BD to fix this problem and the price of the kit.



Is the 05 the only one you can't lock out, but you can the 03,04,and 06?



Sorry for all the questions, just want to be sure I know what I'm getting.



Thanks again,

Cory

 

[BILLUA]

When you say you can't lock it out of OD you are talking about just being able to push the button on the shift lever, right? Why would they not have it where you could lock it out.



Also what is all involved in getting the kit from BD to fix this problem and the price of the kit.



Is the 05 the only one you can't lock out, but you can the 03,04,and 06?

Corey, I can only speak for the '05. It is true that you cannot lock out O/D on it in stock form. All it has is a Tow/Haul button that delays shift points a little bit.



The B/D kit is around 150 bucks I think. It wires into the PCM at 3 places. A little tedious cutting into those wires, but not impossible.



It works like this, Double tap the T/H button and it locks out O/D. It allows the converter to lock in 3rd, but not shift into O/D.



When you want to run, just double click the button again. It is cool, almost like a manual trans at that point :-laf



I think they fixed this in the '06. I don't know about 03 and 04. .



Cheers,



Bill

 

[cmills]

do you still have the tow/haul option?

 

[BILLUA]

Yes you do. You have to be in tow/haul for the O/D lockout... I should have been clearer.



1 tap, you are in stock Tow/Haul mode.



2 additional taps puts you in Tow/Haul mode with the overdrive locked out. There is a small orange LED that comes with it that lights up when the O/D lockout mode is active.



It really is much simpler than it sounds...



Cheers, Bill

 

[ColemanR]

I tow 8k to 14k daily 160k trans was getting weak but I was running smarty on #3 and after market injectors then I added a bigger turbo time for a new trans upgraded my trans life is good you cant beat a good converter and vb sould be good for another 200k Randy

 

[cmills]

thanks Bill, is it only the 05 that had this issue?



It seems like most people are running 3. 73's anyone got any experience with 4. 10's, I just though they might be better for towing because of the taller OD than the manual?

 

[BILLUA]

thanks Bill, is it only the 05 that had this issue?



It seems like most people are running 3. 73's anyone got any experience with 4. 10's, I just though they might be better for towing because of the taller OD than the manual?

You are welcome Sir!



The big question that will help get your answer is, how much weight do you plan on towing?



Again, I tow between 6 and 7k and love the #. 73 with auto. If I was towing at max cgw, I would get 4. 10's...



Cheers, Bill

 

[cmills]

BIll,could you tell me what kind of mileage you get empty and loaded?



If anybody has 4. 10's could you tell me what you are getting also?



thanks again

 

[Matt400]

thanks guys, so if I was going to do much towing I would probably be better off with the 4. 10's I suppose, I would think that even with the taller OD it would still do better than my 99 just do to the fact that it has quite a bit more power, right?

Maybe, but you can't discount tire size and preferred towing speed as those numbers make a big difference also.

When you say you can't lock it out of OD you are talking about just being able to push the button on the shift lever, right?

Correct but the button is there, it just works different and is called Tow/haul.

Tap the button while in OD and it goes to 3rd lock up and stays there until the PCM sees throttle input AND is under a light load high speed condition at which time it up-shifts to OD. This does not turn TH off when it happens, the shift strategy is changed for all the gears while in TH.



So if you are decelling down a grade and tap the button it stays in 3rd locked.

If you are climbing and have moderate throttle it still will not go into OD unless speeds warrant it.

What some don't like is when you are decelling with OD off especially with a load and you nudge the throttle just a little, it will go into OD. For me when that happens I "double tap" the TH button as that effectively puts me back into "TH on" and "OD off".



I have got use to it so now anytime I get an unwanted OD up-shift I just double tap the button.

 

[cmills]

I would keep the stock tire size, and as far a towing speed that will vary quite a bit most would be in town and on regular highways where the speed limit is 60, some on the interstate but not as much.

As far as weight, the loads range from hauling 4,000-5,000 lbs vehicles to our skid steer which is 10,000 lbs+ these are not including the trailer, plus I do a lot of unloaded driving also, this is why I would kind of like to know the fuel mileage numbers for both ratio's with the auto.

 

[Matt400]

IMO the mpg's has more to do with keeping the RPM under 2000 than 3. 73 vs 4. 10. Running empty with stock tires will be more easy to do with the 3. 73.

I have found that once you cross over 2000, that is when fuel mpg starts to drop.



I would bet in your case you would be happy with 3. 73 unloaded while wishing for 4. 10 with that skid steer in tow. I would ask myself what I spend 50% or more doing-

* Towing = 4. 10

* Driving unloaded = 3. 73



In my case I have 3. 73 and tow 6000 in the mountains seeing elevation changes of 7000 feet using 33" tall tires. With 325hp it does real good keeping OD off while towing 0-55 mph.

60 however on the open flats becomes an odd speed because OD off yields higher RPM than I want and OD on yields lower RPM than I want so taking it up to 65 allows for a better RPM in OD.



I will be dropping my tire size to a 285 on the next set, that will help some I think for towing and I will have to also drop my unloaded freeway speed some to stay at or under 2000 to keep my mpg's which is 19-20.

 

[cmills]

Do they all use the same size axle now,(auto vs manual and 3. 73 vs 4. 10) or is it like it used to be when they had two different sizes with the Dana axles and they had the 70 and the 80?

 

[Matt400]

All the same now. In 2003 they where depleting 10. 5 inventory behind SRW SO's

 

[cmills]

what is the difference between the 2500 and the 3500

SRW, is it just that the 3500 has an extra leaf spring or overloads, or do they have larger brakes or something like that?

 

[Matt400]

Overload leaf and cab lights is all I know of.

 

[cmills]

thanks Matt, by looking at everybody signatures it looks like the vast majority of people go with 3. 73's, I guess that I just worry that I'll miss having the 4. 10's,but it would sure be nice to get 18-20 mpg instead of the 14 I get now

 

[JCleary]

I have 3. 73's and long for 4. 10's. I only ended up with the taller gears because it was the only 5. 9 left on the lot...

I tow a car hauler from time to time with trucks and forklifts, along with some large generators. Right now it's fine, but when I get my suspension and 35" tires I'll really be wanting the lower gears.

I have been told that the auto/3. 73 combo is what you want once you upgrade the transmission.

I agree with Matt, however, that OD can be too tall at 60. If you live somewhere other than California where you can tow at 65, I guess it's not such a big deal...