48RE Towing

[plntmgr]

Has anyone had heavy duty towing problems with the 48RE? I currently have a 98. 5 with the 47RE do not like the reliability of it, so I'm thinking of an '03 with the 48RE. Any answer will be helpful.





98. 5 2500, 47RE,

 

[Prairie Dog]

Any chance I could talk you into a nice strong (and manly ) 6 speed? There's nothing like it for towing, seems like I can pull any hill in 5th with my trailer and still break the speed limit. With the computer controlled throttle, you don't even have to touch the pedal when taking off from a dead stop. Just a thought!



Scotty

 

[RMcCulloch]

It may be a bit early, yet, to tell: they've only been installed since January 2003.



You might want to do a search and see what you find.



From what little I've done so far [only picked up the trailer a week ago], it feels really good.

 

[hclark]

I tow a 28 foot 5th wheel a few times a year. It is around 10,000

lbs loaded. The difference is night and day compared to my 97 with a 47 RE. The 97 did a good job, and the 03 HO with the 48 RE does a great job. The 97 would take most grades at 45 - 50 mph, the 03 HO will take the same grades at 60 mph +. I wanted the auto because I commute with the truck and I didn't want to hastle all the shifting. The 48 has a lot more positive bite than the 47, the 47 was a bit mushy... good luck

 

[RMcCulloch]

You might also look at this thread <https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=76626> - in it, as stated on other sites, the 48RE is being compared to the 47RE as modified by an aftermarket company.



Essentially, according to the poster, the "innards" show that Dodge has been paying attention.



"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. "



:-laf

 

[johnt1]

I had a 98. 5 with a 47re; Had to put a BD TC and valve body on at 50k miles because of TC shuddering. I didn't like the 47RE. It wouldn't hold OD and kept downshifting. It also didn't lock up in 2nd and the transmission would get hot on long pulls. Check engine light would go on every time I towed.



Now I have an SO with the 48re and couldn't be more pleased. It holds OD on most grades, shifts great, and 2nd lock is fantastic in the mountains. transmission runs about 150 degrees and gets up to 180 on long grades in 2nd.



My truck weighs 7760 lbs and I'm pulling a 10,000 lb 5th wheel. I pull the steepest grades at 45 to 50 without a problem. My 98. 5 with a Banks and injectors pulled the same hills at 35.



John T

 

[VietDoc]

Drag racing with trailer!!

No problems, except for the wife when I race cars at stop lights... . especially those who cram into the left lane because they think you are a slug and they don't want to be stuck behind you. I pull a 26' TT about 4,500# and a 5er at 15K! Love to see their faces when I smoke 'em!



We tokk the 5er to the mtns and the wife looked down the canyon as we crossed a dam and said I had a big line of cars behind me. I said look behind us, there is nobody. It must be a pherd or cheby slowing them down. I then went on to pass a couple passenger cars that were slowing me down and never looked back...



doc

 

[JSears]

I am towing a 36' Travel Supreme with my new 2003 3500 w 48re automatic. I have owned both and 1995 3500 and a 1999 3500 both with the 47re automatic. I have just over 5000 miles on the new truck, and really like the 48re. It has NONE of the vibrations and confidence reducing characteristics of the 47re.



I live in Wyoming, and most of my trips are in VERY hilly regions. I towed my trailer over Powder River Pass last week, and had no trouble at all with heating, power, or anything else.



It is possible that a 5 speed automatic would be a plus, but with the addition of the 2nd gear torque convertor lock-up, this thing seems to really be a good transmission. I am well satisfied to this point.