68re

[PGreenleaf]

Well the 06 48re is worlds ahead of any previous year 48re because of the tow haul and overdrive lockout features.

So the question is how does this new 68re stack up to the 06 48re??

 

[CUMMINZ]

10 to 1 better. :-laf

 

[PGreenleaf]

10 to 1 better. :-laf

Your not telling me anything here CUMMINZ- 10 to 1 better such as ???????????????

 

[CUMMINZ]

You asked how it stacked up and I answered 10 times as high.



1&2nd gear are lower for better launches

reverse is much lower for better controlled backing up grades

5&6th overdrive lowers your top end rpms

being able to completely manual shift at will

torque converter is much tighter

better shifting more positive but not hard bumps

talks to computer in a good manner to control eBrake

smoother shifts

with 6 gears you keep the 6. 7L in its peak rpm better

I am missing one to make it 10



That better?

 

[PGreenleaf]

You asked how it stacked up and I answered 10 times as high.



1&2nd gear are lower for better launches

reverse is much lower for better controlled backing up grades

5&6th overdrive lowers your top end rpms

being able to completely manual shift at will

torque converter is much tighter

better shifting more positive but not hard bumps

talks to computer in a good manner to control eBrake

smoother shifts

with 6 gears you keep the 6. 7L in its peak rpm better

I am missing one to make it 10



That better?

Thanks Cumminz Thats much better. Sounds like it should be a winner.

Now how do you rate it against the new 6 speed allison.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I have never driven the new allison.

 

[tgrfan2]

Thanks Cumminz Thats much better. Sounds like it should be a winner.

Now how do you rate it against the new 6 speed allison.

I have not only driven but towed with all three now. I have always said the 06 D/A Z I have driven is a very refined and powerful truck. My main concerns with it were fuel mileage which is about 10-15% lower than the 06 CTD for basically the same power, constant down shifting on normal hills, the gearing for towing at 70-75mph, and the throttle lag.

I had the pleasure to tow with my friend's 68rfe out of the Smokey's yesterday. I drove 200 miles to Balsam, NC so I could ride out of the mountains with him towing his 14K fiver.

He wanted me to drve it out myself but I was frankly nervous about driving it loaded in the mountains. I had only driven it a few mile when it was new and unloaded.

He took us through the first forty or so miles and then pulled over on a steep incline and told me to drive. I must say that it was the most relaxed towing experience I have ever had. I had a ball as I basically "watched" the truck shift and apply the E brake. Then I "played" with the manual shift button which I found I could use to smoothly down shift too for braking to a stop. Previously unloaded I had down shifted without using the throttle and nearly lost my teeth as the E brake "caught".

I thought he had driven through the worst sections of road until I hit curves on the two lane section up and down 6-8% slopes. The truck is incredibly smooth applying E braking and power. Instead of "riding" the brakes through curves I found myself getting back on the throttle because the E brake had slowed the rig incredibly well. It will hold speed at 45-50mph down 7% slopes in 3rd gear at around 3K rpm and only the 8% slope pushed the truck from 46-52mph!

You have none of the throttle lag of the 06Z or the screaming red line operation I found towing with the Z pulling at most 8K with its version of engine braking.

When we got out of the mountains I was totally relaxed and ready to make a U turn and hit some more mountain curves!

The only criticism I have of the transmission is one that I have found in the 06 48re. Even in T/H mode it occasionally would not down shift and allow the engine to lug at 1100 rpm. It only did this twice to me making rolling turns at very low speeds. The manual shift easily solves the problem, but really how hard is it to program the computer to shift down at 1500rpm under light throttle in T/H mode? I have never experienced that with the D/A honestly.

He hasn't computed his mileage out of the mountains yet, but he got 8. 4 going to Moon Shine Creek. I don't think that is bad considering the truck had 1500 miles on it and the route he was taking. Time will tell if the mileage improves, the emissions problem is solved, and the 68rfe is as reliable as the 48re.

All I can say is it is one hell of a towing machine, very comfortable, and hands down much stronger than either 06 I have towed with. If it "loosens" up like the other CTD's have it will be scary to think how strong it will be at 20K.

One safety concern we have. Since we used the brakes only a few times at stops and on 8% curves we think Dodge should provide bumper stickers and possibly a brake light switch to operate when the E brake is functioning to let Ford and Chevy drivers know the rig may slow without warning!

I hope my friend gets caught up on his golf and "honey do list" after his two week vacation so he can give you his impression of the truck compared to his 2003 HO 48re.

By the way, we both still agree you don't need 4. 10s pulling at max GCW with the CTD. Second through fourth gear are beautifully matched to its wide power band. Fifth is very strong and in sixth you can idle or fly!

You truly have to tow heavy with this truck to believe how great it is. Oo.

 

[PGreenleaf]

OK So I'm assuming 4th gear is the 1 to 1 ratio,with 5th and 6th both overdrives. So could you tow that 14k fiver in 6th on the level?? or would you keep it in 5th.

 

[tgrfan2]

OK So I'm assuming 4th gear is the 1 to 1 ratio,with 5th and 6th both overdrives. So could you tow that 14k fiver in 6th on the level?? or would you keep it in 5th.

I'll let the owner speak to towing in 6th. I think it was Klenger(?) that had some very good info on the gearing. We didn't get on level ground on the interstate to get into sixth. 6th would be for towing at 70+ IMO. I did pull a long grade at 1800rpm in 5th just to see what the truck would do. It held its own at that rpm, but clearly I would have dropped back to 4th there normally.

As best I could tell and drive too without running over slow traffic:-laf 4th is very close to D on my 06 with 3. 73s. 3rd is very close to second locked up capable of running about 55mph max. Second(68rfe) was good to a little over 40 I seem to remember.

That is why we like the 3. 73. You can pull in twisty mountains at 35-45 in 2nd or 3rd gear with either transmission and cruise at the legal 55 limit on secondary roads comfortably in D or 4th. Then when we hit the I we can cruse at 70-75 in D or OD. My 06 and the 07. 5 will pull a load up any reasonable hill on an interstate route and stay with the traffic. When you hit something like Saluda mountain you can stay with and probably pass most anything in the slow lane too. I don't think I want to have the man catch me flying up that slope grossing 21-22K anyway. 2nd in the 06 or 3rd in the 07. 5 will keep you right at the speed limit and you have plenty of power to pull a few Fords up with you.

 

[CUMMINZ]

My truck and RV runs 26k. I run in 6th almost all the time on the interstate @ about 1850-1900 rpms. When I hit a hill and rpms start dropping to about 1650 it will upshift to 5th. Some slight hills I top in 6th. If I see hill ahead I am sure I will downshift I will punch the lever and shift manual. I will watch the rpms and I think I can finish topping the hill in 6th. I will manual upshift.

 

[HBarlow]

tgrfan2:



Thanks for an excellent report. You provided more useful information in fewer words than most magazine writers do. Good writing.



I look forward to wearing out my current '06 and buying a new Ram with the 6. 7 liter Cummins and 68RE.



Harvey

 

[PGreenleaf]

I gotta agree with HBarlow, you guys spelled it out vary well. Thanks for the info. I have a 06 48re. Traded a 98. 5 24 valve with 120k and 47re trans. Trans never gave a problem. Loved the truck. Was going to get a 05 untill I found out you couldnt lock out overdrive . Glad I waited for the lockout . I realy like the 06 48re with the towhaul and OD lockout. and downhill motor brakeing. BIG BIG improvement over the 98 47re.

So the reason I was inquiring about the new 68re. I dont dare drive one now or I'll probably want to buy one HAHA

 

[tgrfan2]

Thanks for the complements. It is definitely easy to catch the fever driving such a great truck. I told my friend that he is a better friend than I for sure. It would be really hard to give up the wheel of that truck to let anyone else drive it towing. It is almost a shame to drive it on the I or flat land when there are hills to climb and mountains to come down!

 

[CUMMINZ]

Pg

I had an 06 48re with EZ, cool hose & 5" turbo back and loved every minute of it. Had no troubles with the 48re.



CUMMINZ

 

[STall]

I am missing one to make it 10

How about

10: No blaring horn in reverse when you are trying to back up with the door open.

 

[tgrfan2]

I gotta agree with HBarlow, you guys spelled it out vary well. Thanks for the info. I have a 06 48re. Traded a 98. 5 24 valve with 120k and 47re trans. Trans never gave a problem. Loved the truck. Was going to get a 05 untill I found out you couldnt lock out overdrive . Glad I waited for the lockout . I realy like the 06 48re with the towhaul and OD lockout. and downhill motor brakeing. BIG BIG improvement over the 98 47re.

So the reason I was inquiring about the new 68re. I dont dare drive one now or I'll probably want to buy one HAHA

Does your 48re consistently down shift in T/H? Mine has on occasion down shifted to third about 55mph, but it usually has to get down to 45 to shift to third. It in no way shifts like the 68rfe. I think I have a problem but so far the dealer hasn't found one.

 

[Bart]

tgrfan2:



Thanks for an excellent report. You provided more useful information in fewer words than most magazine writers do. Good writing.



I look forward to wearing out my current '06 and buying a new Ram with the 6. 7 liter Cummins and 68RE.



Harvey

HB, I have only one question. Just how to you plan on wearing out your 06? According to your signature, you had to give your old one away to get the 06! :-laf

 

[PGreenleaf]

How about

10: No blaring horn in reverse when you are trying to back up with the door open.

HAHA thats cool Cummins, That makes 10. But I fixed the backup seranade by installing the seatbelt extentions.

Are you telling me that the 68re does NOT have the reverse seranade??

Dam near blasted me out of the truck first time that happened. :-laf:-laf

 

[PGreenleaf]

Does your 48re consistently down shift in T/H? Mine has on occasion down shifted to third about 55mph, but it usually has to get down to 45 to shift to third. It in no way shifts like the 68rfe. I think I have a problem but so far the dealer hasn't found one.

All depends on how hard your pushing the throttle. Climing a grade in 4th that requires more power it'll kick down at 55 and even a little faster at times.

Slowing down it'll downshift to 3rd at 45 then go into lockup for downhill motor brakeing. I'm really happy with the o6 48re. I just wish it would maintain the tow haul feature when 4th is locked out. But I'v found that for steep downhill motor brakeing if you use towhaul and manually shift to 2nd you get torque converter lockup in 2nd .

It doesnt surprize me any to hear the 68re is much more desirable.

 

[tgrfan2]

All depends on how hard your pushing the throttle. Climing a grade in 4th that requires more power it'll kick down at 55 and even a little faster at times.

Slowing down it'll downshift to 3rd at 45 then go into lockup for downhill motor brakeing. I'm really happy with the o6 48re. I just wish it would maintain the tow haul feature when 4th is locked out. But I'v found that for steep downhill motor brakeing if you use towhaul and manually shift to 2nd you get torque converter lockup in 2nd .

It doesnt surprize me any to hear the 68re is much more desirable.

Thanks. Mine has several times down shifted around 55 which I think is more desirable but usually it has to slow to 45 or so to down shift to third. The inconsistent shifts bother me.