68RFE is not an Aisian Trans.?

[RACE427]

It is my understanding that the 68RFE is not the same as the Aisian Auto Trans. Is this correct? I have read that the Aisian Auto Trans is only available in the 5500 C&C units. Any truth to this finding?



Thanks !!

 

[Jeff Knight]

All 3 C&C has the Aisin auto.



Feature Availability

Select model for specs

AISIN six-speed automatic

Available on:

Ram 3500 Chassis Cab regular cab ST with 6. 7-liter Cummins® Turbo Diesel Engine

Ram 3500 Chassis Cab regular cab SLT with 6. 7-liter Cummins® Turbo Diesel Engine

Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® ST with 6. 7-liter Cummins® Turbo Diesel Engine

Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® SLT with 6. 7-liter Cummins® Turbo Diesel Engine

Ram 3500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® Laramie with 6. 7-liter Cummins® Turbo Diesel Engine

Ram 4500 Chassis Cab regular cab ST

Ram 4500 Chassis Cab regular cab SLT

Ram 4500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® ST

Ram 4500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® SLT

Ram 4500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® Laramie

Ram 5500 Chassis Cab regular cab ST

Ram 5500 Chassis Cab regular cab SLT

Ram 5500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® ST

Ram 5500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® SLT

Ram 5500 Chassis Cab Quad Cab® Laramie

 

[dlmetzger]

68RFE 6-speed auto is made by Chrysler

The 68RFE 6-speed auto transmission is only available on the RAM 2500/3500 diesel pickups. It is made by Chrysler.



The Aisin 6-speed auto transmission is only available in the C&C (as stated previously).

 

[HBarlow]

The Aisin is identified as AS68RE or something similar. It is available in 3500, 4500, and 5500 cab and chassis trucks only, no Ram pickup models.

Aisin is a Japanese manufacturer that was once part of a joint venture with the old American transmission manufacturer, Borg Warner. It was called Aisin-Warner. After 20 or more years the joint venture was dissolved, maybe Borg Warner went away, and it is now Aisin. I suspect Aisin gained considerable knowledge and experience from Borg-Warner during that early period.

Aisin now makes or has made medium duty transmissions for Freightliner, Hino (Toyota truck), and others as well as many car, SUV, and light truck transmissions for many of the Japanese products and for many models of the big three American manufacturers.

Seems to be an excellent product. The Aisin in our Ram C&Cs has a three year, 180,000 mile warranty and requires servicing less frequently than the Dodge product used in pickups.

 

[BDaugherty]

So, what advantage does the Aisin have over the Chrysler? Why would Dodge use two different transmission? I'm guessing that the Aisin is more heavy duty and calibrated more towards driving loaded?

 

[RACE427]

Aisin-Warner

I am familiar with Aisin - Warner as I have had their units apart in the early 1980's, they were a direct copy of Borg-Warner units only smaller. I am willing to bet that the Aisin is in direct competition with the Allison. Would make sense as the Cummins has more than enough torque to rip apart a lesser auto trans. Cannot figure Chrysler's way of thinking to not put the best trans behind the Cummins and be done with the weak link. They would probably sell more trucks this way. Maybe not?

 

[HBarlow]

So, what advantage does the Aisin have over the Chrysler? Why would Dodge use two different transmission? I'm guessing that the Aisin is more heavy duty and calibrated more towards driving loaded?

I doubt anyone at Chrysler is going to provide that information for us consumers but since the cab and chassis trucks are intended for commercial duty, often continuously heavily loaded, and often driven by company drivers not owners, Dodge must figure the Aisin is more reliable in that duty cycle.

I haven't heard of a single problem with an Aisin or a new Chrysler six speed automatic either.

 

[HBarlow]

I am familiar with Aisin - Warner as I have had their units apart in the early 1980's, they were a direct copy of Borg-Warner units only smaller. I am willing to bet that the Aisin is in direct competition with the Allison. Would make sense as the Cummins has more than enough torque to rip apart a lesser auto trans. Cannot figure Chrysler's way of thinking to not put the best trans behind the Cummins and be done with the weak link. They would probably sell more trucks this way. Maybe not?

A couple of the speakers at May Madness last year said the Aisin looks "very similar" to the Allison but in their opinion was stronger than the Allison.

I had a friend who owned a medium duty FL-70 with a Cummins 5. 9 engine. He told me his FL had an Aisin transmission. I think an FL-70 has a gross combined weight rating of around 33,000 lbs.

Chrysler probably pays more for the Aisin transmission than it costs them to make the 68RFE and any profit earned on the Aisin goes to Aisin while the profit earned on the 68RFE goes to Chrysler's bottom line.

 

[rcornel]

My experiance with the 68RFE in my 07. 5 Mega Cab has been nothing but GREAT...

I pull a 35' 5th wheel and both the Engine/transmission combo works as expected. The built in brake is nothing less than a blessing on hills that I use with all pulling. So which ever Asin or Chrysler built (designed), the 68RFE has no lack in performance.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

I read somewhere that the gear ratios in the Aisin are lower than the 68RFE. So far, I like my 68RFE. The tow/haul mode works similar to my son's Allison. Longevity - still unknown to me. I have 14,000 on my truck in 9 months, and 60% of it is hauling heavy or towing a 5th wheel RV.

 

[bheiting]

According to the Aisin web sight, they formed a joint venture with Borg-Warner in
1969. They are a member of the "Toyota Family" what ever that means. They
recently formed a joint venture with Allison. I wish Toyota would buy Chrysler. I'd
rather have my drive train made by them instead of Fiat.

 

[EB]

I have almost 197,000 miles on my 3500 cab and chassis now and have had no problems at all. Most all of the miles have been like today, with a trailer loaded with nearly 15,000 lbs of pipe behind me. The pipe and trailer together weighed right at 24,000 lbs. This goes on day after day, no problems at all with the Aisin.

 

[sag2]

So, what advantage does the Aisin have over the Chrysler? Why would Dodge use two different transmission? I'm guessing that the Aisin is more heavy duty and calibrated more towards driving loaded?

Asin has PTO and the RFE does not. So for C&C applications it is the only one that was "off the shelf" ready for customers that required PTO.