AISIN gear hunting in Cruise Control

[AH64ID]

Any particular reason for not using tow haul when empty, and let it hold gears a bit longer ??

For me, and the roads I drive, I don't like the delayed shifting. It's mostly rural and I don't have a need for the delayed shifting or increased rpms... it actually costs about 1 mpg on my daily commute, at least according to the EVIC when I've tested it.

I will run it when going slow in hilly areas, but have found I prefer just to use ERS and lock out the gears I don't want as I still prefer the non-TH shift schedule when empty. I do love TH when loaded thou!

 

[Cummins2014]

For me, and the roads I drive, I don't like the delayed shifting. It's mostly rural and I don't have a need for the delayed shifting or increased rpms... it actually costs about 1 mpg on my daily commute, at least according to the EVIC when I've tested it.

I will run it when going slow in hilly areas, but have found I prefer just to use ERS and lock out the gears I don't want as I still prefer the non-TH shift schedule when empty. I do love TH when loaded thou!

I have just locked it in third or fourth ,and then got on the freeway, and wondered why the engine was screaming, at my age I forget

 

[Wiredawg]

As far as gear hunting my 2014 68RFE will hold the gear climbing a grade with the foot on the pedal, but not in cruise . Same loaded unless of course the grade gets too steep.

As far as tow haul ,and EB, first things that get turned on as soon as the truck is started, nothing worse then going thru an area where I live at 40 mph in 5th gear, with the truck lugging along. With tow haul it holds 4th , much preferred over that feeling of lugging at that speed.

Any particular reason for not using tow haul when empty, and let it hold gears a bit longer ??

Biggest reasons I attribute to not using TH when not towing are: I don't have a problem with any gears hunting and on my truck any time and TH is very aggressive. I like to coast a lot when I see traffic ahead or coming up to a stop sign. I don't have to turn on the EB on my truck because it's always on automatically when I start up. With TH off, EB only comes on when I touch the brakes. I love the setup.

TH was less aggressive on my 2009 Ram 4500 with Aisin and 4.44s. In fact, I used it a lot around town and of course towing. So on that account, I understand when folks mention running it all the time.

No real wrong answer here... everyone uses thier equipment configured how they like it... Its all good.

EDIT: My current 2017 Ram 5500 is the FIRST truck I've used cruise control towing heavy 33.2K lbs GCW on grades. No hunting, no spurts of speed, and no lugging. Max Tow pkg is AMAZING.

Cheers, Ron

 

[RVTRKN]

With my 3:73 ( I wanted 4:10's) at 65 MPH in 6th, I'm lower than I want, with RPM's around 1400/1500 RPM's, and as I start a climb I can feel the pressure building. As I have always complained about with the 3:42 diff, your RPMs would be around 1200/1300 RPM's, thats way to low for the CTD. 18-2100 RPM's is the sweet spot for the CTD. The 2014 2500 68rfe with 3:42 and 10K GVW drove me nuts, I never realy found a good strategy in how to run it, to keep the RPM's were they should be and not were FCA wanted it at for EPA and whatever reason they came up with. I think they saw a lot of potential buyers waiting for better gearing, like I did. I WOULD NOT HAVE CONCIDERED MY NEW 3500 SRW IF, I HAD TO GO WITH THE 3:42 DIFF. T/H is very aggressive with EB and RPM's, I'm still looking for the right combination, but city driving, I lock out 5th and 6th and run T/H. I can see why I got a lot of Run T/H all the time with the 68rfe, but that trans is not the same as the Aisin. Hunting for gears is normal, as your service writer is explaining to you with your setup, and there's no Codes/CEL's because its running as designed. Your now seeing what I was talking about in the 2015, when I was in the 2500 68rfe back then. I got drowned out by Aisin owners that had the 3500 SRW, but the Aisin has a different strategy than the 68rfe, and the RPM's are still low for 65 MPH and 3:42 and 5th or 6th gear.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

If I didn't have the EB and TH buttons on my 16, I would have never bought an auto transmission. I run them both all the time. I never tow over 60 +/- mph so my transmission doesn't jump gears. Even my wife and daughter use the TH & EB when they drive my truck.

 

[Cummins2014]

If I didn't have the EB and TH buttons on my 16, I would have never bought an auto transmission. I run them both all the time. I never tow over 60 +/- mph so my transmission doesn't jump gears. Even my wife and daughter use the TH & EB when they drive my truck.

As said it doesn't sound like there is a wrong way here, but definitely use TH towing. Economy as pointed out is a valid point, but I don't drive it daily ,or enough , but when going thru town, just don't care for that lugging.

As far as jumping gears, it does not take much to jump back ,and forth from 6 to 5 towing, tow haul or not in my truck . So most of the time I just lock it in 5th . Its got to be a pretty flat long road for me to let it run in 6th towing.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

^^ Oh yes, a total preference of driving for sure.

For me, the auto down shifting and EB when coming to a stop or slowing down is a must. I never have like the "free wheeling" of auto transmission's; hence why I always bought standard transmission's. I don't care if it costs me mileage.

 

[Cummins2014]

^^ Oh yes, a total preference of driving for sure.

For me, the auto down shifting and EB when coming to a stop or slowing down is a must. I never have like the "free wheeling" of auto transmission's; hence why I always bought standard transmission's. I don't care if it costs me mileage.

Same here , although the economy has been pointed out. Again I don't drive it enough, it tows mostly, and I just can't get caught up too much in the mileage , its a truck

 

[SnoKing]

With my 3:73 ( I wanted 4:10's) at 65 MPH in 6th, I'm lower than I want, with RPM's around 1400/1500 RPM's, and as I start a climb I can feel the pressure building. As I have always complained about with the 3:42 diff, your RPMs would be around 1200/1300 RPM's, thats way to low for the CTD. 18-2100 RPM's is the sweet spot for the CTD.

After 4 years with a 3.42 geared truck I fine no problem with the ratio. The tune of the 2013+ DEF engines give it lots of power at lower RPMs. That is with almost 60K miles and 5 round trips between Washington and Arizona. Two at 24,500 combined weight, one at 20-21,000 combined, one at 16K and one with a box trailer. I would not trade my 3.42s and Aisin for a lower ratio.

 

[RVTRKN]

How about the 68rfe, thats a real nightmare, I hated it and would never buy one, period. But thats with the 3:42, maybe 4:10's its a better running trans but I hated the one I drove.

 

[Wiredawg]

Just a follow up on my experience with two Aisins in two trucks. My 09 4500 Cab and Chassis 4x4 84CA in TH locked out 6th, top OD. I was really pleased when my 2017 5500 Cab and Chassis uses ALL 6 gears in tow haul. And, I NEVER towed using cruise control towing on my 09, but use it all the time on my 17.

I don't know when Ram first offered Aisin transmission in the P/Us, but it was after 2009.

Anyway, I really like these threads where different folks share how they operate their rigs and thier opinions. This IS what makes TDR a great resource.

Cheers, Ron

 

[SnoKing]

How about the 68rfe, thats a real nightmare, I hated it and would never buy one, period.

Never owned one! New 3.73 gears are a compromise for the 68RFE in my book! They should have left the 3.42s as an option for the Aisin trannied trucks, for those that what a towing machine that is also a high speed freeway cruiser. 80 MPH at 1750 RPM and 19 MPG is pretty cool.

 

[Cummins2014]

Never owned one! New 3.73 gears are a compromise for the 68RFE in my book! They should have left the 3.42s as an option for the Aisin trannied trucks, for those that what a towing machine that is also a high speed freeway cruiser. 80 MPH at 1750 RPM and 19 MPG is pretty cool.

You should have stopped at never owned one. All I can say is I don't know the difference having never owned an Aisin , and do you never owning or towing with a 68RFE.

Please don't give me the Aisin envy nonsense, you tried that once. No envy on my part .

 

[Cummins2014]

How about the 68rfe, thats a real nightmare, I hated it and would never buy one, period. But thats with the 3:42, maybe 4:10's its a better running trans but I hated the one I drove.

Nightmare with the 68RFE , I didn't get the memo. 5 years with a 68RFE 3:42 gears. Gee how far did you drive it, how far did you tow with it . I am sure you know its a learning transmission.

 

[SnoKing]

You should have stopped at never owned one. All I can say is I don't know the difference having never owned an Aisin , and do you never owning or towing with a 68RFE.

Please don't give me the Aisin envy nonsense, you tried that once. No envy on my part .

And was my comment a reply to to you? NO!

Only advantage the 68RFE has over the Aisin is the lower reverse gear, and this statement is for you!

 

[Cummins2014]

And was my comment a reply to to you? NO!

Only advantage the 68RFE has over the Aisin is the lower reverse gear, and this statement is for you!

No , but mine was to you, why don't you back up what you are saying . As said you should have left it at never owned one., and stick to what you do own.

 

[RVTRKN]

Drove it 30K miles before it was lemoned law by the owner, it was my service truck. I drove it all over So Cal, freeway, city and towing utility trailer. I hated the cluncky feel when in T/H and the pinging when at 1000 RPM at 50 mph and accelerate when in drive. Paddle shifting helped some, but it was aggravating, hey I know I got the Memo. The rear diff completely disintegrated at 14K miles and other issues. The final straw was the charging system could not be solved after three alternators were replaced and Dodge was forced to pay for the truck AND bed purchase.

 

[SnoKing]

No , but mine was to you, why don't you back up what you are saying . As said you should have left it at never owned one., and stick to what you do own.

And you have owned an Aisin and a 68RFE?

 

[Cummins12V98]

"And was my comment a reply to to you? NO!"

HA, seems it's all about him!

 

[Cummins12V98]

The "KING" knows ME personally, he knows I had a 68RFE towing 29k combined with ONLY issue being taking off on grade that the AISIN would have cured. He has ridden in my AISIN with 4.10's and knows it works well, he also knows the same truck with AISIN and 3.42's would do just as well. I know a guy with a MobileSuites HEAVIER than mine at 24k with over 100k on his truck with God forbid, should I say has AISIN/3.42 combo. He LOVES it. My Son has a SRW 3500 LB AISIN with 3.42's I towed it with a 14k dump with WAYYYYY too much pea gravel with it at 27-28k combined load. It took off with ease on grade that my 11 HO would have struggled with the 3.42's and 68RFE.

My 11 HO I towed in 5th same RPM as I now do with my 15 and 4.10's in 6th.

To do it again I would have stayed with 3.42's and added AISIN even towing my combined 33-35k.