Aisin Max Tow Programming C&Cs and P/Us

[Wiredawg]

Friends,
I'm trying to gather facts about Aisin Max Tow programming versus regular Aisin programming. Not much published on the subject.

Max Tow Pkg on my 2017 5500 forced 4.88s and added heat insulation on the exhaust systems. Biggest difference I found on my 5500 and 09 4500 is my 5500 in tow haul shifts into top overdrive (6th) and my 4500 locked out 6th.

So pickups and C&Cs that don't have the max tow, do you have 6th locked out or not?

The exhaust brake seems more aggressive in tow haul on my 5500 than it did on my 4500 in tow haul. Max Tow Pkg or general improvement.

Another capability my 5500 has that my 4500 didn't is my 5500 tows great on steep grades in cruise control, but my 4500 just buried the throttle. Is this a Max Tow feature or general improvement?

I know there are 68RFE owners out there... do you have similar capabilities as I mentioned above.

Be nice if one of the Ram Techs or Aisin experts could educate us on all the Max Tow Pkg upgrades or differences.

Thanks all for comments, opinions, or good sounding lies.

Cheers, Ron

 

[lpennock]

Your 09 had a AS68RC while the later models used the AS69RC. You 5500 got yet another version. The rest of this is based on the 69 in my 18 3500. The 68 locks out 6th in tow haul while the 69 doesn't. Both hold the gears longer and down shift more aggressively when in TH. When the exhaust brake is on, this results in more aggressive braking. I'm not 100% sure but I think TH keeps torque converter locked through 2nd while normal unlocks when it goes into 2nd or very shortly afterwards.

Power on the 09 was 600 ft-lb motor while the 17 is around 750 so it is going to pull better.

 

[Wiredawg]

My 09 4500 had a Smarty 6.7 on level 5, so it was actually ~395HP/790 TQ. I put 7000 miles on my 5500 last May out west and northwest stock 325HP/750TQ pulling major grades and with the AS69RC/Max Tow enhancements, and other improvements, it actually pulled grades better than the 4500. BTW, I didn't have egt issues on the 4500, but IMHO, the improvements on the 5500 more than made up the difference. 4500 had 4.44s and my 5500 has 4.88s.

Do you or anyone else know if the gearing in the AS68RC and AS69RC changed?

Thanks, for the info!

Ron

 

[NIsaacs]

AS68RC: Aisin Seiki Six-Speed AS68RC (Dodge Cab and Chassis Only)
Specifications:
First gear: 3.74 n Second gear: 2.00
Third gear: 1.34 n Fourth gear: 1.00
Fifth gear: 0.77 n Sixth gear: 0.63
Reverse: 3.54
Weight: 348 pounds (dry)
ATF lube capacity: 14.79 quarts
Torque converter: 12.2-inch diameter with four-disc converter
Input shaft diameter: 1.06 inches
Output shaft diameter: 1.68 inches

AS69RC: https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr...sin.html/RK=2/RS=1fBIa7zhT1SkWDXWH7t_N6_0b2A-

 

[JR]

Tow haul does not automatically lock out 6 with the 68 as mentioned above. Dependent on the load it may not shift into 6 but under the right conditions it will.

 

[Wiredawg]

On my 09 4500, it never shifted into 6th in tow haul or it would have on the downhill grades. But, I don't think the Aisin was avail in the P/Us in 2009, was it?

Another point: the 69 Aisin is way better at load sensing than on my 68 did. That is how I believe you can use cruise control on grades with the 69 whereas I wouldn't with the 68.

I knew this thread would reveal facts not widely known... just like my 09 4500 with the 68 locking out 6th in tow haul. Sounds like the P/Us didn't lockout 6th and maybe later MY C&Cs.

Good info, Ron

 

[lpennock]

Tow haul does not automatically lock out 6 with the 68 as mentioned above. Dependent on the load it may not shift into 6 but under the right conditions it will.

The Aisin AS68RC does lock out 6th gear in Tow/Haul. It is the feature I hated about it on my 5500 with 4.88 gears.

Per Technical service supplement.
The "Tow/Haul" and "O/D Off" button is located on
the end of the manual selector lever, as shown in
Figure 4. Pressing the button once enables the
Tow/Haul mode and the "Tow/Haul" lamp will be
illuminated. In Tow/Haul mode 6th gear is disabled
and all upshifts will be delayed. Closed throttle
downshifts, for improved engine braking, may occur
during steady braking conditions.

 

[JR]

The Aisin AS68RC does lock out 6th gear in Tow/Haul. It is the feature I hated about it on my 5500 with 4.88 gears.

Per Technical service supplement.
The "Tow/Haul" and "O/D Off" button is located on
the end of the manual selector lever, as shown in
Figure 4. Pressing the button once enables the
Tow/Haul mode and the "Tow/Haul" lamp will be
illuminated. In Tow/Haul mode 6th gear is disabled
and all upshifts will be delayed. Closed throttle
downshifts, for improved engine braking, may occur
during steady braking conditions.

My bad, when you said 68 I thought you were referring to the rfe.

 

[Wiredawg]

JR,

My bad...even though my thread is primarily Aisin, I would like feedback on the 68RFE too. I'll be sure to be more clear. Thanks for the input.

Can't remember where I found it, but the AS68RC max tq was rated at 730 lb ft, but I was running around 800 lb ft on it... proves to me it was well built. I could not find the max tq rating on my AS69RC but theorize with the 930 tq HO Cummins, it actually must be at least 1000 lb ft or higher.

I imagine the 5th gen Aisin will have upgraded internals, programming, and maybe gearing. Maybe 1080 (WAG)?

Ron

 

[TFucili]

Thanks to Wiredawg for opening this discussion. So, as I look at a 3500 dually build, if I choose Max Tow I get the 4.10s that I want, but it adds the Mopar fiver hitch, and a couple other items I don't care for. My toyhauler is a gooseneck, so I don't need their hitch, plus if I get a fiver I would get a Companion anyway. So if I skip Max Tow, and just select 4.10s am I shooting myself in the foot programming-wise?

The same applies on C&C, if you select Max Tow on a 4500 it gets 4.44s. If I skip Max Tow and get 4.10s am I missing out on improved operation?

Paging Transengineer!

 

[Cummins12V98]

"But, I don't think the Aisin was avail in the P/Us in 2009, was it?"

2013

 

[Cummins12V98]

4.10's and AISIN you are getting MAX TOW. Just add the towing prep.

YUP the RAM/CURT 5er hitch is a Chinese Made POS!!!

 

[TFucili]

4.10's and AISIN you are getting MAX TOW. Just add the towing prep.

YUP the RAM/CURT 5er hitch is a Chinese Made POS!!!

I'd be getting the hardware, but would I be getting the software, that is the question. Is the programming different?

 

[Ram4Sam]

Friends,
I'm trying to gather facts about Aisin Max Tow programming versus regular Aisin programming. Not much published on the subject.

Max Tow Pkg on my 2017 5500 forced 4.88s and added heat insulation on the exhaust systems. Biggest difference I found on my 5500 and 09 4500 is my 5500 in tow haul shifts into top overdrive (6th) and my 4500 locked out 6th.

So pickups and C&Cs that don't have the max tow, do you have 6th locked out or not?

The exhaust brake seems more aggressive in tow haul on my 5500 than it did on my 4500 in tow haul. Max Tow Pkg or general improvement.

Another capability my 5500 has that my 4500 didn't is my 5500 tows great on steep grades in cruise control, but my 4500 just buried the throttle. Is this a Max Tow feature or general improvement?

I know there are 68RFE owners out there... do you have similar capabilities as I mentioned above.

Be nice if one of the Ram Techs or Aisin experts could educate us on all the Max Tow Pkg upgrades or differences.

Thanks all for comments, opinions, or good sounding lies.

Cheers, Ron

No, my 3500 srw Aisin, in tow/haul will shift into 6th but not until 65--66 mph.....

Sam

 

[lpennock]

"But, I don't think the Aisin was avail in the P/Us in 2009, was it?"

2013

Was on the 4500 and 5500.

 

[lpennock]

Thanks to Wiredawg for opening this discussion. So, as I look at a 3500 dually build, if I choose Max Tow I get the 4.10s that I want, but it adds the Mopar fiver hitch, and a couple other items I don't care for. My toyhauler is a gooseneck, so I don't need their hitch, plus if I get a fiver I would get a Companion anyway. So if I skip Max Tow, and just select 4.10s am I shooting myself in the foot programming-wise?

The same applies on C&C, if you select Max Tow on a 4500 it gets 4.44s. If I skip Max Tow and get 4.10s am I missing out on improved operation?

Paging Transengineer!

prep package doesn't include a hitch. It is just mounting points for a gooseneck ball with tie points and a fiver hitch. Is nice in that it makes for easy install of either.

 

[TFucili]

prep package doesn't include a hitch. It is just mounting points for a gooseneck ball with tie points and a fiver hitch. Is nice in that it makes for easy install of either.

Not referring to the prep package, but the Max Tow Pkg. I don't need the hitch and don't want the DRLs.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I'd be getting the hardware, but would I be getting the software, that is the question. Is the programming different?

MAX tow is MAX tow whether you get a 5er hitch or not.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Was on the 4500 and 5500.

He was asking about the pickups, he knows about the 4500-5500's

 

[TFucili]

MAX tow is MAX tow whether you get a 5er hitch or not.

Perhaps I missed it, but while the reverse is true, where does it say you get Max Tow by selecting 4.10s, and/or gooseneck prep? Not to speak for Wiredawg, but that seems to be the root of the question, "is there a programming/operational difference with Max Tow?".