Aisin VS 68RFE

[kvtcomdo]

Lots of people............including myself.....have stated the same thing. After about 1 month (usually less) of 4th GEN ownership, that mindset soon becomes a distant memory.

I agree 100%.

Traded in my 2004 CTD for my signature truck.

I tell you truthfully, I got a little misty parting with the old truck which had been a work horse and really reliable vehicle.

The new 2014 CTD Lonestar edition (so it had a lot of extras) makes my old truck seem: well, like an old truck.

The new ones are light years better in every way.

 

[Boomer II]

I had a 97 since new with an NV5600 & other goodies that made it a real workhorse. This new truck is light years ahead of my old one, especially with the
Lance camper on the back.

 

[dfb]

Snoking, sorry for the late post. However, on a diesel in Oregon, owners can fill themselves...just not gas..

 

[dfb]

You can pump your own diesel...

 

[spoon059]

That would be because there are way more 68RFEs out there than Aisins. Way more.
I'm on my third truck with a 68RFE and I have had no issues. I tow around 16,000 pounds.
I have nothing against the Aisin, but there is no way I could justify the extra $$. I run my trucks to around 90k miles and trade them in.

I think it also has to do with people who don't understand how the transmission is designed to work. Ram designed these trucks to WORK. Everything about it, from tire pressure to transmission settings to brake pads/pressures are designed to work with substantial weight behind it. When my truck is empty, the shifts can feel a little sloppy at times. When I am towing my 9500 lbs camper, the transmission shifts feel smooth as soft butter.

People complain that a 10K lbs GVWR truck rated to tow 17K additional lbs doesn't ride as soft as their grandfathers Cadillac DeVille and blame the 68RFE transmission. The reality is that the trans is shifting exactly like Ram designed it to shift. There is no reason to believe that the 68RFE won't last hundreds of thousands of miles if you change the oil at scheduled intervals and don't go crazy with tuning your engine.

 

[PA30DRVR]

It has been that way for LONG TIME, we try to get it changed, has to go to the public for a vote, and it looses every time. It is getting closer each time thought. A lot of people are afraid that they would have to get out of there cars to pump there gas is what keeps it from passing. It only for FLAMIBLE liquids, Diesel is a combustible so it is legal to pump your own, but it is up to the station owner, if they don't want you to they don't HAVE to let you pump diesel.

Mostly true. Most employees of stations don't understand the law. I've had a few discussions about that and one was with a station manager. They all say it's law. That is BS and we know it. If the station is busy then I pump my own, otherwise I let them pump while keeping an eye on them to be sure they are putting diesel in the truck. It they threaten to call the police I offer to let them.

My 2014 CTD with the Aisin is my 9th CTD. It is far and away the best of the bunch. Mechanically, it is flawless. I got the Tradesman so comfort is just okay. However, when I hook up my 16,500 lb toy hauler it pulls like none before. It has gobs of torque and eats up hills while maintaining engine RPM down in the 1800-2400 RPM. MY old ones would wind out to 3,000 RPM in third to take the hill at 55 MPH.

So far just over 50,000 miles. Only 10% of the miles idling and about 60% towing the big trailer. No check engine lights just flawless performance. I like the way the Aisin shifts. The logic control while in tow haul is good. Fuel economy is good considering the load I'm pulling. Would I buy another one with the Aisin? You bet!.

 

[Flash1034]

I already voted....Aisin.

 

[CUMMINZ]

A little off subject about the aisin. I have never driven one but if I were to by a new truck it would for sure have one.

This is my experience in the last weeks. I tow a new 5er that total weight of truck and RV is just better than 27k. Keep in mind my truck has 245x19.5s which effects my operation. My 07.5 came with 4.10s and always praised them. Had spider gear issues last year and when we changed them out we also went to 3.73s expecting 12k of out west driving pulling the 5er. Last month we visited Suncoast and they installed a towing transmission with triple disk good for 650HP. Immediately I started test tuning my Smarty from 60HP to 170HP with many different settings. In the past many weeks we have toed from Suncoast in Florida to Dallas to Colorado to Salt Lake to West Yellowstone to Glacier and have settled in on 90HP with turbo turned wide open and getting the best mileage. AT this point I think I am running much more HP\TQ than any factory RAM and the transmission is not missing a lick. SAYING all of that I think 3.42s are a bad choice for heavy towing. I think my 3.73s for 2% and higher grade towing is almost not a good idea. As soon as I can switch back to 4.10s I will. Most of my towing now from Florida to Glacier just now have been in 5th. gear. Even the guys I spoke to at Suncoast say there are still issues with the new Aisins. My RAM just turned over 112k here at Glacier and will have an additional 8k on it before I get back to NC. My 07.5 now has in excess of 400HP/900TQ with a firm 68RFE. RAM needs an 8 speed transmission and over 400HP for their 2019 trucks. Geterdone DODGE.

 

[SnoKing]

Cumminz, sorry but the new 3500's with Aisin work just fine with 3:42 gears up to their rated tow spec. I always thought I would prefer 3:73's until I bought one. We are 24k+ combine and it works great. The bonus you get a freeway cruiser bobtail.. 80 MPH is only 1750 RPM.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I remember when posting about my new 11 HO Dually towing 28K with 3.42's you would have thought the sky was falling on this forum! It towed GREAT!!! Starting on a grade was not so good but the AISIN with it's lower starting gears has resolved that issue.

 

[KPear]

Even the guys I spoke to at Suncoast say there are still issues with the new Aisins. My RAM just turned over 112k here at Glacier and will have an additional 8k on it before I get back to NC. My 07.5 now has in excess of 400HP/900TQ with a firm 68RFE. RAM needs an 8 speed transmission and over 400HP for their 2019 trucks. Geterdone DODGE.

Do we really need +400HP trucks from Ram? I think the horsepower/torque wars between the big 3 are quickly becoming pointless. The current generation of HD trucks already have a lot of torque management going on with their ECU's to manage the what the engines are producing. What I would like to see from Ram, and the other 2 HD diesel truck makers, is a renewed focus on emissions reliability (it seems some big improvements have already been made from the early 2007 era iterations) and fuel economy. They should refine what they have, rather than push the envelope (and arguably degrade reliability) all for the sake of reaching a new HP milestone. If you really need more than 400HP and 900lb-ft, you probably should be getting another class of truck and your trucker's license. Or if you want to build a hot rod or sled pull truck, go buy an old 5.9 and mod and build it to your heart's content.

Also, the Aisin seems to work just fine so long as you keep the engine tuning stock (the torque management seems to keep everything in harmony). If you start messing with the HP and torque levels, then it is not unreasonable for there to be issues with the Aisin; the Allison and transmission used by Ford have the same issues when tuning, no? The dead pedal issue aside, which sounds like an ECU calibration issue that is being dealt with by FCA, the Aisin-equipped engine in stock configuration provides more performance than you would realistically need. Personally, I would have a hard time spending +$55k on a new Aisin-equipped truck and then spend an additional $2k-$3k to retune the engine and risk voiding the warranty.

 

[SnoKing]

Do we really need +400HP trucks from Ram? I think the horsepower/torque wars between the big 3 are quickly becoming pointless. The current generation of HD trucks already have a lot of torque management going on with their ECU's to manage the what the engines are producing. What I would like to see from Ram, and the other 2 HD diesel truck makers, is a renewed focus on emissions reliability (it seems some big improvements have already been made from the early 2007 era iterations) and fuel economy. They should refine what they have, rather than push the envelope (and arguably degrade reliability) all for the sake of reaching a new HP milestone. If you really need more than 400HP and 900lb-ft, you probably should be getting another class of truck and your trucker's license. Or if you want to build a hot rod or sled pull truck, go buy an old 5.9 and mod and build it to your heart's content.

Also, the Aisin seems to work just fine so long as you keep the engine tuning stock (the torque management seems to keep everything in harmony). If you start messing with the HP and torque levels, then it is not unreasonable for there to be issues with the Aisin; the Allison and transmission used by Ford have the same issues when tuning, no? The dead pedal issue aside, which sounds like an ECU calibration issue that is being dealt with by FCA, the Aisin-equipped engine in stock configuration provides more performance than you would realistically need. Personally, I would have a hard time spending +$55k on a new Aisin-equipped truck and then spend an additional $2k-$3k to retune the engine and risk voiding the warranty.

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[Deleted member 995608]

I wish FCA would just offer one auto transmission and one manual transmission. It just seems pointless to offer two different auto transmission's, and makes shopping for used 3500's a royal pain for those that can't but new.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Vin number or pop the hood. Does not seem that difficult.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Vin number or pop the hood. Does not seem that difficult.

Well ya, easy for us. Think about how many others that don't... Dodge/ Ram is king around here, but most, if not all of them aren't aware of this forum or forum b.

 

[GrantP]

Well ya, easy for us. Think about how many others that don't... Dodge/ Ram is king around here, but most, if not all of them aren't aware of this forum or forum b.

If they don't know there are two different transmissions for these trucks and how to verify then I doubt they would care which one they end up with. Most people just want to put it in "D" and go anyway.

 

[p-Bar]

The site for build sheet using VIN number doesn't work anymore. I emailed them they said they shut that down. If they give a pic of under the hood just look for the yellow dipstick near the firewall drivers side as stated above

Vin number or pop the hood. Does not seem that difficult.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Cumminz, sorry but the new 3500's with Aisin work just fine with 3:42 gears up to their rated tow spec. I always thought I would prefer 3:73's until I bought one. We are 24k+ combine and it works great. The bonus you get a freeway cruiser bobtail.. 80 MPH is only 1750 RPM.

First off, I don't tow in excess of tire speed capacities. I never tow in excess of 70mph. I would never tow at those speeds with a SRW truck. I will never believe that 3.42 gears no matter what HP engine is used will perform perfectly in mountain terrain which is most of the west or BlueRidge. If you are satisfied with your truck that is all that matters.

 

[apgambino]

First off, I don't tow in excess of tire speed capacities. I never tow in excess of 70mph. I would never tow at those speeds with a SRW truck. I will never believe that 3.42 gears no matter what HP engine is used will perform perfectly in mountain terrain which is most of the west or BlueRidge. If you are satisfied with your truck that is all that matters.

I think you hit the nail on the head. If you are happy with the truck and how it tows you are good to go, just be cognizant of its limits. I have a 2015 3500 srw with the aisin and tow a 2017 jayco 355w. It's a toy hauler and has a decent pin weight. When loaded up with for a trip I am right at my payload limit. I dont have a toy yet so i load the garage heavy to offset the front's weight. I also don't expect it to take off from a dead stop like a bat out of hell, and since I live in southern CA, I let the torque management do it's thing. Last week i was coming back from the coast on I5 in 95 degree heat and the truck did fine. I take it slow, accept a speed loss going up hill, and am proactive with the transmission range selector.

My only change will be to higher rates tires when the stock ones need replaced just to give me piece of mind.

 

[kthaxton]

First off, I don't tow in excess of tire speed capacities. I never tow in excess of 70mph. I would never tow at those speeds with a SRW truck.

When he said "bobtail" that means without a trailer.

I will never believe that 3.42 gears no matter what HP engine is used will perform perfectly in mountain terrain which is most of the west or BlueRidge.

That is unfortunate. I have the low output Cummins (800 ft/lbs) with a 68rfe and 3.42, live in Utah (read: mountains), 10,500 is about my max trailer weight.......and I am still blown away at how well it tows. Having 800 ft/lbs at around 1500 rpm (who cares about HP, torque is the measurement that matters) at your disposal overcomes the shortcomings you get used to with a gas engine with higher (numerically lower) gear ratios.