ATS Converters-Who's Towing With It?

[Crazy Horse]

I'm looking for input from TDR members who tow or have slide in campers in their truck and using the ATS triple lock TC and valve body.



I'm going to be upgrading my 2002 2500 CTD 47RE with reliable aftermarket parts. I'll be putting a camper in shortly and plan on taking another 20-30,000 mile trip next winter. I'll also be pulling a small trailer. The only power enhancement is a BD Plug n Power. I have no plans to put an exhaust brake on or ever seriously race the truck, or put more power to it. Most throttle operation will be light to moderate with a load on. The truck has a little over 10,000 miles on it and is showing the beginning signs of TC shutter with only a 1,000 lbs on board. How has your's worked?

 

[willyslover]

Jake. . aka drag diesel has been pulling a bunch with ATS [trailers and drag races]

 

[Buffalo]

ATS Torque Conv.

I have a '91 W-250 that ATS put a Stage 4 trans. with a Triple-Lok TC, in. It works very well. Lives up to it's reputation. As "Willyslover" said, Jake aka "Drag Diesel" tows and drag races with his all the time. I heard, awhile back, that he had over 3000 runs at the dragstrip, with his set-up. I ran across a guy with a triple axle, fifth wheel trailer, that also tows a Chev. Tahoe behind it, at the Flying J, here in Phoenix. He had had another, after-market trans. that did not last, at all. Tried the ATS set-up and has had no problems. He had to have been way over weight. By the way. Jake does 114 mph. in the 1/4 mile. He works his trans. hard. There are a number of company's, out there, that are building excellent, after-market, transmissions. In my opinion, ATS is one of them. Hope this helps. Joe Fihn.

 

[tandemranch]

I have a 99 3500 with an 11 ft Elkhorn camper pulling a 12' cargo trailer with 4 people. Definitely a heavy load. I switched to the ATS transmission about a year ago and have had no problems so far. It seems to work great.

 

[jrandol]

I havent pulled crazy weights by any means but have pulled upwards of 8. 5k a few times. The stage 2 pulled awesome and now that I have the Stage 5 it pulls like an animal!! You wont be dissapointed, lockup is like the rock of gibraltor, its there!!

 

[rfielding]

I'll let you know after Friday... upgrading to the ATS trans, valve body, torque converter and trans command... putting on a Pac Brake as well... tired of going through brakes. I carry a Lance as well as pull eiher a 21 foot ski boat or 12" enclosed trailer with bikes / atv's... the torque converter slipped bad with the 275's and Edge comp on level 2.



I am looking forward to trying out towing / carrying after the trans modifications... Hope it is as good as everyons says...

 

[JSHAW]

I tow work trailers 8000-14000 lbs, pleasure trailer-16000lbs boats and anything else that needs to be towed. with my stock transmission it felt like Iwas trying to pull 25000 lbs or more. Now I can't even tell that there still hooked up to my truck. Definately the best thing I have done to my truck. It makes everything else I've done to the truck work the way they should. If you want to tow you can't go wrong with ATS. (get the commander with it)

 

[Crazy Horse]

rfielding,

If you would let know your 1st driving impressions. Shiftpoints, firmness to shifts etc.



jrandol,

why did you go from the stage 2 to the stage 5?



Thanks

Phil

 

[John_P]

Crazy Horse:



I have two (2) Dodge CTD pickups with the complete ATS

Stage IV transmissions in them. One is a 1996 Dodge CTD

12 valve 4X4 and the other is a 2002 Dodge CTD 24 valve

4X4. The ATS TripleLok Stage IV in the 96' has over 70,000

hard miles on it now. I tow a 22' flatbed trailer in the

mountains which when loaded weighs about 11,600 lbs.

Both of my trucks are BOMBED pretty good, with both

putting out at or near 500 RWHP. I drag race both trucks

and the 96' has over fifty (50) drag race "launches" on it

the 2002 around twenty (20). The 2002 has a "best" ET

of 12. 94 @ 102. 98 and the 96' 13. 2-13. 3 @ 100 MPH. The

96' weighs about 400 lbs. more than the 02'. (Long bed

vs short bed).



ATS offers one of the best warranties in the business and

IMO their customer service is great!



Hope this has helped you some. Good luck!



---------

John_P

 

[jrandol]

Originally posted by Crazy Horse

rfielding,

If you would let know your 1st driving impressions. Shiftpoints, firmness to shifts etc.



jrandol,

why did you go from the stage 2 to the stage 5?



Thanks

Phil

I originally got the Stage 2 thinking I would "never" take my truck above 350-375hp AFter getting the "bug" I knew that I needed more out of it. I ran the Stage 2 for 6 months above 500rwhp and zero problems. The bombing bug has bitten me hard once again, so thats where the stage 5 has come into play. This one is is setup to hold some serious juice!!

 

[M Evan]

I tow 9000# weekend warrior and 7000# boat with Ats converter and valve body. It is pleasure to tow with that set up. I do have their old style rotary type controller, but don't use that, because give me the trouble code. Code is a related to big and fast drop in RPM . I was told by Ats, Ca truck edition have something to do with it to. Maybe with new controller they solved the problem, I don't know. Will be interesting, if somebody have same experience. But otherwise adding Ats to my transmission, was best upgrade on my truck.

M

 

[daytripper63]

I had complete ATS Trans, torque conv. & commander in my 98. 5 with comp box etc and pulled 10,000 lb 5er and I could crank on the power box and floor it up any hill and the only thing I ever had to be concerned with was EGT. good luck I was happy with mine