ATS makes the grade!

[y-knot]

Well my first true test of the ATS stage 4 came these week, we took off for a stay in Silver Lake. The triple-lock TC is amazing, it will not slip. The dynamics of the trany does call for some changes in driving style, nothing drastic but a change. I soon found out what it wanted, and we ended up as friends. The shifts are firm, and I found myself feathering into them. Nothing like the old stock trany I new for so long. I really like the new set-up, I ran 70-75 on the trip and temps held steady at 160-170 most all the time. I went to the scales on the way and topped out at 22,562lbs. The biggest difference is the firm shifts and how the locked TC will change your driving style. I found it easier to run with OD off while in town, keeps the revs up and provides more braking(exhaust brake) while limiting useless shifts. This was the only change I had made, fact is I had made many changes, and they all seemed to work-out.

Just wanted to let everyone know how nice the new trany is, I went with ATS on the advice of several TDR members, thanks guy's. No trany wars implied, I know there are several popular and worthy automatic transmission dealers available, I just know this one worked for me.



#ad

 

[catoiler]

Another happy Customer!!

 

[jwilliams3]

Glad to hear you like your ATS transmission.



--Justin

 

[Tony T.]

Y-knot how many miles on the the stock trans.

 

[SEmerson]

When you say 160-170 are you saying trans temp or water temp?

 

[y-knot]

I was referring to transmission temperatures, the ATS stays cooler then the stock trany, especially in city traffic. I assume it's less slip, less heat built up?? Better oiling ?? Anyhow it sure works nice, just got to get use to what it wants.

My stock transmission was very well taken care of, regular filter changes, band adjustments and synthetic fluids. I also ran empty 95% of the time. It pulled three trailers, for a total of eleven times. One a 28' enclosed car hauler at 9,000lbs for a total of 3100 miles. Two, a 33' travel trailer once for 35 miles, and my present trailer a 36' GN enclosed 1100 miles. The trany shifted fine but started slipping in OD, at first it was only on occasion, then on long hills. Finlay it would slip with the larger trailer any time I got on it. It never failed, cause I replaced it before I was left stranded on the road. Most of the trouble stems from the weak torque converter, and poor oiling circuit. The ATS TC is a bull, it will not slip. Instead it will lug your engine down, so get ready to add some more HP. With the Commander in place, YOU get to decide when the lock up occures and when it doesn't. This was my first test of the ATS package, I fell as if it passed. Your driving style might have to be changed some to suit the trany, but that is minor stuff. This was also the heaviest load I have hauled, 22,562lbs. It handled it great, like I stated earlier, trans temps stayed in the 160-170 range. Rear gear temps 150-160. Engine oil temps 170-180. EGT at 75 with that load averaged 950-1000 pre turbo and 750-800 post turbo. With the 16cmsq housing I average about 11 psi boost, with a high of 32 psi. I monitor trany lock-up pressure also, but it was always over 100psi when I checked (Gage only goes to 100). The bigger housing worked very well, I gave up boost with light loads, but gained lower EGT temps at high boost conditions, Highest for the trip was 1300 pre or 1100 post.

I have no doubt that the old stock trany would have not made this trip, to me they are just a ticking time bomb. It is not a question of will it fail, but rather when and where. Maybe Dodge will right this wrong sometime soon, they need a true truck transmission, till then for me the ATS is the closest I will get. Good luck.

 

[MarkH]

Hey that's a nice looking trailer! Do you run a winged sprinter?

 

[John - K5AWO]

Y-Knot, about those Alcoas

Y-Knot,





I notice in your new sig you mention the Alcoa wheels. Which rims are you running and what tire size? Are you using hub spacers on the duallies?



Did Alcoa supply the hub adapters or did you have to get them elsewhere?



One nice trailer there too. I could live in something that big.



I take it that you feel that the ATS setup makes for a very nice city herk 'en jerk traffic transmission now?



My stock unit makes running on the "go home demolition freeway" a place to avoid. I use side streets instead with their speed regulating lights. Smooths out the traffic flow.

 

[y-knot]

No winged sprinter, that was the ideal for a while, but not now.



The Alcoa wheels are the Hot Shot's they offer, they are 16x6 and the standard 8 on 6 1/2" BC. I run the Trxus MT's in the 255-85-16 size. Yes I also run 1 1/4" rear spacers tow get the proper spacing, they are from Performance Wheel.

The ATS is a nice unit, But I installed the stag IV system at the same time as the Exhaust Brake, new TST plate, and Pump gov spring, I don't know which one I like best. I do know that I will never be without a E-brake, that has to be the #1 addition for a diesel truck, especially one that tows. I went alittle over 1000 miles towing at 22,560lbs and never had any brake dust on my wheels, they are wonderful. It was also the first real test for the Prodigy brake controller, this is what I had been looking for, another item I will not go with out. The ATS brings confidence to your tow, the TC is much heavier and designed for towing, it has a lower stall speed and enough surface area and pressure to hold. The rest of the system works just as well, and should be at the top of every persons MUST HAVE list, that has a automatic.

 

[SEmerson]

post was take wrong. DELETED

 

[I-6DZL]

Y-Knot



Me not being all that far from Silver lake (Sand dunes i presume, in MI) what did you have in that trailer. That's alot of weight and i'm glad to hear you were trouble free. My dads ATS unit is GREAT to say the least. Even my dad was greatly impressed with it. Its very hard to get him to spend the money on something he can't completely justify... ..... Now he'll never go without one if he gets a new truck.



Curtis

 

[y-knot]

The 160 is just fine, i'll be very happy if it stays there. What was in the trailer???? What else, Beer and quads!

 

[I-6DZL]

LOL beer and quads... ... prolly more weight in beer than quads. Glad to hear ya had a good time. Do anything else but ride the dunes all day ?



Curtis

 

[John_P]

y-knot:



Glad to hear you like your ATS TripleLok Stage IV! I have

the same units in both my 1996 Dodge CTD and my 2002

and very happy with both of them!! The unit in the 96'

has over 75,000 trouble free miles and like you I also

tow heavy. BTW,... ... 160 degrees IS NOT a high

temperature for that transmission! IMO, that is very

good for the kind of weight you are towing! Leave

it to a DTT customer to come in here and "get in a

little dig" which is a violation of the TDR forum rules!



Very nice looking rig! Take care.



----------

John_P

 

[ProspectorTim]

Nice setup! I wish I had a trailer like that. I'm glad to see that the stage-4 works for you; my truck goes to ATS next week for stage-4



114,000 miles, and stock transmission was slipping & shuddering on the hills pulling my 35' 5er toyhauler (being used as a moving van/camper). I didn't weigh it for the trip, but "normal" load with 2 quads & generator is about 11k. I was probably a little over that. "Ticking time bomb" pretty much describes the situation! It made it to Memphis, then we made a trip to Louiseville, KY for the weekend with it (not loaded), and the return trip to Colorado. Needless to say, I'll be sweating a LOT LESS when I pull out of here with the new stage-4 in it!



Looking forward to it!

 

[John - K5AWO]

You are going to miss Colorado. Memphis is nice and green, but when I was there in the early 70's the visibility was so thick that my Western eyes could not see more than a half mile in front of me at an altitude of 1500 feet.



30 and 40 miles vistas? For get it...



And the ATC in Memphis claimed it was VFR weather??



For the non flyers:

ATC - Air Traffic Controller

VFR - Visual Flight Rules