Beefing up R-48 for towing work

[ROGER/DODGER]

I'm looking for a GOOD transmission shop in the Palm Springs area to install a new torque converter, valve body and transmission cooler in my 06 Dodge. I tow heavy,a fifth wheel at 17000 lb. fully loaded. Also what is the consensus on the Banks converter ? Anybody with one of these installed ? Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Bob4x4]

I'm looking for a GOOD transmission shop in the Palm Springs area to install a new torque converter, valve body and transmission cooler in my 06 Dodge. I tow heavy,a fifth wheel at 17000 lb. fully loaded. Also what is the consensus on the Banks converter ? Anybody with one of these installed ? Any help is much appreciated.

The first step would be to gear it properly for that much weight.



Bob

 

[oneshotkyle]

is 17,000 gross or just the trailer? 3. 73 seem to be fine for a 6sp with that weight but a automatic would have been better suited with 4. 10's. you will spend lots on an auto to make it worth wild for towing that weight constantly.

 

[F-15I Ra'am]

I would never again buy anything from Bank$ and especialy not a converter! Call DTT. I'm sure they have an installer in the area or close by. They can set you up with something tailor made to what you need. Their customer service is excellent, while Bank$ does'nt know the meaning of the word. I have a DTT transmission in my old 2001 {now my son's truck} 205k on the truck and about 165k with the DTT transmission, alot of towing, still going strong!

 

[DPKetchum]

4. 10 gears. Thats what they are for.

 

[robertyoke]

suncoast is in fla someplace.

I tow a heavy fiver 17k gvw and 3. 73 gear and 33. 5 inch tires power just a tad above stock. :-laf the trans is strong for stock, I added ats vb and tc back when the trans was new and then recently I did smoke the intermediate band, not from towing but giving a mustang cobra fits on college ave. locked shifts added to the problem.

the biggest problem you will see with the tall gears and big weight will be heat. just get a good gauge on the output line and watch it, especially in stop and go traffic. i have a way to lock the tc after I get rolling and the trans temps will drop immediately. i did have the trans apart for a rebuild after the intermediate band wouldnt hold full power. the strut for the band was bent, allowing flex when it was applied. the first set of clutches were burnt (blue marks on the plates) but for locked shifts and 500+ hp not bad!

I did take the tc to ats to tighten it up (it was the early style stator), I like the new tc much better. I dont think you can go wrong with ats tc and vb!

I did get the rebuild clutch kit from suncoast, good people to buy from.

-robert

 

[Cattletrkr]

I'll use dad's '03 when mine is down. He has the auto (48) and 3. 73 ratio. No need for 4. 10 even pulling a 30K trailer.

I'm not a big fan of autos for heavy towing but that just my preference. You won't have any issues with the 3. 73's. At least with the 3. 73 you can lock out OD and drive 60mph all day long.

 

[Bob4x4]

I'll use dad's '03 when mine is down. He has the auto (48) and 3. 73 ratio. No need for 4. 10 even pulling a 30K trailer.



I'm not a big fan of autos for heavy towing but that just my preference. You won't have any issues with the 3. 73's. At least with the 3. 73 you can lock out OD and drive 60mph all day long.

I see this everyday :-laf people bragging about how much they can pull even though overgeared

I get them geared correctly and they always call back and thank me for fixing their tow rig. Call the trans company of your choice they will admit gearing is one key to longer trans life



Bob

 

[cerberusiam]

I'll use dad's '03 when mine is down. He has the auto (48) and 3. 73 ratio. No need for 4. 10 even pulling a 30K trailer.

Keep doing that and Dad wil be using YOUR truck while you are fixing his. :-laf:-laf

 

[Cattletrkr]

Yeah you guys are right. It's much much much better to be pulling a 17K 5'er in OD than it is in direct. We all know that when towing in OD your trans temps run sooooo much cooler.

 

[Herman8r]

Cattletrkr---call Bill at DTT--he is the real deal. He did my trans (So. Calif) and is awesome at customer service. I had a BAD experience with banks.

Herman