Buying a new truck...trans questions...?

[Cummins12V98]

That’s even better! Just used 4% as an example.

 

[jkern]

2011 with 68RFE 147k miles, no issues. tow about 10k pounds occasionally in the mountains of PA.

 

[AH64ID]

Close but not quite. My 18 HO is 930ftlb vs the 22 SO which is 850ftlb.

Correct, at the flywheel. At the ground they are very similar.

Since the 18 SRW has 3.42’s and the 22 SRW has 3.73’s there is a 9% increase in torque to the ground across the board.

That means at peak torque in 4th gear (direct) the 18 HO would have 3180 at the wheels and the 22SO would have 3170, or .3% less.

The difference would be similar in the rest of the gears, but a little more variance based on specific gear ratios.

DRW’s with different gear options will obviously have different results.

 

[Tuesdak]

However, it's time to upgrade to the newer Gen and get some more of the "bells and whistles" that mine is lacking...main one being remote start! It sucks living in Michigan and having to go outside to start the truck 5-10 min before you want to leave lol

Anyway, my questions: is it worth it to do the work to find a 2016-2019 with the aisin trans or is the 68RFE good enough? What's the major differences between them?

The only thing that I haul/would be hauling on a regular basis would be my enclosed trailer for my motorcycle. Its just a 6x10 enclosed Rhino bumper pull trailer. My 04 hauled it with no issues whatsoever all the way to Sturgis, SD and back this past August, sometimes at speeds reaching 75-80 mph. I may be somewhat of a speed demon! LOL

My Dad says that its worth getting the aisin trans because that's what he has gotten in his trucks, and he has had no issues and says they have worked great for him.

You are about to plunk down some serious coin for just "bells and whistles". Any other reason you are going to give up a pre-emmisions Cummins like rust, etc?

Warm up ... Electricity is damn cheap over Diesel fuel. Plug the block heater in and on a different breaker use a electric heater in the cab to defrost the windows. Driver door for the cord so you don't, uh, forget it as learned experience suggests. Used a ceramic disc forced air heater for this purpose for years: even here now and then for winter days the radiant heat loss would ice the windows up.

Geno's has an easy button for the block heater via the bumper plug thingy. https://www.genosgarage.com/category/winter

Diesels warm up better with a load vs. just idle anyway: get it moving as soon as the oil pressure comes up. (Say 30-60 seconds in real cold weather.)

Until RAM Cummins has completed their recall of 100% of the cheap Bosch glitter bomb CP4 injection pumps for the 2019-2020 model years you should avoid them. CP3's were used till the end of the 2018 production run. 2021-2022 have a design similar to the proven CP3 and this is what the 2019 and 2020's are going to get: hindsight being 20-20 and all.

Unless you are towing more than 50% of the time the TCO is higher for a Diesel. With the sudden price spike in Diesel: it's a preference for a trailer this small.

For the load your wanting to pull why even get a diesel? A 1500 will do what you want, or go with an eco diesel or titan diesel if you want a Diesel engine. Lower cost of maintenance, and plenty of power for what you want.

Agreed: Gas engine, biggest one they can order, will do the job. Bigger engine doesn't work as hard as a smaller one when towing. The above speed suggests MPG isn't so much of a concern anyway.

Gas engines heat up faster than Diesel engines for the above "Remote Start" concern.

I wouldn't suggest a 1/2 ton diesel for anything. Either get a real Diesel in a 2500 on up with the capacity or stick with a gasoline engine in a 1/2 ton. Why get all the expensive and emissions complicated Diesel problems in a 1/2 ton lacking anything but a grocery hauler ability? Diesel fuel just went through the roof in cost vs. gasoline. Other than listening to a gasoline engine "scream" revved up on grades: you have to tow a lot for a diesel to make sense. Out of warranty: limited life Diesel injectors are a pain for the wallet.

Further rentals are non-existent, dealer loaners were sold, so a new vehicle is playing the "odds" you don't have a problem and have to wait for parts. Gasoline or Diesel engines can drop a valve or snap a chain, yes. However the 1/2 ton bean counter cheapened up Diesel engines DO NOT have the reliability reputation the 5.9/6.7 Cummins I6 has.

The 6.7 Cummins isn't going to snap a cheap lightweight chain because it has expensive to manufacture heavy gears!