dodge ruining a good thing??

[RustyJC]

Funny you say that about the manual, that it is for the guy who tows heavy and the auto is for the weekend weekend warrior seeing as the auto equiped truck is rated to tow more than the manual.

Only because the "trailer tow rating" is computed by taking the GCWR minus a fictitious curb weight of a base truck with no options or accessories and only a 150 lb driver. Since the automatic is lighter than the NV5600 (don't know about the aluminum-case G56), the curb weight of this fictitious base truck is less which provides a higher "trailer tow rating".



The only way to realistically calculate how heavy a trailer one can tow without exceeding manufacturer's ratings is to use GCWR, GVWR and the actual laden curb weight of the truck in question.



Rusty

 

[RMalone]

I don't know for sure DPK but I see one CTD pulling something for every 4 I see empty. Don't get me wrong guys I think DC should do everything possible to make the CTD the best pulling/working truck available, just don't forget about us guys that only want them. Our $$$ spend real nice also. I myself don't drive much past 72mph so the 4sp 48re(373) suits me fine. I get around 18mph for my kind of driving, I can still tow way more than any gasser , and with my mods the truck is pretty darn quick at least for a 7000lb truck.



Hell if DC really wants to rule the rooste they should offer "raped ape" version of the CTD to go with the srt10, I know they won't but it would be cool.

 

[Bertram65]

Only because the "trailer tow rating" is computed by taking the GCWR minus a fictitious curb weight of a base truck with no options or accessories and only a 150 lb driver. Since the automatic is lighter than the NV5600 (don't know about the aluminum-case G56), the curb weight of this fictitious base truck is less which provides a higher "trailer tow rating".



The only way to realistically calculate how heavy a trailer one can tow without exceeding manufacturer's ratings is to use GCWR, GVWR and the actual laden curb weight of the truck in question.



Rusty

That is true and I agree, but it does not change the facts.

The 48RE is a good transmission and can do the work the truck is designed for.

The non stop automatic bashing justs gets really old after a while, it's not the 47RE anymore why can't people get past that?

 

[RustyJC]

That is true and I agree, but it does not change the facts.

Well, the facts when I ordered my 2nd generation truck were that the maximum GCWR (and maximum trailer tow rating) was offered with a 3500 dually equipped with the Cummins HO, NV5600 and 4. 10 rear axle. The 47RE wasn't offered behind the Cummins HO. So, I guess it all depends... .



Rusty

 

[JasonCzerak]

No. I want to run this truck at 80. Thank you.

I'm interested in a 120mph top end. when that stang is still there in the rear view at 105, I wanna keep going JUST A LITTLE MORE

 

[JasonCzerak]

Lots of "Tow Snobs" around here eh? bottom line is there are many guys who don't need a Cummins, we want one. I sure as hell wont make any excuses or feel inferior because I dont tow at 8k over rating. In fact you tow snobs should be glad us daily driver types are buying the ctd, it makes it more profitable for DC and Cummins therefore they can justify r&d to make the truck better. If some guys want 3. 55 gear who are you guys to tell them to shut up and live with it!!

Damn skippy! I logged around, 1800 miles TOPS with a trailer in tow. and 1000 of the 1800 was in one trip on a spur of the moment weekend run to Denver and back. (from MSP! 50 hours with sleep, kinda, 7000 pounds impalla at 75mph on the way back, yes, I did touch 100mph with it for kicks. )



I bought a CTD for one reason. The 1500 is a toy. With the Hemi it's "OK, but not worth the money". The Hemi in the 2500 SUCKS. come one now? 10mpg?



CTD in a daily driven 2500 makes so much sence. I have 40,000 miles on my truck now. most of it is with truck back and forth to Michigan. Still about 450-500 miles a week on aveage.



Sure, a TDI jetta, or even the 1. 8t would be more cost effective. But I wanted a truck. And if I'm to buy a truck, it's going to be a REAL TRUCK. not some 1500, or dakota or F150 POS that couldn't get out of it's own way or tow a jet ski.



It was between the 2004. 5 CTD 6 speed 3. 73, or off lease 30,000 mile old 2001 or 2002 BMW M3. Either way, I still would be in as much trouble "traffic violation wise" (since I found out what an Edge Juice /attitude does to a CTD). I figured the CTD would last longer, and I'll get a new M3 or z06 when I had a few $$$ saved up, and trailer queen them to autocross and drag tracks.



So yeah, I got a CTD becuase it makes sence. and it makes sence to have 3. 73 gears since most of the time it's unloaded.

 

[DPKetchum]

It was on the NV5600 only due to the WEIGHT differance(gvwr)of the manaul trans compared to the auto trans. NV5600 is somewhat over 500lbs

 

[opjohnny]

I am just happy the mileage does not have to be on the window sticker. We would have some funny geared trucks if it applied toward the corporate fleet average mpg. You would have a 2. 54 gear and tow in 3rd on the highway!

 

[CJ Lagos]

Jason - You make great points. Although, I would argue your reasoning is not based on practicality or efficiency. It boiled down to you just wanted a bad *** heavy duty truck! I'm sure a lot of people will fit this category, including me. A lot of times people try to justify the cost of the $6000 engine option by calculating fuel milage savings... there are some things you just gotta go ahead and do without second guessing yourself. Big screen TVs, jet skis, fourwheelers, boats, etc. To justify these items, more value is placed on enjoyment, satisfaction, status, trends, image, form, etc. Will the 62" plasma screen really offer anything that a 32" can't? Probably not.



On the flip side, there are people and buisnesses who buy these trucks because their buisnesses and families depend on them. Hotshotters, farmers, service trucks, etc. They are buying the truck for a different set of reasons: durability, towing capacity, reliability, performance, price?



The reasons we like these trucks so much are the same reasons that make them work so well for the working class. I would hope that DaimlerChrysler will always error on the side of the truck being more dependable and powerful.



How terrible would it be if they offered a new transmission that was great for commuting around town but sucked for pulling a heavy load? It's unfortunate a higher gearset isn't available and hopefully the aftermarket will offer more options.

 

[EBottema]

Dodge has already ruined a good thing. You should buy out your 02 after the lease and keep it... . the 2006 body style is UGLY anyways, set aside the mechanical issues

 

[DPKetchum]

According to YOU they ruined it after 96. But I thought you said it was ruined in 03 no it must of been 04 or was it 05. Oh now its 06. I got it! Thanks for the info.

 

[EBottema]

DP- It has slowly gotten worse after 98... with the #53 blocks, bad injection pumps. . The 24v is still a great truck with some mods to the fuel system.



03-04 is a good truck minus the cheaper materials used, the engine is the highlight of a complicated design. . The cummins 600 with the g56 was dismay and now the 06 body style and dash broke the camels back. Things in this day never seem to get better, they get worse.



2 thanks go to federal emission standards and corperate cheapness.



Can't wait till 0708 for the new engine emission standards... Now talk about turd.

 

[JCleary]

DP- It has slowly gotten worse after 98... with the #53 blocks, bad injection pumps. . The 24v is still a great truck with some mods to the fuel system.



03-04 is a good truck minus the cheaper materials used, the engine is the highlight of a complicated design. . The cummins 600 with the g56 was dismay and now the 06 body style and dash broke the camels back. Things in this day never seem to get better, they get worse.



2 thanks go to federal emission standards and corperate cheapness.



Can't wait till 0708 for the new engine emission standards... Now talk about turd.

Oh, yeah, that's right! Those new 325/610's with catalytic converters are real dogs! I wish I had me an old 215 horse 12 valve instead. Unnn-hnnnn.



Being a weekend warrior myself, I now wish I had an auto with 4. 10's. I bought my dream truck, but I should have driven a 48RE before I took the plunge. Oh well. At least I don't have to throw $5k at the transmission.



I personally think the gearing on the G56 w/ the 3. 73's is juuuuust right. Perfect for my 35's. I don't think it's a bad decision on DC's part to offer just the one combo.



You mention the new emission standards. It won't be long before everything is an automatic. You won't have a choice.



We already went through that here in CA in the late eighties and early nineties with the new smog laws. You couldn't buy a manual trans Corvette until they figured fuel injection out.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

I can't believe you guys with a total lack of grasping the concept here, I for one tow a work trailer all day every day, freeway, around town etc. It weights in around 5500#'s not too heavy i guess I also pull a fairly large travel trailer, with 4 wheeler family and gear. my truck see sig, will pull any of the above trailers at the speedlimit over ANY hiway grade in utah, that includes parleys, price canyon etc. WITHOUT downshifting out of 6th gear!!!! you guys have 105ftlbs more torque from the factory. If I want to pull the grade and pass most anything on the road I just downshift to 5th and can pull the hill at about 72mph, I am all stock '02 ETH. will someone please tell me why I would ever want 3:73's or even 4:10's I am sure in 5th I could pull at the rated limit of the truck in 5th and still maintain the speed limit.



I also on occasion use my truck without the trailer, out in the west here most of the speed limits are 75mph, If you are not doing at least that you are a rock in a stream, I like to set the cruise at about 81 or 82 mph on those long hiway trips accross country, running the engine up to 2400 or more would drive me crazy, as well as suck fuel at an insane rate, So YES I want to drive 80mph,



4:10 crowd: what is 5th gear for???????

 

[EBottema]

Oh, yeah, that's right! Those new 325/610's with catalytic converters are real dogs! I wish I had me an old 215 horse 12 valve instead. Unnn-hnnnn.



Being a weekend warrior myself, I now wish I had an auto with 4. 10's. I bought my dream truck, but I should have driven a 48RE before I took the plunge. Oh well. At least I don't have to throw $5k at the transmission.



I personally think the gearing on the G56 w/ the 3. 73's is juuuuust right. Perfect for my 35's. I don't think it's a bad decision on DC's part to offer just the one combo.



You mention the new emission standards. It won't be long before everything is an automatic. You won't have a choice.



We already went through that here in CA in the late eighties and early nineties with the new smog laws. You couldn't buy a manual trans Corvette until they figured fuel injection out.

The new HPCR are ready to go from the factory with plenty of power. Don't get me wrong, the 03-04 trucks are fine, the cummins 600 is another story. There is almost no reason to do any mods other than intake/exhaust to a 3rd gen, they already have good factory power.



My first car was a 98 Camaro SS automatic. It was very fast but wanted something to haul all my junk. That is why I turned to the Dodge Cummins Diesel. I wanted a stick before i even drove one. I am very glad with my decision and love driving my truck. Your right about 2nd gen autos, you do have to throw a good amount of money at them. Well atleast i got my NV transmission



Offering one combo keeps costs for DC down. Plain and simple. The switch from the nv5600 was not a improvement it was a cost effective move to use a in-house product to increas profits. The Dual mass flywheels sucks and im sure in the end, the g56 will not be as durable as the nv5600 has been for the 2nd gens or even early 3rd gens.



Your right, I do remember the corvette issue and all that. Emissions are always controlled better with automatics since all systems can be incorperated in the computer with shift patterns and such.



But the funny thing you say is I don't have a choice. :-laf :-laf :-laf

It may seem like that living in california having to conform to BS but yes I do have a choice. My choice is keeping my soot pot for a long time... Cummins will have parts in the long term, nv and dana parts are easy to find. Just have to keep the dodge going and everything will be fine.



I love having choices... Should I shift at 2k or 2. 8k pouring black soot out?? :-laf

 

[NIsaacs]

(quote) 4:10 crowd: What is 5th gear for?????



Probably the same place the 6:29 1st gear is hide'n, dang 4 1/2 speed anyway!



Hey, lighten up guys, the guys want'en different rear axle gears were only wish'en out loud, thats all.





"NICK"

 

[lil red cummins]

well there is an obvious divide here between those that tow and those that don't. i am on the side with those that don't. i really would have preferred a 3. 55 in my 04. and yes i understand why the people pulling 10,000 lbs plus need a 4. 10.



as someone else said though, I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN US THE CHOICE.



i have a 1989 turbo caravan that you can't even put into 5th before 45 or else it will chug. admittedly it will never tow anything. this is ideal gearing for this vehicle.



on the other hand, i can comfortably get the truck into 6th at 40. for me that is just wrong. if i had my choice, 6th would "start" at around 50.



$3400 for that capability is not worth it.



tall tires are not an option either. i want this truck as low as possible.



i am not complaining as i love my truck, just stating this as part of a "wish list" should any DC suits be reading this.



jim

 

[Bertram65]

well there is an obvious divide here between those that tow and those that don't. i am on the side with those that don't. i really would have preferred a 3. 55 in my 04. and yes i understand why the people pulling 10,000 lbs plus need a 4. 10.



as someone else said though, I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE GIVEN US THE CHOICE.



i have a 1989 turbo caravan that you can't even put into 5th before 45 or else it will chug. admittedly it will never tow anything. this is ideal gearing for this vehicle.



on the other hand, i can comfortably get the truck into 6th at 40. for me that is just wrong. if i had my choice, 6th would "start" at around 50.



$3400 for that capability is not worth it.



tall tires are not an option either. i want this truck as low as possible.



i am not complaining as i love my truck, just stating this as part of a "wish list" should any DC suits be reading this.



jim

Hate to say it, and don't it personally but if you do not tow to haul heavy stuff you are in the minority of CTD owners, I would not say you should not own one, but don't expect them to make a version of a HD work vehicle for those that do not want to use it for that. It would be like asking for a tractor with highway gears.

 

[67guzzler]

I'm a pretty calm guy but there are a select few who choose to ignore the point. For some reason they just refuse (not that they can't, but they refuse) to acknowledge the issue. It's almost as if ego involved.



From 1995 thru 2001 I towed a 26' Shamrock Inboard Boat with a 12v 2nd gen and a 3. 73 rear. 215 hp and 450 ft/lbs of torque. 5 speed. With 100 gallons of fuel, 30 gallons of water and the trailer the total weight was over 8,000 lbs. 215/450 -- A real "dog" by comparison to this 325/610. That truck handled it fine. This notion that you have to have a final drive ratio of . 79 x 3. 73 (G56) or . 73 x 4. 10 (NV5600) or it's not a real truck is outrageous. And to make this argument is insulting the 325/610 engine!!!



This is the TOW-EGO RUN AMOCK thread.



You might lose 1000 lbs in the tow rating between the two ratios and with a 6 speed you can SHIFT ANYWAY!!! I mean this is the stupidest argument I've ever been involved with. For 3 out of 4 people, this is a no-brainer. For the other 1 out of 4, have the damn 4. 10. Enjoy! But I'd trade that last 1000 lbs for 2000 rpm's @ 70 mph and a useful 5th gear ANY DAY.



HELLO?



The most funny part about this is that this engine is a LOW RPM TORQUE MONSTER. The 4. 10 is ok for extreme towing but it's is NOT THE ANSWER for the majority of buyers -- even the ones that tow. The engine makes over 500 ft/lbs of torque right off idle!!! Why have such a low ratio? It's more necessary on engines w/o torque. The HEMI Power Wagon has the 4. 56? Why? That high-revving HEMI doesn't make much torque over all and certainly not much off idle.



CUMMINS: More gears is the answer but not the 4. 10 except for extreme cases.



All together now, "6 speed good. 4. 10 bad. 6 speed good. 4. 10 bad. "



Class dismissed.



The End.

 

[DPKetchum]

First there was not a 3. 73 gear from 1995 through 2002. Next is 8k is no weight to speak of. Yea a 3. 55 geared truck will pull 8k just fine,well kinda. Depends on where you pull. My neighbor traded off a 2002 with auto and 3. 55 gear cause pulling 8k through mountain regions was a pain in the rear. He'd fall down the hill and to maintain 70 UP the hill took flooring it and if there was a curve or he had to slow to 55 mph he could only maintain 55/60 on the inclines. I ran into the same deal on my previous two trucks and installed aftermarket 4. 10s. Pulled and maintain MUCH better. Neighbor traded his 2002 off with less then 30k on it. He hauls horses for a part time living.