Expanding fleet, 06 48RE or G5600?

[TX Gooseneck]

Trying to decide with transmission to go with. We are wanting to add a 3500 4x4 to our fleet and the transmissions have us in disagreement.



This will be a hefty load a lot of the time type of vehicle. Our 05 is our main tow vehicle right now with my 04. 5 playing back up role. Both of our current trucks have the NV5600 with good success.



Thoughts, suggestions, miles under similar conditions?

 

[JTryles]

IMHO... given the overall low gear ratio of the G56 standard trans... sounds like a good choice for lots of heavy hauling.

 

[BHolm]

My '03 Dually 4x4 has the 48re. It is a few hundred miles short of 100k and has never done anything but pull a gooseneck. I run regional hauls, ~300 mile round trips with 10-15k one way and the empty 8k trailer coming back. Never had any problems.



I bought the auto because at the time there were multiple drivers, some not as experienced as I would like and the manuals seem more prone to user abuse. Now with a more professional driving team I would probably go back to a manual. Still, the 48re has served me well in four different 3rd gen trucks.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

IMHO... given the overall low gear ratio of the G56 standard trans... sounds like a good choice for lots of heavy hauling.

My concern(s) lies more in strength than in gearing, and life span.



Bholm,

Is your truck/transmission stock?

 

[Diesel Power]

I would go with the 48re any day with a good converter and valve body that transmission will give you years of trouble free use!!thanks :-laf

 

[jelag]

I own several trucks. . all 5 or 6 speeds... . My 00 Dorf with the Power stroke has 350K miles on it's ZF... . my 01 3500 dually 4x4 now has 250K miles, my of 3500 4x4 now has 170K miles on the 6 speed...



I've not much problems..... change fluid every 75 K miles or so with full syn. lube...



Haul trailers that run up to 24K lbs. . I'm in Calagry Alberta tonight... . using the 04 and the trailer has at least 20K will know tomorrow at the scales... but I would never try this with an automatic... . We use the exhaust brakes 100% of the time and just did the brakes on the 04 for the first time with 150K miles on the clock... BTW I've never run the 04 through a full tank full of fuel empty.....



I'd vote on the manual tansmission every time... .

 

[MRosinski]

I would get the 6spd. With heavy loads you need total control over which gear your in. And plus even the smallest chip will tear up your trans w/heavy loads. My 05' with the 48re was a slight mistake, shoulda got the 6spd I didnt even waste money putting the g/n hitch in the 05', the 04' will out pull it any day.

 

[BHolm]

TX, My trucks have all been stock. The dually is bone stock except for Amsoil in the diffs and t-case. I have hauled over 20k several times with that truck. I had over 20k on when I hauled my toys from MN to southern CO through the mountains. That truck pulled Monarch pass at 40 mph (no small feat) with that load. It has never dissappointed me as far as pulling power, and that is with 3. 73 gears.

 

[TX Gooseneck]

Is anyone running the US Gear or Gear vendors to help out with the 1st gear on the auto or the 6th gear on the g5600?

 

[doldenburg]

TX, how many miles on the 04 now? problems? Dave foley,mn

 

[TX Gooseneck]

Dave,



I'll hit 216k by the end of the week For the most part, everything is holding up great, breakage has been part of the job.