Get rid of '05 for a new '13???

[UpstateNYoilburner]

Okay hoping ya'll could help me out. I have an '05 quad cab dually, 4x4, 6spd w/4:10's. I bought it new in '05 and it has been a fabulous truck. It only has 58k miles but I fear one more winter in the great northeast will show some of those ugly brown spots. It's not a daily driver and use it only to tow my 39' toyhauler. (the Mrs takes it to work when it snows) The trailer is about 14. 5k loaded with family gear and golf cart or four wheelers. I have loved the manual 6spd except when towing in traffic. The beach traffic in OC MD can go on forever. So I'm not really "up" on the new autos that are offered, but I don't see a ton of complaints on here like I did in the past. I had an '01 CTD auto and I hated it. So I'm wondering is the stock auto enough for what I will use it for? I don't do any engine mods. I drove a '13 Laramie dually with the Aisin trans but it has 3:43 gears? I don't think that will work for pulling hills with my trailer. The same dealer has another one in transit with the 68rfe with 4:10's.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I got a 13 to replace my 04. 5 for heavy hauling. The 04 is a manual 6 speed the 13 is a RFE automatic with 3:42 gears. So far (2800miles of towing) I am thrilled at how well the truck hauls my LQ horse trailer. Combined weight is 25,500 or more. I would not change a thing with the truck other than the color (black). In the 2800 miles of towing in the mountains of Wash,Montana and Idaho the fuel useage is almost as good as the well broke in and modded 04. 5 truck. I have not seen a downside to the 3:42s in my application.

 

[Bob V]

I tow a similar trailer and I traded in my '05 6speed for a used '11 dually automatic (3. 73 gears). I couldn't be happier. I have ALWAYS been a manual trans person and I did a lot of research on the 68RFE. I feel confident that if used reasonably the transmission will hold up fine. Now for '13 you can get a Asian, its even stronger. I did some mods to my truck so it does get a little better MPG (and a bit more power) than a stock. The '13s with the DEF will get comparable MPG to your '05. Get the remote start, and the 430N is better navigation than the 730N, at least it is for 2011. My wife's 2013 Chrysler 200 has the 730N and it doesn't compare to my older 430N!

As far as the gears go there are a LOT of opinions out there. I think the 3. 73 are a good compromise between the two. I do wish sometimes I had the 4. 10s, but EACH situation will be different sometimes 4th gear with 3. 42 will be better than 3. 73 or 4. 10 in 5th or 6th. If you are a stickler for advertised GCVWR you migh want to check what it is for eack gear ratio.

If you haven't seen, the 2014s will be out soon and have some more "goodies" on them (factory rear air bags)

 

[Cummins12V98]

Any of the gear ratios and auto trans will be fine. My 11 HO Dually 4X4 68RFE 3:42 tows 28K combined easily.

 

[KL7J]

Here is some data.

Dually Tire size 235/80R-17E Circumference 99. 91”
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php?tires=235-80r17
3:42 ratio = 2349 revolutions/mi @ 65 mph.
3:73 ratio = 2561 revolutions/mi @ 65 mph.
4. 10 ratio = 2821 revolutions/mi @ 65 mph.

If my math is close:
About 8. 67% difference between the dually 3:42 and dually 3:73 ratios.
About 9. 66% difference between the dually 3:73 and dually 4:10 ratios.
About 18. 25% difference between the dually 3:42 and dually 4:10 ratios.

Aisin gear ratios 1 = 3. 75 2 = 2. 0 3 = 1. 34 4 = 1 5 = . 77 6 = . 63
About 20% difference between 5th and 6th gear. % difference = . 77 - . 63/((. 77 + . 63)/2)
About 26% difference between 4th and 5th gear. 1. 0 - . 77/((1. 0 + . 77)/2)
About 29% difference between 3th and 4th gear.

Interesting it appears the truck with 3:42 using 5th will be near same as a 4:10 truck using 6th.

The ratios don't align near as well by dropping a gear in the other ranges.

Be interesting to drive the different ratios with a heavy tow and see hill performance versus flat land mileage differences.

 

[Wayne M.]

I think you'll have people fighting over that truck when it goes up for sale... IMHO, the government causing the equipment on the new truck ruins the party for me. So to answer the question, Keep the '05! It would be interesting to hear about a controller to help put that new transmission in an older truck though.

 

[UpstateNYoilburner]

Gonzo-thanks, actually the one I drove was black and I loved it. When I saw the Aisin and the 3:42's I asked the manager who the heck ordered this truck with those??? How does it pull on the hills? can you stay at the speed limit or does it loose a lot of speed?



Bob V- what gears were in your 04. 5?



KL7J-I knew I should have paid attention in math, that's some chart!! I wish I could hook to my trailer and try all of them, but I know that isn't a reallity. I would love the Aisin but they have none on the map as far as arrival soon with that trans.



Wayne M- I'm with you on the emmissions, I'm hoping I'll be safe for at least 5 years with the warranty. And yes the manager was all over my truck saying he wants it. I told him I want on the plus side of $25k and he said he could do a little better than that, I was like WHAT??? I'm used to hearing anything I trade in is junk and no one would want it. And where my wife works they have a program with Chrysler were you can buy at 1% under invoice. Pretty smokin deal.

 

[AClayton]

My new 13' has the 3. 42's and has not affected me towing my large triple-axle RV at all. I tow heavy once or twice a month and tow a 5k lb utility trailer the remainder of the time. A couple hundred miles a month unloaded is all I drive. On my RV, if I tow in 6th the truck will noticeably have trouble maintaining speed without a bunch of pedal pressure. It WILL hold 6th on the straight and level but any grade will have the transmission hunting for a downshift to 5th. So I just put the truck in manual 5th and let the computer do its thing and have no problems at all. Yes, the truck would take off much better with 4. 10's but with my ratio it doesn't really take off like its lugging at all. I believe the TM hampers the take off ability more than the 3. 42's do! Who the heck stomps the go pedal from a start anyway with a fully loaded RV hooked up??

I prefer the 3. 42's because I only tow heavy like that but once or twice a month and have more than enough power. The unloaded mileage is phenomenal because the truck loafs around in 6th gear turning under 1400 rpm... ... vs buzzing the 6. 7 with 4. 10's. I'd rather sacrifice a little start ability and use 5th gear with 3. 42's vs. running 4. 10's and turning almost 2,000 rpm unloaded... . just to say "I pull my trailer in 6th going up that hill".

I love the 13' with 3. 42's but if you tow heavy more often than not, 4. 10's should be your choice. I understand you only use your truck for towing so maybe the 4. 10's would be ideal... ..... but I think once you drive this new 13' around, you will want to drive it all the time! Great truck!!!... . so quiet and refined!

 

[Wertles]

I just traded the my third gen for a 13. See my comparison here.

https://www.turbodieselregister.com...760-Real-comparison-stock-2013-vs-modded-2006

 

[Bug Out]

I was a 4:10 guy all the way until I got this 2013 2500 with 3:42's truck. It has done nothing but surprise me as all my previous, including the 2012 Max tow had 4:10's. I haven't seen any major difference other then the engines does not spool up as fast as the others from a stop. The only thing I regret is not getting a 3500 with the Aisin transmission.

 

[UpstateNYoilburner]

Bug, are you not happy with the 68? That's what the one in trasit has with the 4:10's

 

[Bug Out]

My 2012 68 RFE shifted smoothly without any major gaps between gears. 2013 they apparently changed the shift pattern to help smooth the shifts between gears. It drives me crazy to hear a RPM flare of 200-400 between gears. . Almost sounds like its slipping but it's not. They may be working on a reflash to close the gap. Not sure just yet. The Aisin apparently does not do this and is said to be almost bullet proof... the 68 RFE is plenty strong.

 

[Bob V]

Bob V- what gears were in your 04. 5?



I had 4. 10s in my '05 (and my '97) but ran 35" tires, still running the stock size on the '11

 

[UpstateNYoilburner]

Ugh, now I'm more confused than before. So the one I drove was the Aisin with the 3:43's, Identical truck is in transit only with the 68 & 4:10's. The one thing I dislike about my current truck is it will not go more than 50% throttle it seems with the cruise on. Do the new ones hold 65-70mph with the cruise on? I would really like the Aisin but I don't want to make a $60k+ mistake. Wertles, just read your post. Nice write-up. I'm in Albany and have a similar trailer (Jayco Recon 39A). Did you pull over the highest part of the Thruway between Little Falls and Herkimer?

 

[RVTRKN]

What trans is in your 05, it can be a NV5600 or a G56? And as far as 3:42 vrs 3:73 & 4:10! I don't have a horse in this race so it's a mute point for me, but no way no how would I settle for less than 3:73, I don't want to rain on Anybodies parade, but there's to much stress on 3:42's, but that's my opinion.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

What trans is in your 05, it can be a NV5600 or a G56? And as far as 3:42 vrs 3:73 & 4:10! I don't have a horse in this race so it's a mute point for me, but no way no how would I settle for less than 3:73, I don't want to rain on Anybodies parade, but there's to much stress on 3:42's, but that's my opinion.

I am not clear how 3:42s make more stress on the drivetrain. The double overdrive auto trans is VERY happy towing in 5th gear in the mountains, on the flats to gentle rolling it tows in 6th at a very efficent engine rpm. Again I would much rather pull steep hills in direct gear (4th) than use 4:10s and pull hills in double overdrive. The AAM differential has NOT been a weak link.

 

[Wayne M.]

Gonzo, it depends on which point in the drivetrain we look at stress. The only way I can explain this would be to get on a multiple speed bicycle. In a lower gear its easy to pedal. The pedal would represent anything north of the ring gear. Now if you were strong enough, would you rather pedal a hill in 3rd gear or 7 th gear on a bicycle? Which is more stressful? 7th gear puts a lot of stress on everything and might even stretch the chain.
I don't have a horse in this race either, but I understand what RV is getting at. The loads on the driveshaft, trans, and especially the converter clutch are under more stress by virtue of mechanical advantage (less).

 

[AClayton]

Gonzo, it depends on which point in the drivetrain we look at stress. The only way I can explain this would be to get on a multiple speed bicycle. In a lower gear its easy to pedal. The pedal would represent anything north of the ring gear. Now if you were strong enough, would you rather pedal a hill in 3rd gear or 7 th gear on a bicycle? Which is more stressful? 7th gear puts a lot of stress on everything and might even stretch the chain.
I don't have a horse in this race either, but I understand what RV is getting at. The loads on the driveshaft, trans, and especially the converter clutch are under more stress by virtue of mechanical advantage (less).

I can also understand the point of view that you and RV are trying to make us see. But to use your analogy, just consider the 2013 6. 7 to be the Lance Armstrong on your bicycle and the 2013 14 bolt rear to be the rear-end of a semi truck! LMAO!!

Seriously though... ... . we hear it all the time from a "certain' member: If the Ram engineers designed it this way than it should pose no problem to the longevity of the AAM rear.

 

[Wayne M.]

Granted. But it may be the difference between a transmission that has to come down someday vs. one that goes cradle to grave.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

If you are planning on a new one, get a 2013, definitely, over any left over 2012. Your choice of SRW with 3. 42 vs. dually 4. 10 will depend on whether you do a good amount of solo driving, with or without the bed loaded, vs. pulling the heavy trailer. Either will do both jobs, but for predominantly heavy towing, the dually with 4. 10 would be better. Otherwise, the SRW with 3. 42 will do fine. It is factory rated to pull 17,000 lb, GCWR of 25,000.