Have you switched from 6-spd to 48RE?

[jlasich]

My brother and I test drove an '06 3500 QC with the 48RE. He owns an '03 2500 QC 6-speed and I have an '04. 5 3500 QC 6-speed. Neither of us really like automatics (torque convertors cost money and the lack of control compared to a 6-speed) , but we were both quite impressed with the 48RE in the '06. It was quick off the line and squealed the tires pretty easily. I've read on the websites that the 48RE seems to be holding up very, very well but I was just wondering if anyone here went from a 6-speed to the 48RE and is just as happy or happier with the change. Any major issues when towing? The '06 has a "Press the button once for Tow/Haul, twice for Overdrive Off" feature. Is this new? Thanks for your comments.

 

[RAMINSPEED]

I would switch from my 48RE to a 6 speed in a heart beat. I still wish I was rowing gears. :{

 

[FFutch]

Went from my 99 5 speed to the 48RE,no regrets. I've pulled over 14k up some steep grades (6-9%) with no problems (21k). My only regret is not getting 3. 73's for fuel economy. The OD/TH thing must be new cause my 04. 5 only has T/H... Doug

 

[GColeman]

I went from a 97 5 speed to a 48RE. So far, it has been flawless. IMHO, the 48RE is the best OEM automatic available from the big three. The debate between manual and auto will go on forever. Each has its advantage.



The tow mode function has changed each year 04-05-06. The 06 version gives you the most versatility.

 

[67guzzler]

No -- But I went from my 2004. 5 48RE to a 2005 G56 just because I wanted to shift my own. Would have rather had the NV5600 but I have no regrets. Would do it again. So for me, no -- I wouldn't go from a NV5600 / G56 to a 48RE...

 

[Fitter48093]

I went from a 2002 6 shooter to a 2003 48re, Now to a new '05 48re. The new auto's hard to beat.

 

[dpatt67]

Yes, and i couldn't be happier. No more sticking clutch pedal, no more trying to find the gear, and no more driveline slack. Granted, i'm saying this having not towed with the auto yet, but i think i'm gonna like it. I even got a second gear scratch the other day!

 

[sick_ram]

I went from a 6 spd 03 to a 05 auto and i hate it.

 

[robert4570]

My profile says it all , traded a mint 99 3500 , garage kept, 35 k on the ticker .

All because of the 47 re transmission's 2 failures.

Awesome truck , just didn't care for the slush box.



When i realized that the NV 5600s were on the way out , i ordered my 05'.

Love the 6 spd.

 

[RankRam]

My profile says it all , traded a mint 99 3500 , garage kept, 35 k on the ticker .

All because of the 47 re transmission's 2 failures.

Awesome truck , just didn't care for the slush box.



When i realized that the NV 5600s were on the way out , i ordered my 05'.

Love the 6 spd.

Yep same here!



Mine was a great running 03 48RE though.



I'm very happy with my 05 six shooter.

 

[catoiler]

Went from a 02 NV5600 to a 03 48re to a 05 NV5600 . Man I just can't make up my mind!

 

[BRayls]

My profile says it all , traded a mint 99 3500 , garage kept, 35 k on the ticker .

All because of the 47 re transmission's 2 failures.

Awesome truck , just didn't care for the slush box.



When i realized that the NV 5600s were on the way out , i ordered my 05'.

Love the 6 spd.

I can see one failure, but why two? after one I would have gone to the aftermarket and it should not have happened again.

 

[robert4570]

I can see one failure, but why two? after one I would have gone to the aftermarket and it should not have happened again.

Well , first failure at 17k very little towing , 2 second one at 26 k.

The trailer only weighs is 6500lbs ,all my towing is on flat terrain highway and only 100 miles each way once every 3 months or so. In other words I rarely towed. The truck was 100% stock .



I didn't go aftermarket due to my factory and extended warranties.

I know most aftermarket vendors have solved Chrysler's transmission problems but I always wanted a 6 spd and the last failure just did it . I had it repaired under warranty and off she went. :{



When i bought my 99 in Dec of 98 the 6spd was mentioned in the owner's manual but was not available and i had read about the 4500's 5 gear problems. So i picked the lesser of two evils and went the automatic , hind sight bad decision. Had it been a 5 spd i would have still had my 2 gen , but things happen for a reason and i couldn't be happier with my 05' .

No pain no gain I guess.



Some folks have a long happy life with theirs , not a problem 1 . Buddy of mine is one of the fortunate , tows all the time , doesn't know what the word maintenance means and he's had no problems . Life's not fair sometimes.



The Cummins is what obviously drew me to the Dodge and made me overlook the transmission problems all have encountered. Seems like the 48 re is a huge improvement from it s predecessor and only time will tell ,but I'll never switch back to an auto. Rowing in the swamps of South Fla and loving it.

 

[Snoxracer]

My old truck was a 6-speed that I liked alot, but then after the mods it needed a better clutch. So I went with a south bend clutch, which worked great when the load was on but empty it seemed like you would get gear slap, and was hard to shift smoothly. So my new truck has the 48re which I really like, the only part that I don't like is just when you take off from a dead stop. Unlike a manual, the truck takes a few more rpm to get moving. But all in all, I like the auto better, it makes the truck seem alot handier to drive. Plus once I have all the mods I want it will be alot better to dragrace the rice burnners!



Snoxracer

 

[Bill Stockard]

Yep, I traded off a very clean (the leather still smelled new) garage kept '00 6-speed with 42K miles for a '03 48RE and couldn't be happier... a pleasure to drive every time I get in it.



Bill

 

[geusterman]

Traded my bone-simple 02 ST 6spd for an 04. 5 fancy dancy with 48re. So many changes all at once. I miss the 6spd for the directness of the drive when idling over barriers etc. I miss the "real truck" thing that comes with an inline six and was part of a simple truck. But I got to tell you, at 55 years of age... I like the auto. No problems at all. The 6spd was a hassle when in traffic and working phone and latte'. Nice to eliminate one thing. But at times I miss it. George

 

[jjohnson1177]

Traded my '01 H. O. 6 speed for a '05 with 48RE. No regrets at all. I had a Southbend Con Fe in my '01 to hold the power and I'm sure a good converter and valve body will go in this one.

 

[CPG]

My choice of transmissions was determined by the terrible traffic congestion here in the S. F. bay area. A 48RE it is. Also a past Elk hunt left me with one tendon missing in my left knee. Over 50 they cannot attach same. This was the decideing factor.



Chuck

 

[Iwant1]

I had an 04. 5 6spd with 4. 10s. Now I have an 05 auto with 3. 73s I have 11k on my new truck and miss my 6spd. It doesn't want to downshift sometimes when it really should, even in tow/haul. This truck has no balls compared to the other one, but the 4. 10s were too much. My next truck will be a 6spd with 3. 73s.

 

[67guzzler]

I had an 04. 5 6spd with 4. 10s. Now I have an 05 auto with 3. 73s I have 11k on my new truck and miss my 6spd. It doesn't want to downshift sometimes when it really should, even in tow/haul. This truck has no balls compared to the other one, but the 4. 10s were too much. My next truck will be a 6spd with 3. 73s.

I hate to break it to you if things stay the way they are, the current G56 w/3. 73 rear is has the same final drive ratios as the prior NV5600 w/4. 10. So the things you didn't like about the NV5600 & 4. 10 exist with the G56 & 3. 73.