HO 48re trans owners, any regrets???

[RankRam]

I'm thinking about getting an 03 but can't decide between the six shooter or the new auto.

I would like to hear from you folks that went from the ETH/DEE to the HO 48re.

I have driven each and they both have their own merits.



I need all the info I can get to make an informed decision.

 

[Diesel Dan]

Rankram,

I am pondering this myself.



Come on boys cough it up





48re or 6 speed anyone want to reverse their decision if they could or why did you go the way you went??????????





Thanks



DD

 

[JLinder]

You couldn't give me 10 six speed trucks for one of mine. I had a five speed in my last truck (2001), and I felt the situations that a manual would be better than an auto were few and far between. That's why this time around I got an auto.



That being said, I tow a little and most of my miles are highway. If I towed all the time, I would consider a six speed.



As far as the 48RE goes, I really like it. Still very mushy compared to a DTT built 47RE, but so far so good.

 

[lawdog]

I do not have a 48RE, but I will this fall... I can't see spending 40K and having to shift it your self... .

 

[Parshal]

I know this isn't a direct answer to your questions but I have an SO five-speed and wish I'd gotten an HO six-speed for the transmission alone. The reasons I thought I would not want a six-speed are not there and third gear in the five-speed is too wide when towing.

 

[LRoy]

IMO -



If you do any real city driving or stop-and-go commuting, I'd get the auto. I have an '03 ETH/DEE - it shifts nicely and the clutch is easy - but the tight ratios and limited RPM range make for a whole lot of shifting from 0-50-0 (repeating for the next 30-60 minutes on a bad day).



I'm a stick-shift kind of guy, never bought an automatic before (except for my wife's vehicles) - but if I were buying my '03 over again I'd probably try the auto. If you don't deal with a lot of city traffic - get the stick. Either way, get the HO.



Leonard

 

[Dean Upson]

That 6 speed sure is a pleasure to shift . Even for an old goat like me . Tough to beat it towing.



Dean

 

[Ladders]

I only went to the 6 for one reason E-Brake approved. Ifn I knew the brake was gonna be approved on the auto, I would have gone with it. I thought it was "strong" and definitely would outlast the 47. I will ENJOY shifting agn (now mush box in a space shuttle )!



Even tho eye thought eye would be waiting till Jun/Jul to order, and did it now --- DA BUG HAS BIT!!!! Cant stop calling to find status !



Soon to be back as the "SOTSU!!"

\\BF//

 

[Pit Bull]

HD trucks have manual transmissions. Real men don't drive automatics :-laf The real way you should decide is based on what you want to drive. I would think if you drive in the Atlanta Georgia rush hour traffic every day you would want the automatic. If you like to control your truck and feel involved in the operation of the truck you will like driving the manual. The six speed is a proven transmission for heavy duty use. The new 48RE is a beefed up 47RE, its a good design, new execution. Buy what you want, you will be happy with what you get if the decision is your own.

 

[CPritchett]

I really like the 48re and the ho cummins. I don't have as much raw torque as I did with my 96 5 speed that I had the pump tweaked, but I don't leave a cloud of black smoke either and I only have 700 miles on the new one, so I hope it improves with some miles. It is really smooth on the road. Seems like about 45 when you are doing 70. In city driving with the 96 5speed my knee would get to hurting with a lot of shifting, so I went with the auto.

 

[DBVZ]

I drove the 6 speed and the 47re before I ordered, but the decision was relatively easy for me. The reasons were:



1. The 6 speed is a lot of shifting around town. It is a tight pattern, but not hard to hit shifts. The number of shifts was an inconvenience I did not feel I needed or wanted for my use of the truck.



2. The tow rating of the 48re is the same as the 6 speed. Not almost, it is the same. I ordered the 48re without driving it, based on the information on the TDR about how it was built. Related to that, information here indicated it was expected to be e-brake compatable and people have already put on Jake and Pac Brakes, and others I assume, with very good results. I think testing is still going on, but approval for an e-brake without warranty issues, may be only a few days or weeks away.



3. I am not hauling max loads, so 4 speed vs 6 speed will not be any problem for me. When pulling the 5k trailer I have, it has had no trouble maintaining 60 MPH up a 5-6% grade, and it feels like it will take a steeper grade without a downshift. I am passing a lot of passenger cars with no trailer at all going up that hill.



4. I am not buying the theory that for highway driving the 6 speed is better. In fact, in town the 6 speed is more trouble; and on the highway once you shift up to 6th, the auto and the stick drive just the same. Any difference is on hills, where the stick gives you more choices about what gear to be in for the climb. As I said, the auto in 3rd can really climb with the load I am pulling, so the additional options seem to be unnecessary for me.



5. Probably most important is that this is a retirement truck, and my wife and I will both be driving it while we are traveling. She can drive a stick fine. For both of us, the 6 speed with the clutch would be added to the trailer and the mirrors and the length of the combination; all complications that add to the distractions while driving. Eliminating the clutch and shfting just makes it a little simpler, and keeps more attention on the road instead of what we are doing in the cab. For that reason, it is probably a little safer.



All of that said, if you are going to pull max loads, mostly on highways with a lot of hills, the 6 speed is probably better for that. That just does not describe me.

 

[RankRam]

Thank's for the very informative replies.



I am leaning toward the 6 speed because of the proven reliability and better fuel mileage. There are other things to consider though. My current truck is running better than ever and looks better than the day I bought it and is paid for. The biggest factor in selling my current truck is the threats I've recieved from my seven year old son so I have taken away his bb gun and I now sleep with one eye open. Just a few things I need to consider!!



He just gives me this look and says you can't sell ol' red and turns and shakes his head. :{

 

[The Frankster]

It will be interesting to see how the AUTO holds up... . we'll see! The 6 spd is as big as a telephone pole, can you say STOUT???



Frankster

 

[Mad Bomber]

6sp

I have a 01 the reason I bought the 6speeder was that Dodge has in the past had not good luck with there autos. The price to beef the transmission in a sticker is a lot cheeper than a auto.



Thanx Eric

 

[MO'Donnell]

RankRam -



I'm basically in the same situation. Even though my daily commute will include city traffic, I am leaning to the 6-spd. Dodge has a BAD track record with the automatics behind the diesels, and an equally BAD track record with the initial model year of ANY of their new trannys, car or truck. I know the traffic will shorten the clutch life, but I'm guessing a clutch will be about 1/3 the cost of a "built" automatiic. At the price of these things, we plan on keeping it for 10 years.



Now, all I need is for the deal to go through on the sale of my '00 1500 gasser then I can start planning the order...

 

[Parshal]

Maybe this should be a new topic but does anyone know how difficult it is to swap a 5 speed for a 6 speed? Do things match up OK or are there lots of little things?

 

[VietDoc]

Love the Automatic -- Get the automatic

DBVZ said it very well.

I would add, we had a '99 2500 Quad, 4x4, 47RE, SB, 3. 54 LSD with 285/75R16 (slightly oversized tires).



We loved the auto in traffic and on the highway. We pulled a 5K travel trailer with no problems, but knew the trailer was there when we hit a grade (mostly engine, but transmission would downshift also).



Had more problems with the lift pump and subsequently the injector pump than the 47RE. The 47RE was great to us!!



I have driven several trucks and many pickups with sticks in 40 + years, but not a 1st, 2nd or 3rd generation Dodge stick.



Now for the HO and 48RE compared to our '99. Unbelieveable difference. Awesome power. None can compare!! Oo.



I pulled our new 5er at 7 plus tons (14,500 dry) to the dealer for some minor repairs on Monday. I was concerned about the truck and transmission. The truck is fantastic without a trailer, just what would it do with one??



It is more than awesome, much more than unbelievable, so much better than I would ever imagine Oo. I pulled out of our neighborhood and headed for the freeway. The first test was a downhill stretch to the freeway on-ramp. No problems stopping without an e-brake. It was raining lightly so I accelerated easily to and settled for 60 on the freeway. Six miles down the road I exited to drop the wife off to tend grandchildren. Again no problems with curves, stopping, acceleration and going up residential hills. I then headed back to the freeway. On a city street I pulled out when another guy from the other side of the street did too. I got on the truck and pulled away from him in a 40 MPH zone. Looked in my mirror and he wasn't even close!



Back on the freeway. I ran at 65 in OD. Came to "Point of the Mountain" Not a steep hill but it slows down 18 wheelers, small cars and most vehicles pulling even small trailers, but not big pick-ups and Stubburbons and Expitditors.



I purposely didn't get a running start as I wanted to see what this baby would do. As I started upgrade and the speedo lost 1 or 2 mph, I pushed the accelerator lightly. I got back the 1-2 mph easily. I left it in OD waiting for the downshift -- nothing. I depressed the "GO" pedal more and picked up more speed, now I am in the middle lane and passing cars and trucks. This freeway has a 65 limit, but the normal speed is 75+ and I am often passed when I am doing 77 to 80 without a trailer!! More "GO" pedal and getting close to a slow truck in the middle lane and only a couple cars in the fast lane have passed me, I look down and the speedo is 73!! It never downshifted and I never hit the floor with the "GO" pedal Oo. I got a break in the traffic and went into the fast lane and passed the slow truck and more cars, by then I was at the top and 76mph and on the downhill side. I went back to the middle lane and through Salt Lake at a "quick pace "



I am absolutely flabergasted at the power and strength of the engine and transmission. Slippage??? None!! At 2000 RPMs without a load and 4. 10 gears it is dead on at 65MPH. Pulling the 5er uphill 2000 rpms and 65 mph.



We have 1100 miles and I got 13. 5 to 14 mpg (trip computer) bucking a strong headwind at 65 to 75 with a monster sail behind me. I reset the MPG just before I got on the freeway the first time.



Again yesterday the wife said how impressed she is with this truck and flatly told the salesman "It is the best vehicle she has EVER driven. " And she has driven many, including sports cars with 5 speeds and rack & pinion steering, oh, did I mention motorcycle!! Had to get ride of it because she drove it so fast it would have killed her. She is addicted to speed!!



Well, I gotta go, sorry for the long post, but you and others should know this sweet thing is nearly bullet-proof. I'm just waiting for gauges and e-brake. If DC doesn't approve I will go with a non-jacobs variety.



Oh, just a thought about your son not wanting to get rid of ol'red. Once he rides in a "new'red" he will never want to go back. Oo. You should take him for a test drive and really punch it. I was doing 75 uphil and punched it, pushed the head back and at no time at all I was doing 80 and closing in on traffic. Oo. How many times can I say A-W-E-S-O-M-E T-R-U-C-KOo.



doc

 

[Dean Upson]

Hey Doc,



I am sure if you give it a chance you will learn to like your truck .



Dean

 

[RankRam]

Doc a little excited are ya????



I appreciate your post and I like the advice of taking the boy for a ride in a "new red" but I've taken him for five rides and it just doesn't work. He had a talk with momma and said there's no truck like ol' red. She could see the pain in his eyes and trying to make him feel better she suggested to him you could name the new truck. Well he gets this smirk on his face and says yeah I can name it piece of crap! Now hows that for a seven year old? The boy just won't let go. He's a stubborn one, don't know where he gets it from.



Doc by the way I'm familiar with the point of the mountain. I grew up in Utah so it was easy to picture your drive with the trailer. I drove a 48re HO here in Carson, it pulled very well up the grade to Tahoe and I know what you mean about the TC staying locked when pushed. I was very impressed but I'm still on the fence as to which one to get. The beauty of this decision is stick or auto you will have a great truck.

 

[dmurdock]

well, I've had one of everything dodge sells (except 47re). Had a 98. 5 with the 5 speed, 01 with a 6 speed, and now 03 with a 48re (all 3500 4x4's diesel). Except when towing, I liked the 5 speed more than the 6 speed... less shifting and we all know unloaded the truck would be fine with 3 on the tree . The 6 speed is definately 100% geared toward heavy towing. I've only put about 15 miles towing on the truck so far, but I'm putting about 600 or so this coming weekend (Nascar race). The little amount I did so far it works fine. Personally, I prefer a stick for towing, and an auto for everything else. Since I tow only about 10% of the time (travel trailer is only thing i tow), it was a no brainer... . and not having to shift in traffic is so wonderful I can't even describe it. As far as reliability goes, I have the 70k warranty (with deductible) so that wasn't even an issue... . although I have a feeling this will turn out to be a stout transmission.