I'm Thinking About Buying a 2008 2500?

[Turbo Kidd]

Well, I love my 2003 Ram, however, I have been kicking around the idea of getting a newer truck. I know what I need to know as far as the ngine goes, but how is the newer auto trans? Is is better that the stock Re48?



Thanks!

 

[Jim W]

I believe the 68RFE is by far a better design transmission then the 48RE. I have one and am very happy with mine. The 6 spd and tow/haul mode are excellent for towing any type of trailer. When this is incorporated with the onboard exhaust brake this will slow you down enough that you will use your wheel brakes far less often then with out the exhaust brake. I also like the feature that you can toggle through the gears, thus locking out the two overdrive gears when driving around town. This will keep the engine from lugging while driving in town at the 25 to 30 MPH speed limit. .

The only thing you need to remember is to follow the maintenance schedule and change both filters as required.

I have read on this forum and others that some long haul users have achieve over 200K trouble free miles on the 68RFE Auto already.

Jim

 

[DBithell]

I have an '08. My advise to you is to keep your emissions free '03. Take a fraction of the money you'd spend on the new truck and buy yourself a new upgraded transmission from one of the aftermarket manufacturers eg ATS, suncoast. transmission will be the least of your concerns/problems with the new ones.

 

[Simplysmn]

Go for the 08 it's hand's down a better trans then what you have now and the motor's bigger so you will enjoy the extra power at your finger tip's I have over 70,000 in a little over 2 1/2 yr's most in town driving and love every part of the newer truck's

 

[San Felipe Bob]

I have an 08

I am very happy with my 08 mega cab.

The 6 spd auto trans is way better for towing than the 4 spd ATS in my 97.

I wish I could have the 97 engine with the 08 trans... .

No 08 engine issues... I just like the simplicity of the 97.



The Factory 08 exhaust brake is awsome!



SFB

 

[LVJUNIOR]

I just drove my friends 09 up the mountain to get a load of hay cubes. I hate everything about that transmission. I was jealous of his 6 speed until I drove it and realized that even though it is a 6 speed it still turns 2100rpm at 75mph in overdrive which is the same as my 4 speed. And if you think your 4 speed has goofy shift patterns this new 6 speed is the jerkiest automatic I have ever driven the word smooth isn't even in this transmissions vocabulary.

Then when I gave the truck back to him and hopped in my 12 valve which weighs 1500# more he couldn't keep up with me on the way to lunch. Then I opened the hood to install some air bag compressor wiring and saw the engine (at least what part was visible through all of the new electronics) everyone talks about the dodge not needing urea injection but holy smokes there is more smog stuff bolted to that motor than you can shake a stick at. The beauty of the cummins was that it was a very simple design with fewer parts and easier to work on. Those days are over.

I will have to say it did ride very nice and was quiet inside the cab. The exhaust runs clean as a whistle with no smoke ever. It tows a 3 horse with living quarters easily. In my opinion unless you have a problem with your truck I say keep it

 

[MrLuckey]

I just drove my friends 09 up the mountain to get a load of hay cubes. I hate everything about that transmission. I was jealous of his 6 speed until I drove it and realized that even though it is a 6 speed it still turns 2100rpm at 75mph in overdrive which is the same as my 4 speed. And if you think your 4 speed has goofy shift patterns this new 6 speed is the jerkiest automatic I have ever driven the word smooth isn't even in this transmissions vocabulary.

Are you serious? Smooth as butter, fantastic shift patterns and just the opposite of everything else you said lol.

 

[HBarlow]

I just drove my friends 09 up the mountain to get a load of hay cubes. I hate everything about that transmission. I was jealous of his 6 speed until I drove it and realized that even though it is a 6 speed it still turns 2100rpm at 75mph in overdrive which is the same as my 4 speed. And if you think your 4 speed has goofy shift patterns this new 6 speed is the jerkiest automatic I have ever driven the word smooth isn't even in this transmissions vocabulary.

Then when I gave the truck back to him and hopped in my 12 valve which weighs 1500# more he couldn't keep up with me on the way to lunch. Then I opened the hood to install some air bag compressor wiring and saw the engine (at least what part was visible through all of the new electronics) everyone talks about the dodge not needing urea injection but holy smokes there is more smog stuff bolted to that motor than you can shake a stick at. The beauty of the cummins was that it was a very simple design with fewer parts and easier to work on. Those days are over.

I will have to say it did ride very nice and was quiet inside the cab. The exhaust runs clean as a whistle with no smoke ever. It tows a 3 horse with living quarters easily. In my opinion unless you have a problem with your truck I say keep it

You could have simply said you prefer your old truck.

I don't think any of us who own new trucks with the Cummins ISB6. 7 and six speed automatic transmissions would agree with your observations.

The point of a six speed automatic is not to allow the engine to idle at 75mph. It is to provide a low starting gear to get heavy loads rolling with ease not grunting and slipping a loose torque converter like in the old 47RE and lots of gears in between to provide the proper gear at any road speed without lugging or revving the engine. The "jerky" transmission you felt was probably the fantastic exhaust brake function operating with the tow haul mode to control descent without using the service brakes.

I am very pleased with my '08 C&C.

 

[LVJUNIOR]

If you talk to a cummins engineer they will tell you your best fuel economy is going to be at 1500-1600rpm (at least thats what the engineer I talked to told me) Idle specifications for my truck last time I checked where 750rpm running at 2100rpm in overdrive is not going to help you achieve optimum fuel economy.



The 47re is by far not my favorite transmission but I think dodge should have added a gear between 3 and 4th and added another gear above 4th for there 6 speed. Starting a load out no matter how large has never been a problem for my truck.



I am glad you like your truck and are happy with it. I personally would not buy one even though I really like the new bodystyle and the new full crew cab. it is a sharp looking truck