New cab and chassis in the driveway

[RVTRKN]

Auto vs G56

I picked up my cab and chassis late this afternoon, haven't had time to do much more than just drive it around and feel it out some. One thing for sure, the Aisin transmission feels much different than the 47 or 48re. It is a lot smoother and the exhaust brake is something else. It will take some getting used to after driving the six speed stick for the past 345,000 miles, but I believe I be able to handle it. I haven't put the trailer behind it yet so I really can't say how it pulls. I might pull the trailer around empty some this weekend just to check that out but I can't put a load on it until I get it leased on next Tues. (good old rules and regs) I'll continue to drive my old one until I get that done.



A couple of things I noticed, there is no horn alarm when you back up with the door open, at least it didn't do it the one time I tried it. There is a sway bar on the rear axle, there hasn't been one on the 3rd gen trucks until now. It's possible that both of these things are going to be on the cab and chassis only. It doesn't turn as sharply as my 03 does, could be the different wheel base, my cab and chassis has the 167" wheel base or it could be the solid front axle just won't do it. The ride is as good if not better than my 03, again probably due to the longer wheel base. I'll miss the pockets in my sun visor, they aren't on this truck, of course the radio controls are different, I'll get used to them, one other thing, the lights seem to be much better than on my 03. I guess that's about all I can say at this point, I haven't driven it but about 15 miles but that will change pretty quick.

I'm going to order one after Thanksgiving and I would like to know what you think about the auto vs standard? You state that you have driven 345000 miles with a standard trans and went with an auto this time, what is your opinion on the auto and why did you go with an auto? I believe the man trans is much better behind the Cummins due to high torque, but need to have hands free for my work truck and am thinking of going with an auto this time.

 

[EB]

I've had the truck for 5 days now and have a little over 1100 miles on it, most of it towing. As far as what I think of the Aisin transmission, I believe it is going to make a lot of people go from a standard shift to this transmission. It is completely different than the 48re, a lot smoother on the shifts and with the extra gears you don't have the abrupt shifts that the 48re has. It will hold 6th gear with around 12,000 lbs behind it in some small hills with no problem. I didn't even run it in the "tow-haul" mode. It would never hunt gears. Right now, I'm very impressed. No matter if you get a stick shift or the Aisin, get the e-brake. That thing is worth every cent they charge for it, it works great.



The first tank of fuel towing was 10. 6 mpg, hand figured, the overhead had it at 11. 6. Not great but for an engine with less than 1000 miles on it, not bad. When it gets broken in and a switch to Amsoil, it should come up some. My 03 averaged 11. 3 tank after tank. I believe it should do that good if not better.



I'll be back with more later.

 

[Spooled-up]

I'm going to order one after Thanksgiving and I would like to know what you think about the auto vs standard? I believe the man trans is much better behind the Cummins due to high torque, but need to have hands free for my work truck and am thinking of going with an auto this time.

Isn't the standard version going to be de-rated to a lower HP rating compared to the auto? I thought I read that somewhere.

 

[RVTRKN]

Isn't the standard version going to be de-rated to a lower HP rating compared to the auto? I thought I read that somewhere.

Correct, but for the 07. 5 model's when all trucks go to the 6. 7 which will then be 350HP and with the G56 it will be 325HP. The truck I will order will be the current HP of 305 with either setup. My reasons are due to factory chip enhancements that will raise the HP only and not the parts, I like the Mans trans setup which will only be 20HP more that I lose, if I wait for the latter copy, but the torque it has will pull anything I buy regardless. Don't forget the more power the more wear and the faster it will wear. I have not ordered it yet so I can still change my mind as I find out more about the Aisin trans, I want to test drive one first (Aisin trans) before I order it which are rare to find out here.

 

[dzltrqcrzy]

EB,



Thx for your posts !

Quick question about the transmission. I guess the OD swtich is for 6th, but how about 4th and 3rd, can you manualy select them ?

How's the TC, tight or loose ?

 

[EB]

EB,



Thx for your posts !

Quick question about the transmission. I guess the OD swtich is for 6th, but how about 4th and 3rd, can you manualy select them ?

How's the TC, tight or loose ?

The transmission has two selections on the end of the shift lever. First push of the button will put it into the "tow-haul" mode, which will change the shift pattern up and just allow the transmission to go up to 5th gear. The second push will put it into "overdrive off" mode, which will allow it into 4th gear tops. The gear selections are D, 1, 2, and 3. Fifth and sixth gears are overdrive gears. The TC seems fairly tight to me, you step on the accelerator and it goes without much noise and racing of the engine, and this is with a trailer.



I put the truck to work last Tues. and in a week have put over 3900 miles on it. Everything seems to be working good to me.

 

[Coalsmoke]

wow EB, you're really pounding out some miles, which is really good for us who are watching how this truck does over the long haul (bad pun )

 

[dzltrqcrzy]

Thx EB. Glad to hear they're finaly using a tighter TC. I guess they can do that with the extra gears now.

Hopefully the 68RE will have the same gear selections and TH/OD modes.

Drive safe man !

 

[RVTRKN]

The transmission has two selections on the end of the shift lever. First push of the button will put it into the "tow-haul" mode, which will change the shift pattern up and just allow the transmission to go up to 5th gear. The second push will put it into "overdrive off" mode, which will allow it into 4th gear tops. The gear selections are D, 1, 2, and 3. Fifth and sixth gears are overdrive gears. The TC seems fairly tight to me, you step on the accelerator and it goes without much noise and racing of the engine, and this is with a trailer.



I put the truck to work last Tues. and in a week have put over 3900 miles on it. Everything seems to be working good to me.

I finally got to test drive the Aision trans and did not like it. The tow haul and OD are not set up correct in my opinion, due to OD off and you only have 1-4 gears and with tow haul engaged it only has 1-5 gears. The allison has it right with tow haul changing only shift points as if it were a manual both upshifting and downshifting and with all gears engaging and the OD only shuting off 6th. However I dread getting the G56 but I can live with it because I get to chose the gear I want when I want it.

 

[EB]

I finally got to test drive the Aision trans and did not like it. The tow haul and OD are not set up correct in my opinion, due to OD off and you only have 1-4 gears and with tow haul engaged it only has 1-5 gears. The allison has it right with tow haul changing only shift points as if it were a manual both upshifting and downshifting and with all gears engaging and the OD only shuting off 6th. However I dread getting the G56 but I can live with it because I get to chose the gear I want when I want it.

I'll agree with you that the tow/haul and OD off are not set up right. I don't like having to go from tow/haul at say 65 down through OD off to put it back into drive, 6th gear. I think that the OD off button should have been placed somewhere else so if you wanted to go from tow/haul, when going through some hills, back up to drive, 6th gear, you wouldn't be dropping down another gear, really jumping the rpm up, to do it. I'm not up on how the Allison works, so I really can't make a comparison of the two. The transmission pulls well for what I do, so other than the above comments, I'm happy with it.

 

[RVTRKN]

I'll agree with you that the tow/haul and OD off are not set up right. I don't like having to go from tow/haul at say 65 down through OD off to put it back into drive, 6th gear. I think that the OD off button should have been placed somewhere else so if you wanted to go from tow/haul, when going through some hills, back up to drive, 6th gear, you wouldn't be dropping down another gear, really jumping the rpm up, to do it. I'm not up on how the Allison works, so I really can't make a comparison of the two. The transmission pulls well for what I do, so other than the above comments, I'm happy with it.

The service truck that my old company supplied was an 05 GMC D/A with the 5 speed and was great in the tow haul mode and you could still turn off the OD and still be in the tow haul mode but that was all I liked about it. It has an aggressive torque management setup on it which effected the passing ability and speed when cruising at 65 MPH and that is what I was asking about earlier. I do love my NV5600 and hope that the G56 can perform the same. Do you still like the auto now that you have lots of miles on it, that is per your old man trans.

 

[Coalsmoke]

I'll agree with you that the tow/haul and OD off are not set up right. I don't like having to go from tow/haul at say 65 down through OD off to put it back into drive, 6th gear. I think that the OD off button should have been placed somewhere else so if you wanted to go from tow/haul, when going through some hills, back up to drive, 6th gear, you wouldn't be dropping down another gear, really jumping the rpm up, to do it. I'm not up on how the Allison works, so I really can't make a comparison of the two. The transmission pulls well for what I do, so other than the above comments, I'm happy with it.

EB, can you separate the switches and just add a secondary switch on the dash for the tow/haul mode and have the original column switch for the OD on/off?

 

[EB]

EB, can you separate the switches and just add a secondary switch on the dash for the tow/haul mode and have the original column switch for the OD on/off?

I don't have any idea. The way the electronics are on these things now it isn't something I'd want to try to do. Most of the time if you press the button on the end of the shift lever quickly it will shift without going back into 4th. I pulled a max load (for us 15k is all we are supposed to put on the trailer) about 200 miles and the transmission works fine. (fuel mileage dropped down to the low 9's) Ran 67 mph at a little over 1900 rpm and in the hills in the tow/haul mode 67 mph was about 2300 rpm. No problems and the transmission temp (with a infrared heat gun) was never over 135 degrees when I checked it.



To RVTRKN to answer your question if I still like it as compaired to the nv 5600 I'd have to say yes. There are sometimes I would like to be in a different gear but for the ease of driving I believe it will be a good fit for what I do.

 

[cksh8me]

Does the 07 have a plastic inner cooler?



Thanks

 

[EB]

Does the 07 have a plastic inner cooler?



Thanks

It's metal on the hot side, and plastic on the cool side.