New truck

[MRinehart]

Whats everybodys thoughts between the aisin transmission and the regular transmission.Has anybody expierienced both as im in the process of ordering a new truck.Wewill be pulling a 5th wheel approx. 37 ft in length.We dont have a weight yet.Thanx Matt

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have the 68 RFE and have no problems with it and tow a combined weight of 28K. I will be getting the Aisin trans with the 385HP 850 tq in my next Dually.

 

[SnoKing]

If you are getting a new truck to tow the Aisin is the way to go. They should just make it standard on all 3500s. Dealer lots will not be full at the end of the year with non Aisin trucks. Leave the 68RFE for the coil spring GG 2500s. Snoking

 

[drsmart]

From the majority of posts I've read, the vast majority are very happy with the 68RFE. There's some thought that if it has a problem, there will be more expertise and parts available at dealerships since it's much more common than the Aisin but so far I haven't read of any failures. Having said all that, we're picking up our new 3500 tomorrow. I went with the Aisin, but I admit it's overkill. It weighs about 140 pounds more than the 68RFE, partly because of the power take off capability which I'll never be using. I'm sure I would have been happy with the Chrysler trans and almost regret paying the extra for the upgrade. By tomorrow night I should know more. Lots of RV'ers have been pulling much more than our 38' 14,000 fiver through all kinds of hills without any problems.

 

[SnoKing]

My recent transmission guy told me the 68RFE was very expensive to rebuild and/or beef up. Like twice the cost of doing a 47/48RE.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

I am at 11000 towing miles with my 68RFE at or above 27,000# combined weight..(in the mountains of the west) I like the way the trans handles the load,integrates with the brake etc. After 5 Dodge Cummins manual trans trucks I am very happy with the trans.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I think you should test drive both transmission's and see what feels the best to you.

I'm currently shopping for a 2014 3500 and I honestly couldn't tell much difference between the two. But then again, this will be my first auto transmission in roughly 20 years.

 

[RustyJC]

We've towed our previous 16K GVWR 36' 5th wheel as well as our current 19K GVWR 38' 5th wheel since September 2010 with the truck described in my signature below. The 68RFE has handled both just fine - transmission temps as shown on the EVIC run about 172 degF with the current 5th wheel on the Interstate at 65 MPH. Having said that, if I were to buy a new truck, I'd probably opt for the Aisin if I were ordering and couldn't find what I wanted on a dealer's lot, but that's just because my philosophy is having more reserve is a good thing. The only problem we've had with the 68RFE was a bad output speed sensor and solenoid that threw it into manual shift limp mode, but it was taken care of quickly under the powertrain warranty by the dealer. Based on my experience, either transmission would probably do what you need at the end of the day. So it's your money & your choice.

Rusty

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Go to rambodybuilder and you will find that only the Aisin equipped 3500s will be rated to tow the real heavy trailers. Just get it, too good a trans to go with too good an engine.

 

[Cummins12V98]

My recent transmission guy told me the 68RFE was very expensive to rebuild and/or beef up. Like twice the cost of doing a 47/48RE.

Who cares, dump it before 100K! I kept my last 3 trucks to and past 300K so I think I have that out of my system now!

 

[SnoKing]

Dump a 50-60K truck before 100K, you have a lot more money than me!!!! I am still driving the 2001.5 I bought 13 years ago. Of coarse if I would have dumped it at 100K that would have been just a couple years ago. Ha! Ha!

SNOKING

 

[Cummins12V98]

If ya don't wait too long ya still get something for them in trade.

I have saved so much money over the years keeping rigs to over 300K I can now spend those savings!

Sounds good anyway!

 

[dusturbd]

I went with the Aisin for the simple reason that I spent 29 years in the transmission industry and have worked on a lot of different units and although I have never been into 1 of these, the other Aisin's that I have worked on seemed to be better designed and held up better than most.