Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
Having gone from a 3rd Gen to a 4th Gen recently, I thought I would pass on a few observations after putting 900 miles on the new truck over the past month:
1. Exhaust braking seemed much stronger on the old truck versus the new one. Maybe that's because the old one was a manual and the new one is an auto which only uses the EB when the TC is locked. Seems much more effective in Tow/Haul mode versus regular mode.
2. Acceleration is much better with the new truck... probably because the 68RFE shifts much faster than I could. As for how it shifts, it's delightfully smooth and precise. I can understand why everyone's praising this auto trans. When towing, it's sometimes easy to forget the camper's even back there.
3. Drivability is better, especially around town. It breezes away from stoplights without much more than a light touch on the throttle. At freeway speeds, I'd be turning around 2300 going 75 with the 2007. 5 while I'm only around 1800 with this one. It feels like it's loafing down the road.
4. Fuel mileage around town is about the same between the two truck--13-14 no matter what I do.
5. The noise level is much lower inside the cab and when standing outside the truck. They did a heck of a job with NVH abatement in this truck between 3rd and 4th generation.
6. The interior is fancier and much more carlike compared to the no-nonsense interior my old truck had--and I had no complaints there on the old truck. Quality wise I'd rate the new one a notch above the old one but I kind of miss the no nonsense layout the old truck had. It goes without saying that the real crew cab is a ton more roomy than the quad cab was--a huge plus with a 13 year old son and 12 year old daughter.
7. Steering and tracking down the road seemed a bit more precise on the old truck. I think they changed the steering gear between the 3rd and 4th gens--takes more turns to move the wheels lock to lock and there seems to be a bit more power assist going on. The end result is pleasant, but the old truck felt more precise and required less steering wheel movement to adjust for some of the badly crowned roads around here.
8. The ride on the new truck is a quantum leap over the old one which felt like a trampoline on some of the rough roads around here. They really made some huge strides on the fluid filled cab mounts and suspension on the new trucks.
All that said, I'm very happy with the new truck so far--but I was happy with the old one too and would still be driving it if not for my back problems and upcoming back surgery.
So far so good--1200 miles on the odometer and not a single problem.
1. Exhaust braking seemed much stronger on the old truck versus the new one. Maybe that's because the old one was a manual and the new one is an auto which only uses the EB when the TC is locked. Seems much more effective in Tow/Haul mode versus regular mode.
2. Acceleration is much better with the new truck... probably because the 68RFE shifts much faster than I could. As for how it shifts, it's delightfully smooth and precise. I can understand why everyone's praising this auto trans. When towing, it's sometimes easy to forget the camper's even back there.
3. Drivability is better, especially around town. It breezes away from stoplights without much more than a light touch on the throttle. At freeway speeds, I'd be turning around 2300 going 75 with the 2007. 5 while I'm only around 1800 with this one. It feels like it's loafing down the road.
4. Fuel mileage around town is about the same between the two truck--13-14 no matter what I do.
5. The noise level is much lower inside the cab and when standing outside the truck. They did a heck of a job with NVH abatement in this truck between 3rd and 4th generation.
6. The interior is fancier and much more carlike compared to the no-nonsense interior my old truck had--and I had no complaints there on the old truck. Quality wise I'd rate the new one a notch above the old one but I kind of miss the no nonsense layout the old truck had. It goes without saying that the real crew cab is a ton more roomy than the quad cab was--a huge plus with a 13 year old son and 12 year old daughter.
7. Steering and tracking down the road seemed a bit more precise on the old truck. I think they changed the steering gear between the 3rd and 4th gens--takes more turns to move the wheels lock to lock and there seems to be a bit more power assist going on. The end result is pleasant, but the old truck felt more precise and required less steering wheel movement to adjust for some of the badly crowned roads around here.
8. The ride on the new truck is a quantum leap over the old one which felt like a trampoline on some of the rough roads around here. They really made some huge strides on the fluid filled cab mounts and suspension on the new trucks.
All that said, I'm very happy with the new truck so far--but I was happy with the old one too and would still be driving it if not for my back problems and upcoming back surgery.
So far so good--1200 miles on the odometer and not a single problem.
