Some truck advice needed

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

2 days ago I was more than satisfied with my 2006 SRW Mega cab 6 speed. With only 73,000 miles on it, it's just getting broke in. But, I have gotten bit by the new truck bug. There are some pretty good deals on the leftover 2012's and I am thinking of taking the plunge. Here is where you all come in. i am sure this subject has been hashed around here before. I did a few searches, but did not find exactly what I was looking for. So here it is. I have a 31ft. gooseneck. Loaded, my GCWR is about 25,000 lbs. I only tow 10% to 15% of my total miles driven. This equates to maybe 1,500 miles a year, mostly on Interstate. The other 90% or so miles are all highway running to the job site. I have a local dealer with one 2012 DRW 68RFE 3. 73 max tow on the lot in a Laramie. I never considered 4. 10's till I read this post:

I know you were looking for 3. 73 gears, but I think you'll be glad you got the 4. 10s. With the 68RFE double overdrive transmission, highway RPMs are loafing compared to the old 47RE or 48 RE or either of the 6-speed manuals - 1612 RPM @ 60 MPH versus 2000 RPM @ 60 MPH with my old 2002 3500 with Cummins HO/NV5600/4. 10 axle ratio, and they will make towing a breeze. In effect, the 68RFE gives us that "7th gear" that those of us who had the 4. 10s before the 68RFE always wished we could reach for.

Never owned an Auto Trans. Would I loose much mpg. with the 4. 10's, considering most of my travels are empty and on Interstate. Are the 3. 73's with a max tow package fine for this situation. Can someone explain the "Double Overdrive" concept to me in the above paragraph? Also, I like my SRW, but not opposed, and looking at a dually. Would a 2014 be the way to go. I would be willing to wait.
Any other suggestions are welcome!
Thanks, Jared

 

[HBarlow]

The new six speed automatic transmissions provide two overdrive ratios. Fifth and sixth gear ranges are overdriven (ratios of <1:1) with sixth having a ratio of about . 6:1 which is a significantly taller overdrive than your '06 w/G-56. As the Rusty quote above indicated, the engine is loafing in sixth (or fifth) gears with 4. 10 gears. With 3. 73 gears the engine is lugging at a road speed of under about 70 mph. Fuel mileage will not suffer with the 4. 10 ratio. The 4. 10 ratio is preferable to any other choice with a six speed automatic for a number of reasons.

 

[rscurtis]

IMHO, I would keep what you have or buy a 2013. If you have the means, keep the '06 too, and see which one you like best.

 

[RustyJC]

I believe you'll be stuck with 3. 42 gears on a 2013/2014 SRW truck unless the specs have changed. That's NOT the preferred setup for towing by any means.

Rusty

 

[Don]

Be ready to spend some more money on fuel with a new truck. They are a pleasure to drive, but cost more to operate.
Don

 

[JHumphries]

With your light load your gas milage is going to be crap with all of the regen cycles.
I have a 20 mile commute about half of it being highway. I do have two security gates that have traffic, so that didn't help either. When I had a 2010 with the G56 I averaged 13 mpg. Unless you have a significantly longer highway commute, you will be in almost constant regen everytime the engine gets up to temperature.
The urea injection is supposed to really help. I'm waiting to see what the results are. As the 07. 5's had there will probably be some growing pains and software upgrades. I realize the C&C's have had urea for a couple of years, but I doubt too many of those suffer from light load use!

Forgot one thing: With short drives and frequent regen cycles, the calculated fuel dilution will cause early "change oil" messages from the computer. I did 4 oil changes in 10,000 miles, , because the computer said so. Luckily for me, the dealer covered those with an oil change plan.

 

[EDankievitch]

I agree with all said above stick with your 06 or wait of a 2013 with the DEF system. My 12 burns on average 20-25% more fuel than my 05 did to do the same job. Awesome truck otherwise, a real pleasure to drive.

 

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

So, looking at the post above this, a '12 will be a better truck in most aspects than my '06. I guess one must be prepared to feed it another 20+% in fuel $$. I am looking at the 2013 Ram Heavy Duty weight charts and I assume no one here has much experience with the SRW having the 3. 42 ETK6-SPD AUTO 68RFE - DG7 or the ETK6-SPD AUTO HD - DF2 being that the 2500 Ram is the only one hitting the streets. I would like to assume that the engineers that have matched this 3. 42 rear with these 2 Auto Trans. know what they are doing. The DRW will be properly equipped in the 3. 73 and the 4. 10 according to the chart. I could be patient for the '13 or '14. My next purchase I will probably keep 10 years.

To make sure I understand properly, the '12 would be a joy to own and use, just be prepared to use more fuel for the same amount of driving I currently do? A $59,000 truck marked down to $48,700 still sounds good even if it costs me another $1,000 in fuel a year to operate. If one is keeping the truck for the long haul, maybe patients is the BEST deal!!

Thanks, Jared

 

[wyosteve]

Fear This, you're correct-- a 2012 is a step up from the 06, albeit at the cost of extra fuel. I was in your position last fall. Had an 04. 5 and was debating a '12 or wait for '13. I went with the '12 and have no regrets. The truck stickered for $60,150 and I got it for $47,900. I don't expect the '13 or '14's to offer that kind of reduction soon. With what I saved from sticker, it will take a long time even with claimed 10% better mileage and longer oil changes to recoup that money if you ever do. Fwiw, oil changes for me have not been an issue. On my 04. 5 I changed it every 5k and the same on this new truck.

 

[cerberusiam]

The 3. 42 ratio is going to limit the efficacy of towing, thats a given. Maybe better mpg empty or lightly loaded but not at +20k GCVW. If you EVER get a larger trailer or tow more often it will be a huge regret. The autos are decent if you leverage them correctly but 3. 42 gear ratio is not good leverage.

 

[HBarlow]

So, looking at the post above this, a '12 will be a better truck in most aspects than my '06. I guess one must be prepared to feed it another 20+% in fuel $$. I am looking at the 2013 Ram Heavy Duty weight charts and I assume no one here has much experience with the SRW having the 3. 42 ETK6-SPD AUTO 68RFE - DG7 or the ETK6-SPD AUTO HD - DF2 being that the 2500 Ram is the only one hitting the streets. I would like to assume that the engineers that have matched this 3. 42 rear with these 2 Auto Trans. know what they are doing. The DRW will be properly equipped in the 3. 73 and the 4. 10 according to the chart. I could be patient for the '13 or '14. My next purchase I will probably keep 10 years.

To make sure I understand properly, the '12 would be a joy to own and use, just be prepared to use more fuel for the same amount of driving I currently do? A $59,000 truck marked down to $48,700 still sounds good even if it costs me another $1,000 in fuel a year to operate. If one is keeping the truck for the long haul, maybe patients is the BEST deal!!

Thanks, Jared

Jared,

Ram engineers DO know what they're doing but a large percentage of TDR members and other new buyers ignore the weight specs and buy a Ram 2500 with highway cruise gear sets like 3. 42:1 then hook up a 15,000 lb. or heavier fifthwheel trailer. A heavy fifthwheel trailer will be too heavy on the rear axle and will exceed Ram's maximum gross combined weight rating by several thousand pounds.

If you read and heed the towing specs published by Ram and operate within the limits they set you may find a Ram 2500 w/3. 42 gears acceptable. Most of us would not for anything other than transportation and light trailer towing.

A new truck that sells for $48,700 is still a very expensive truck regardless whether Ram prints a MSRP sticker with a suggested retail price of $59k, $89k, or $109k. A high MSRP and a reduced selling price is a marketing trick to persuade buyers they're getting a bargain.

 

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

Maybe someone can answer this. Will the CREW CAB LONG BOX 4X4 LARAMIE DRW6. 7L with either the 6-SPD AUTO 68RFE - DG7 with 3. 73 or with the 4. 10 work as the current Automatics that are basically a double overdrive? Also, same question with a 6-SPD AUTO HD - DF2 3. 73 or 4. 10. I am also wondering if the Aisin Auto. is the hold up with the 3500 series. Local Dealer told me Ram took the Aisin OFF their build option. I am leaning to a '14 but am not familiar with the Aisin.

Jared

 

[cerberusiam]

The 68RFE is the same in all years. Might have a few small changes to ratios or internal pieces but it is the same transmission and should work the same way. If the AISIN s off the build sheets then it looks like the 850 TQ package is also as I believe that was coupled with the AISIN.

 

[HBarlow]

Your salesman is wrong. Ram has not taken the Aisin off their equipment list. It is a tough transmission.

Jared, you should do a little reading here and develop a base of knowledge before making costly decisions. The Aisin has been the automatic transmission offered in all cab and chassis trucks, 3500, 4500, and 5500 since the c&c trucks were introduced again in '07.

 

[NIsaacs]

The '13 build site is up and running for the HD pickups, no Cab/Chassis yet. I did a quick simple build with the 3500 dually, crew cab long bed, Cummins and Aisin. There was no problem in selecting the Aisin, however it did limit the axle ratios to 3. 42 or 4. 10, the 3. 73 made me go back to a gasser.

Both autos are double overdrive units so I would choose the 4. 10 gears. The G-56 manual transmission (single overdrive) would work fine with the 3. 42, with the 3. 73 a better choice, it can't be had with the 4. 10's.

PS: I just tried to build a G-56 dually with 3. 73's, no luck, 3. 42 only.

PPS: It did let me build a 3500 SRW with Aisin and 4. 10 so now I am confused too!!!

Nick

 

[NIsaacs]

Here are the gear ratios for the 2 autos.



68RFE AS69RC



3. 23 3. 75

1. 84 2. 00

1. 41 1. 34

1. 00 1. 00

0. 82 0. 77

0. 63 0. 63

4. 44 3. 54



I am not sure why reverse is so high in the Aisin.



Nick

 

[cerberusiam]

Don't rely on the web site to tell you if a combo is available, it is notorious for not being exactly correct.

Dealer should have a better idea what is available to order as they have a better view into the build process, if they are competent. The problem is there is usually 1 or 2 people that know how to really use the order process and the rest dabble. It is not unusual that rumors start becuase one person cannot order correctly or get the build request right. That problem will run like wild fire thru the salesmen ranks regardless of accuracy.

It does not matter how good the transmisison is and whether it is available in other builds, if for some reason there is a delay in getting the controllers or any other part that is dependent on the AISIN being installed in a specific build it won't happen. All the order processes may list it, it will accept the order, but will kick back for not apparent reason until somebody researches it.

 

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

After the helpful thoughts posted here, I have eliminated purchasing a 2012. My post above may have been a little misleading. Yesterday was the first time my dealer ever priced out a 2013 for me. At least yesterday, on his build site, any option involving the Aisin was "Grayed out" and was not capable of being selected. I was only speculating that the Aisin, for any unknown reason, may have pushed build dates back. Only a thought on my end! Anyway, I am aware that the Aisin has been in the CC model since '07, but question the specific matching of a 3. 42 ratio with it in a 3500 series. By the way, dealer quote for a '13 Laramie, was an MSRP of about $60,000 even (of course without the Aisin). His price to me was $54,800 (-) any incentives from RAM at the time of ordering.

Let me ask the deciding questions I need help with. 6-SPD AUTO 68RFE - DG7 with 3. 73 or 4. 10 Vs. 6-SPD AUTO HD - DF2 3. 73 or 4. 10. I do not go above a GCWR of 25K. Is the Aisin worth the extra $2,400 or so being that I am going down the Highway 85% of the time empty? Your thought from this question would be appreciated.

Does the extra HP and Torque of the '13 make the 3. 73 ratio a suitable choice in my case for either transmission above. Seems like the posts really lean towards the 4. 10's because of the "double overdrive". Mpg is important to me, being I average 80 miles one way to the job site.

Thanks for the input and patience.

 

[Fear This: Cummins!!]

After the helpful thoughts posted here, I have eliminated purchasing a 2012. My post above may have been a little misleading. Yesterday was the first time my dealer ever priced out a 2013 for me. At least yesterday, on his build site, any option involving the Aisin was "Grayed out" and was not capable of being selected. I was only speculating that the Aisin, for any unknown reason, may have pushed build dates back. Only a thought on my end! Anyway, I am aware that the Aisin has been in the CC model since '07, but question the specific matching of a 3. 42 ratio with it in a 3500 series. By the way, dealer quote for a '13 Laramie, was an MSRP of about $60,000 even (of course without the Aisin). His price to me was $54,800 (-) any incentives from RAM at the time of ordering.

Let me ask the deciding questions I need help with. 6-SPD AUTO 68RFE - DG7 with 3. 73 or 4. 10 Vs. 6-SPD AUTO HD - DF2 3. 73 or 4. 10. I do not go above a GCWR of 25K. Is the Aisin worth the extra $2,400 or so being that I am going down the Highway 85% of the time empty? Your thought from this question would be appreciated.

Does the extra HP and Torque of the '13 make the 3. 73 ratio a suitable choice in my case for either transmission above. Seems like the posts really lean towards the 4. 10's because of the "double overdrive". Mpg is important to me, being I average 80 miles one way to the job site.

Thanks for the input and patience.

 

[cerberusiam]

The 3. 73 ratio is about the best compromise between mileage and towing efficacy there is. If you do not plan to tow a lot and tow heavy the 3. 73's will be a benefit in the long run. You can still tow heavy but it may not be as efficient and\or you may not be able to use 6th gear as often.