towing with automatic transmission vs 6 spd

[woof]

Hey guys;
I must say goodbye to my '03 with NV5600 6 spd. Going to have to trade it in because it has a bad hole. broken ring or piston or ? Cant sell on the private market for moral reasons. been towing with this for 12 yrs and would go for another identical drive train but it seems very hard to find. I am not categorically opposed to automatics, I think I owned one once. Can you tell me which one to insist on? I doubt I tow more than 10K and certainly not daily. Is there one that hands down beats the others? Thanks all

 

[woof]

I should have mentioned I am looking for 2010-2014 model with low-ish miles... Thanks

 

[Hoefler]

The 68rfe or the Aisin will do just fine, the Aisin is the prefered unit if towing heavy. I have towed with both, not a single issue with either of them.

 

[jgillott]

All of the current transmissions are generally considered good at what they do. There is plenty of reading here on TDR on each model to give you a wealth of info on each.

I have a lot of experience with the G56 manual. You will read of issues with the dual mass flywheel. But all and all, not a bad trans outside of that issue. I have lots of miles towing on mine without issue.

 

[Jim W]

I have an early 6.7L, truck with the 68RFE auto bought new in Nov 2007. I have towed with this truck from the first year of ownership, towing three different 5ers. My heaviest unit that I have towed with is my current 2016 34RL Cedar Creek 5er. I have put on close to 105,000 miles on this truck with no issues with the transmission. I do change the filters and transmission fluid every 40,000 miles, I am also using a Mag-Hytec deep dish transmission pan which increase the oil capacity by 3qrts of fluid.

I have a transmission temperature probe in the pan and I routinely see 175 to 180F towing my trailer.

My truck set-up is a 2008, Dodge Mega Cab 6.7L, 4X4 with 3:73 differential gearing. When I am in the market for a new truck the only thing I would change is to a Crew Cab Long Bed truck 3500 SRW.

 

[Cummins12V98]

3500 SRW/DRW with AISIN.

 

[xcc_rider]

Same experience as Jim, 2007.5/6.7/68rfe bought in Jan 2008 and have towed with it since new. Have 92k miles on it now and have had zero issues with the trans. I'm not as good as Jim as I change the fluid and filters around 75k but I do have an extra deep 4qt pan.
Two things that are known on the transmission: it handles stock power well but doesn't do well with added power and anticipate the hills and use the ers to downshift early as downshifting under heavy load is hard on the transmission.

 

[woof]

Thank you guys, now how do I tell which transmission I am looking at? I see an '08 for sale with 40K miles for $33,000. is there a simple way to find out what is in it? Thanks again

 

[Jim W]

Thank you guys, now how do I tell which transmission I am looking at? I see an '08 for sale with 40K miles for $33,000. is there a simple way to find out what is in it? Thanks again

The Aisin transmission was first offered in the pickup trucks line in 2013.5MY. The 2008 has the 68RFE in it.

 

[CUMMINZ]

I put nearly 105,000 on my 07.5 with 68rfe with no issues. I put deep pan on it long ago and always paddle shifted it. I had Suncoast put a towing transmission in it a month or so ago and have now put 5,500 miles on it heavy towing out west. Triple clutch converter and build has made a great difference.