UP GRADE 48re or Get a 6 speed

[hasselbach]

I have a 48re in my 04. 5. Buying a big horse trailer soon that should weigh in the 15k range. I'm not to happy with the performance of the stock TQ in my auto, so here is my choice:

I can upgrade to an 05 with a 6er in it for $3500 and trade in my old truck

or

I can do the DTT or Suncoast TC, Valve body and other work for a bit less.



Any of you been in the same situation? An extra gear in this auto and a tighter converter would do wonders.

 

[PJereb]

If I had to make that same choice it would be a matter of how much the truck was driven empty.



If you drive around empty often, I would go for the beefed up automatic.



If you use it to tow most of the time, I would trade it in for the manual.



My manual is great 90% of the time, but the weakness of the pickup is that it is slow off the line, which can be a pain when you are running around empty and need to dart in and out of traffic, like at a 2 way intersection. Going down the freeway it is great, and pulling a load is cake.



In your collection of toys it looks like you have some duplication between the Cheby and your Dodge, trading in the Dodge for a manual should be a good move.

 

[swexlin]

In your collection of toys it looks like you have some duplication between the Cheby and your Dodge, trading in the Dodge for a manual should be a good move.

That was my thought. Looking at your collection of toys , it is obvious that money is not really an issue - so why not go for the latest and greatest - get the '05.

 

[Hohn]

Hasslebach:



If you can do the trade-in for only $3500, I think that's a steal of a deal. With the '05 software and the 6er, you should get some decent towing mileage. If it's a true apples-to-apples comparison, then I'd trade in for the '05. Heck, you can trade in for LESS than it would cost to convert your auto to a 6er, and get a new truck to boot.



I assure you, we'll welcome you to the 6-speed camp in spite of your previous postings, hehehe. .



If you want a fast auto truck, you already have the DMAX for that.



Justin

 

[KBennett]

I went through the same thing as you. I traded in the 03 SO auto for an 04 HO six-speed when I found someone that wanted to deal. I am more of a manual guy anyway(the 03 was the first auto I had bought in 10 years) and really like the 6 choices especially when towing.

My mileage is better around town and I think highway is a little less but that could be the increased HP

 

[mberry]

Having owned both a stock auto and now a manual, the manual wins hands down. My opinion only, but I really enjoy rowing through the gears and having the choice of shifting when I want, not when the transmission thinks it's appropriate.

 

[Sherman]

If you are going to tow a 15000# horse tr I would highly recommend the 6sd,I pull 23500# at gross and doubt that the stock auto would last long,I am towing with a stock 04 q-cab 6sd 4. 10 Jake 4x2.

 

[robertyoke]

I tow 21 to 22 k with my 48re truck in the hills around here and it does fine. it has tc and vb from ats and I am about 475hp 980tq on my tow setting and w/that power I am worried about the input shaft (locked shifts and all). the biggest improvement to the trans was the controller and the pac brake.

the other truck I have I use for the heavy towing with the 6 shooter and for in town driving unloaded it is too slow but it is fun to drive.

 

[NIsaacs]

I have said it before (but not on this site, i've been afraid to :{ ) now I will say it again. The Cummins has never liked autos, stock for stock, they will not put the power to the ground like the manual will. However there have been major impovements, like higher rpm's, and lockup converters. Autos for the most part do not like low rpm's.



In the medium duty market, the HP rating has always been higher in the auto application, over the manual. This is because with an auto it is hard to force the engine to run in the torque band, like you can with the manual. With all motor homes, buses, and fire trucks, the HP rating is higher than with a comparable sized truck with a manual.



I think I better go on vacation now!





"NICK"

 

[Jar Head]

"Having owned both a stock auto and now a manual, the manual wins hands down. My opinion only, but I really enjoy rowing through the gears and having the choice of shifting when I want, not when the transmission thinks it's appropriate. "



I've never agreed with this statement. There is nothing stopping the operator from manually shifting the automatic. I constantly manual shift my automatic transmission to keep the engine in the proper powerband, especially when towing. As I always say, "The only reason it's called an automatic is because when left on it's own it will shift itself. " The operator always knows whats best - not the computers.

 

[DPelletier]

Faced the same decision, the answer is in my sig. No regrets



Dave