Which Ram To Buy?

[jtsandbird]

need help choosing an 05 for towing a 11k fifth wheel ... auto or manual? laramie or slt? i have an 01 auto and have had a lot of trouble with transmission dont want to go there again, are the new auto transmission's better? i would rather not have to shift but i will if it will be less trouble.

 

[Kirwin]

NV 5600s are disappearing fast

If you want an NV 5600 you had better find one and buy it. The G56 with the new flywheel set up is not yet proven. The new 48RE seems to be holding up if you can believe what you read on the TDR, but I'm sure the NV 5600 will handle your trailer just fine for a very long time! Good luck Ken Irwin





PS If you get the auto get the 4. 10 rear end ratio for the best of both worlds towing and miliage with that size trailer.

 

[tgrfan2]

A friend has a 2003 HO 48re pulling a 14K fiver. He has had no problems with the transmission. Another friend toasted his 2002 47re with his fiver at 1000 miles in the Smokies. I asked him how he drove it and he said he just put it in OD and drove because the truck didn't know it had a load! Now he has a 2003 HO 48re as well and has had no more trouble. Both drive them as I instructed. That is to drive them like a manual when towing. That means don't "lug" the transmission. That has worked for me on my 95 with 212K, my 98 with 163K, and my 2000 work truck with 93K. All three are stock and OE except for temp gauges and LubeGard. I wish all three had the 48re because it shifts like the old 727 and will lock up in second which I like for towing in town. Good luck with your choice.

 

[RankRam]

When you are towing that 11k fifth wheel you will be very happy you have a six speed manual, and an exhaust brake would be great too.

 

[jtsandbird]

what is the nv5600 ? i'm leaning toward auto but dodge offers a 4 speed and a 5 speed, you get a much higher towing capacity with the 4 speed. i want reliability with power and dont want to have to do all the power adds again on a $$ 40,000 truck. also not sure if i should get 4x4 or 2x4 , but i thinks it will be the 3500 drw long bed 4 door. do the new trucks come with any gauges like the transmission,pyro or boost? i know chevy has a transmission gauge...

 

[jtsandbird]

there is also a 6 speed manual and a 6 speed hd manual whats the difference and can you get them both in california?

 

[Kirwin]

Nv 5600

The manual transmission trucks up until just recently came with a New Venture Gear (IE NV) brand, model 5600 6 speed HD transmission. This transmission is a very heavy duty unit but shifts like a HD transmission due to the large gears and heavy shafts it contains. It is nearly indestructible and has proven to be the choice for those on here that want to run significantly above stock power levels and/or tow loads much greater than the truck was designed for. This is one of two transmissions that Dodge has used behind the Cummins diesel. The other was a NV 4500 which was still a HD transmission but not as heavy duty as the NV 5600. The NV 4500 is a 5 speed and its only real weaknesses were the 5th gear retaining nut comes loose and the transmission oil it uses is expensive. If you get a truck built recently you will get a G56 6 speed which is a Mercedes transmission built for trucks and vans in Europe. They have changed the way the clutch is set up for this new transmission which some on here believe made it more prone to failure. Additionally there are concerns that the transmission is not as HD a unit as the NV 5600. The NV 5600 is proven to stand the test of time and use. The G56 is brand new to the Dodge platform and therefore it is unknown how much power or longevity it has. As far as the auto is concerned you only have the choice of the 4 speed auto. They don't put the 5 speed auto behind the Cummins. No, gauges are still not included in the truck but Geno's Garage can hook you up with what ever you think you need. If you do a search for G56 you can read about the limited experience we have with it so far. Tommygun has one, check his threads. 4X4 vice 2 WD is a personal choice. Do you need 4WD? With it you will add some weight and weight costs fuel mileage. Do a search for this topic as it has also been discussed at length. My advise is if you go with an auto only accept the 4. 10 rear end ratio. If you go with the manual either ratio will work fine. I would still prefer the 4. 10 myself on the 03 and later trucks as they are much quieter and the engine seems to like the RPMs up over 2000 for pulling. However you can's get the G56 4. 10 combination as the G56 had an OD ratio of 0. 79:1. Ken Irwin

 

[jtsandbird]

how do you make sure you get the nv 5600?

 

[Kirwin]

How to spot an NV5600

Look under the truck. The transmission will be rusty as its made from cast iron and not painted vice the aluminum the the G56 is made from. Also reverse is all the way right and forward (next to fifth). Not sure where reverse is in the G56 just know its not where it is in the NV 5600

 

[Beast2B]

on a new truck, it's a $500 +/- option. HD 6-speed option

 

[GerryDrake]

I realize it is a personal choice, but I will never tow anything of size again with an auto. The manual (NV5600 in my case) puts all the power to the ground rather than into heat while waiting for the speed to catch up, with that heat tearing up the transmission. Also, I recommend the 4. 10 if you will be towing at all.



I believe the location of reverse on the G56 is to the left and then to the rear, diagonally opposite to where it is on the NV5600. An easier way than climbing under a truck. Also, rather the a numeral '1' for first (granny) gear, the G56 has the letter 'L' for low... . Haven't seen one, but that is what I remember of the discussions on here...

 

[KBalzuweit]

I have seen a couple guys already toast the g56 already. But they are commercial haulers like myself. After going through the dual mass problems with a ford, I would not try that set-up again!! If you by an auto just allow some money in your budget for some upgrades and just watch the temps and make sure you have the rpm's high enough before you get into OD and convertor lock-up.

 

[tgrfan2]

Are you going to be doing mountain towing alot? If not 11K is not going to stress a CTD automatic.

I know the Rockies are much different to the Smokies, but here an HO auto with 3. 73 gears handles 14K fine. A 98 12V and #6 plate 3. 54 does too. You can run at 70 in D or over 50 in second if memory serves me driving my friends 2003 auto 3. 73. I think it would pull 11K up any grade imaginable in second.

The fact is most Dodge auto transmission failures are abuse and/or not knowing how to drive them. You can tear up a clutch just as quickly and they aren't cheap either. I like to shift a RoadRanger occassionally, but manuals aren't always fun.

 

[BILLUA]

The easiest way to spot a nv 5600 vs a G 56 Is to look at where reverse is. On the NV5600 it isin the unnatural position upper and all the way right. On the G 56, it is right where it should be



Buy a DUALLY, you will not regret it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oo.

 

[Grizzly]

need help choosing an 05 for towing a 11k fifth wheel ... auto or manual? laramie or slt? i have an 01 auto and have had a lot of trouble with transmission dont want to go there again, are the new auto transmission's better? i would rather not have to shift but i will if it will be less trouble.

I say the best manual transmission you can get and a dual rear wheel truck. If you can't get the NV5600, then get the G56. Good luck.

 

[abdiver]

I like having a 4x4 as it really helps when backing to put it in low range and just creep back saves on slipping the clutch with a manual I never had an Auto so I can't coment on it I like my NV5600



Good luck Bill

 

[Matt400]

If you can wait. . order an 06 with 48re, they are ebrake approved with new software and hardware upgrades, you might ask if you can even get it equipped with one.

I tow 6000 in the mountains with mine and its still stock at 30,000 miles. No need for an ebrake for me with that weight and my pads are still at 75% good.



I am looking to beef up the trans but that is safety related due to power enhancements.

 

[tschwab]

Four votes for the 48RE. Me, my dad and both uncles. Both of them have 4. 10's, dad & I have 3. 73's. All are 2WD and all tow5vr's within that weight range. M. Y. 's are 03. 5, 04, 04. 5 & '05.