Looking to purchase a new 2003 Dodge Diesel 3500. Was woundering which transmission is better to tow a 30' 5ver with slideout weighing 10500 fully loaded. An automatic or manual?

 

I have a 2500 and pull a 28 foot weighing in at about 10,000 fully loaded. I pull with an automatic trans, but my understanding is you can pull more with a standard trans.<br><br>However you made the right choice with cummins

 

I just bought a new 2003 Dodge CTD (see sig) it has the 48RE with the HO 5.9L and I have been told this is the best Tranny that Dodge has produced as an Automatic. 8)<br><br>

 

If you're looking for which is better to tow with, that would be the manual. Everybody has a preference as to which one they like better, and that would be up to you. The 48RE is probably the best auto that dodge has used, but it will never be as strong as a manual. Depends on whether you like shifting your own gears or not. The auto will probably pull what you've got, but if you want to put some performance mods on your truck, you'll have to beef it up.

 

I heard that Dodge as a new five speed automatic called the 5-45FRE transmission. Does anyone know if it is available in the 2003s?<br><br>Also curious if anyone knows if the Dodge HO turbodiesel will be legal in California for 2004?

 

[quote author=JAXFL link=board=11;threadid=16812;start=0#157642 date=1057669140]I have been told this is the best Tranny that Dodge has produced as an Automatic. 8)[/quote]<br><br>The 48RE &quot;may&quot; turn out to be a fantastic transmission, but whoever told you this wasn't exactly holding the bar very high.

 

I bought a manual because I had the misfortune of shelling the auto in my last Ram. The sticks are fairly tough trannies, and I consider them best for towing puroposes.

The 5-45RFE is not very new. It is the 45RFE (1999) from the Grand Cherokees with an extra overdrive ratio added. The 5-45RFE was introduced in the 2001 model Grand Cherokees, Durangos, and Dakotas. It was soon added to the 4.7l Rams. It is a light duty tranny.

Consider that the series #s indicate the number of forward gears and the rated strength of the transmission. A 47RE has 4 forward gears and has a high (7) input torque rating - 450 ft. lbs. to be specific. The 48RE has 4 forward gears and an even higher input torque rating. Consider that the 46RE was used in all the 1500s and 2500s with V8s for a long time, but was not strong enough to put behind the V10 or diesel engine. The 47RE was not even strong enough to put behind the HO diesels. The 5-45RFE is rated even lower than the 46RE was.

The 5-45RFE is a tranny that was specifically designed for Jeeps. It is a good tranny for that service class but would never survive in a 2500 or 3500 series truck. You put that tranny behind a CTD and the first time you stomp the accelerator at low RPMs, it would be toast. Also, since it is a dual overdrive tranny, when you lock out O/D for towing, you drop down to drive, which is 3rd gear - the same as the 4 speed autos. So for towing, it would have no advantages over the 4 speed autos. The 48RE is the only auto rated for towing in O/D.

 

The manual tranny (six speed) would be the choice for me if I were doing it. You can only get 235hp with the auto and 305hp with the six speed. My truck does fine with 235hp and the six speed towing my 5fer. My combined is right at 19,500lbs. I have a Jake Brake and the truck is all stock. Have been on the road since April. Currenlty I'm in Harvard Mass. after leaving Duluth, MN. last week. The only thing that would really make mine better without fueling boxes, exhaust systems, and a US Gear Underdrive would be a 4:10 rear. The 3:55 works good, but I known the engine is loaded at times.<br><br>Dave<br>

 

In the 03, you can get the 305HP HO with either the 48RE auto or the 6 speed manual. And the SO engine is 245HP in 03 - also available with either tranny.

 

THE SO.IS 250 HP NOT 245--I am pretty sure.

 

[quote author=Ram lon ON link=board=11;threadid=16812;start=0#160288 date=1058313198]<br>THE SO.IS 250 HP NOT 245--I am pretty sure. <br>[/quote]<br><br>Absolutely correct. 250HP/450ft. lbs. for the 03 SO. My mistake :-[ . CAL version is 235HP / 460ft. lbs. Interesting that the 03 SO has more HP than the 03 CAL or the 02 HO, but has less torque than either.

 

<br>(Absolutely correct. 250HP/450ft. lbs. for the 03 SO. My mistake :-[ . CAL version is 235HP / 460ft. lbs. Interesting that the 03 SO has more HP than the 03 CAL or the 02 HO, but has less torque than either.)<br><br>Therefore, can I get some recommendations from people. I reside in California. Am I settling if I buy the 4.10 Dodge Ram 3500 SO TD with only 235 HP to pull my new fifth wheel? GVWR is 13,920. Dry hitch weight of 2,100. Unloaded vehicle weight of 8,600. In other words, if I am only able to buy this engine in California, am I better off going to GM or Ford for more power? I like the look of the Dodge the best, but I am concerned that I will not have enough pulling power up hills. I currently have a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 TD. Although I like the truck, I can tell you that I am not happy at all with its pulling power (for my trailer). I can barely maintain 50mph up moderate grades. Is it unreasonable for me to expect to go 65mph up a moderate grade? I don't know the answer as my only experience is my current truck which simply can not do it. Thanks all for your help. I really appreciate the insight that some of you guys bring).

 

died4me,<br><br>Do you have a 98 or a 98.5? There is a big difference. The 98 is a 12 valve. The 98.5 is a 24 valve. Also, do you have an auto or manual? A little more specific info in your sig would be helpful for us to know what you're starting with.<br><br>The 98 12 valve is a great engine, but not high powered in stock form. The CAL version (and all autos) is 180 HP / 420 ft. lbs. The 98.5 24 valve with auto (and I believe all CAL trucks) is 215 HP / 420 ft. lbs.<br><br>While the torque numbers are the same (and torque is the number that matters), the torque curve for the 24 valve is flatter - it provides peak or near peak toqrue through more of the RPM range. You should have peak torque from 1600 to 2700 RPM.<br><br>The 03 CAL version has the same HP and torque ratings as my 01 - 235/460. The 03 torque curve is even flatter than mine, so that power should be available through most of the RPM range. I like the power of my truck, but it's not a dragster. It's not going to throw you back in your seat unless you get rear-ended at a stoplight. <br><br>It pulls very well. I think manual trannies make a truck feel like it pulls better. My trailer weighs a touch less than 7K with a typical load, so the comparison is not very similar. I have 3.55s and I can throw the truck in cruise at 75 and as long as I don't have to turn, nothing has really slowed it down much yet. And we have a few pretty good hills in my neck of the woods. ;D<br><br>I did add an Edge EZ and I would suggest that you could consider doing the same. My truck would not tow quite as well without it. With an Edge EZ, your CAL model would have more power and torque than any Dodge, Ford, or Chevy truck does in stock form.<br><br>When you mention buying a Ford or GM, do they have lower power in CAL than the standard model? I am asking because I don't know and would be curious to see. The Ford scares me a little because the reliability of the 6.0 is still to be proven. The Duramax . . . well, not for me thanks.<br><br>One more thing to consider. The CARB version of the CTD HO is supposed to be released in Jan of 2004. So, in another 6 months, you should be able to buy the 04 HO engine in CAL. This engine has been selling in Europe for a couple years so it should be fairly well debugged by then. If you want the HO power, you could tough it out until then.

 

THECATSFAN:<br><br>You make some really good points. I bought my truck used with my trailer. I will go home tonight and try to answer some of your questions. I am not sure if I have 12 or 24 valve. Since I am not mechanically inclined, I will try and figure out by the production date per your suggestion. Also, I do not know what my gear ratio is either. Is there a way for me to tell if I have a 3.73 or 4.1 currently (or some other number)?<br><br>As for the HO. I think I want it. But, do you have any idea if there will be a noticeable difference from an 03 SO in california? In other words, if I buy the 03 dodge (for a good deal right now), will I test drive an HO 04 and be kicking myself (at a higher price?)<br><br>Thanks again.

 

You can find the gear ratio on the information sticker under the hood (at least I think it's under the hood, was on my 97, it's in the glove box on my 01). Look right up front by the hood latch. Should have everything from gear ratios to paint codes.<br><br>I think you will notice a difference between the SO and the HO. I drove the 03 HO here and I could feel it. But if you were to add an Edge EZ, you probably wouldn't notice a difference anymore. The HO would only have a little less power than your SO. ;D<br><br>My truck says &quot;Cummins 24 Valve Turbo Diesel&quot; right on the door badge, right below the RAM 2500. Also says it on the valve cover. I think all the 24 valve engines had the 24 valve badging but maybe some one else can confirm that the 98.5s did.