[quote author=Mopar_Mudder link=board=11;threadid=22518;start=0#msg211374 date=1069253764]

The autos do work much better with 4.10's then 3.54's, I have one of each. Don't know how big the difference is from 3.73 to 4.10 but I am sure it would have helped.
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I am quite impressed with the rpm range the 4.10 gives you for towing, especially when having the stick shift. So many times you find yourself flowing along with traffic at about 55 mph - - I would have to downshift with the 3.73. I have not driven the stick 3.73 towing, but I think you are very correct about the 4.10 while towing anything over 11 - 12000 pounds.
Y-knot - - I pulled that pass with a 36' 16000# unit on and had no problems at all. That is a great route compared to some I have been on. Try 14% grade with that much weight. Whoa Nellie.

 

[quote author=BIG ED link=board=11;threadid=22518;start=0#msg211217 date=1069209873]

Also, an exhaust brake sounds like a great idea for your truck. Unfortunetly the current 48re is not "brake" approved and may never be. So that leaves you with two options. One, forget your trans warranty and go the aftermarket route for a brake and be done with it. Or two, trade in your truck for a handshaker with the Jake.
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It's my understanding that there is a third choice here by getting an the after market ATS kit for the 48RE and a Pac-brake which will put your transmission above the rest, then again maybe I'm wrong.

 

Riverman welcome to the site I'm pretty new here too and I've learned more in a short time than I could have imagined. sorry your dissapointed but maybe a few suggestion can help you ;D I do not know if it would be cost prohibitive but maybe change the gears to 4.10s I'm sure someone on the site can give an estimate it used to be that changing gears was not that expensive you seem to be willing to spend some $ to alter the tranny and do other mods but it sounds like you might have the wrong gears beefing up the tranny will not change the gear ratios maybe the $$ you spend should be dedicated towards fixing the real problem. My 4.10s are great for towing and although I pay some price in fuel mileage I sure like it when I am towing .
I have also read that the 4.10s might help the trans by the higher r's helping to circulate the fluid. maybe not as big a problem with the 48 trans as the 47s.
I like having the reponse that the 4.10s offer when I mash the motor. read what the guy's that do the towing tell you and I am sure that you will tweak things in to your liking. You bought the right truck and motor combo so your almost home. best of luck .

 

Putting a higher gear ratio in will only ease the start off and lower the speed of the shift points. The real problem is that if you have to ride the brakes going down the hill you are going too fast. If it takes first gear going down to keep it in control than that is what it takes. The object is to start too slow and let it increase speed to where it comfortably goes down. You have to learn to drive within the conditions that your equipment allows. Yes, an exhaust brake will allow you to come down faster, but without it you can still be safe, just slower. 411 gears will not probably make much difference going down. Years ago when most of those roads were open to trucks, I went over that route with 18 wheelers many times. I think they have closed that one to trucks as they did the old Fancy Pass.

I do not want to sound negative to you but if you smoked the brakes, the operator is at fault. I have done it many times with big trucks and I was the fault at that time. Remember one thing, if you are forced to use first gear to keep it in control and then you have to use the brakes also, that will work ok. The speed is what sets them on fire. A lot of it is not just experience on hills in general but also knowing the particular hill with the equipment that you are driving. I have smaller brakes than you, no exhaust brake and would not be at all concerned to take my truck down that same hill weighing 30,000. I would be on the hill a while though. If you always remember that it is not the hill that kills, it is the speed, you will be ok.

 

Is not the max towing for your vehicle 13500 with the 3.73. And you said the trailer weighs 14000+/- . Is this the loaded weight. Seems you may be over weight, and I too might be saving my money for a new tranny.

 

[quote author=Dauntless link=board=11;threadid=22518;start=15#msg212012 date=1069364959]
Is not the max towing for your vehicle 13500 with the 3.73. And you said the trailer weighs 14000+/- . Is this the loaded weight. Seems you may be over weight, and I too might be saving my money for a new tranny.
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Hey guys, I think we may be hitting the panic button too quick. All initial reports on the 48RE seem quite positive. It is rated at a higher max torque than the Allison 1000. It is a beefed up tranny from the 47RE. All I have read and heard points to a good tranny if you don't abuse it. And, what tranny will hold up if you abuse. So, relax, don't hurt it, and enjoy your new ride - - they are awesome.
And, you are correct that the 3.73 does not carry the same tow rating as the 4.10. It almost caught me when I ordered. I was lamenting the lousy documentation in a post under "Other".

 

Good info guys. Yes, I probably need to slower down to keep from smoking the brakes. Swapping to a 4.10 diff, involves replacing the whole third member. You can't just put a new ring and pinion gear inside the existing housing. The dealer will do the swap for $3000+. I like the 3.73. It starts moving the load easily in 1st gear, and really seems pretty low already. Also on the highway at 65mph in OD the engine RPM are at 1600. That's just a shade over optimum torque range. The truck has 11,000+ miles on it, and is begining to indicate MPH's of about 11-13. And increasing. I got to go in watch in a few minutes. I'll respond so more when I get to St.Louis. Thanks, Michael

 

the 6sp.manual is the only way to go for serious towing. The
dodge stock auto-trannies are sub-par and negate the terrific capabilities of the cummins. If you must have auto-tranny look at ford or gm.or look at after market auto-tranny for dodge.

 

Is not the max towing for your vehicle 13500 with the 3.73. And you said the trailer weighs 14000+/- . Is this the loaded weight. Seems you may be over weight, and I too might be saving my money for a new tranny.
The dealership looked it up and said my truck was good for 14,000 lbs. max.

 

I made the same trip about six weeks ago from Pigeon Forge Tenn. to Cherokee SC. and I was very happy the way my truck performed My truck and Fifth wheel gross out at 20500lbs which is lighter than yours. I did not have any problem keeping up to traffic on the way up and with the exhaust brake I hardly used the wheel brakes on the way down. But I will say this there are some pretty good grades but it was the corners that slowed me down. I also agree that for this job a six speed is the way to go or a five speed if you are from California. Dodge automatics are week and as for the 48R if they were serious it would be a five speed.
Jim O

 

Thanks again fellows for your good imput. I wish I would have known about this kind of website before, to gleen some good info, to make an informed desicion. If I knew then what I knew now, I would have made different choices (6spd & Exh.Brake). But... I'll have to do the best with what I have. I'm not gonna swap with the dealer for another truck and take a pretty good lose. Sun Coast Converters is about 20 miles away from me. They seem to have a pretty TC and VB (Pro Loc - triple-disc torque converter) that I can use, in conjuction with "Torque Locker" to control the shifting and TC clutch lock-up. After this is I'll install a PacBrake and a set of gauges. From everything I've gathered, everyone generally seems to be satishfied with these kind modifications they've made. I haven't really heard anyone that had a bad experience along these lines, so I think I'll pursue this line of action. But thanks again for you guys help. I let you know how it goes if and when I do it. First, I'm gonna put the Mag Hytec deep tranny sump pan and temperature gauge and do a little more testing first, before I spring for the bucks. Michael.

 

i run 3.54s and i wish i had higher gears. and i tow 26 to 28k gross all the time. you just need to slow down a bit, an learn your rig. that is one sharp dodge.

 

man, like that green!

 

Mike:
I'll have to agree. That is one "sharp" truck. I still gotta drive my ole 96. I tow 15K with the 3:55 rear. But one advantage I have is the US Gear over-drive unit. I have a gear for every occasion. With the 5 speed, I got 10 now. I did like you and went up Mt Eagle in fifth at 65 just to see if the truck would do it. I'm runnin 305 hp and just wan ted to see. I did it but cost me a head gasket. Got real hot. That I won't do again.

On the e-brake, I bought the US Gear De-celerator.I've had it 6 years and just love it. Saves the brakes like you won't believe. On a downhill a very little if any brakes.

And the Suncoast, just about the best out there. I have a lot of friends runnin that tranny and it is tough. The auto just not for me.

..Preston..

 

New guy here - when you folks are talking about weights of 13,500 and 14,000, are these GVWR weights??

Ken