2004 dodge auto? will i regret it?

[wang11]

I need to decide if a 2004 dodge 5.9 cummins with an auto tranny is going to hold up or not? I just pull a small camper 10 times a year and different kinds of sled trailers. I would just chip it and exhaust. It has 58k on it, i have always been a ford guy. I have just heard some good and bad things about auto dodges and six speeds. I can not have a 6 speed because of wife so it has to be an auto. any help would be appreciated.

 

[robertyoke]

the down side to the 48re is that is just 4 forward speeds. the plus side is it is simple and reguardless to what the ford and chevy guys say it is a very reliable and strong transmission.

 

[Megadeth]

It can be a great tranny with just a new torque converter and a valve body upgrade. obviously it wont hold 600+ hp or boosted launches very well but with just those mods it'll be a great tranny.

it'll be fine stock if you don't beat it with the programmer.

 

[JSCC]

It can be a great tranny with just a new torque converter and a valve body upgrade. obviously it wont hold 600+ hp or boosted launches very well but with just those mods it'll be a great tranny.

it'll be fine stock if you don't beat it with the programmer.

I agree.

However, you will end up putting at least a torque converter in it somewhere down the road if you are towing and using a chip.

 

[780mod]

A dealer told me that up to 03 1/2 had the problematic transmissions then they put in heavier duty parts but like said above they will live but only to a certain amount like 75hp tune and being easy on it would be ok. to bad about the 6 speed my buddy has a 03 1 ton cclb srw with the bully dog chip and the crazy larry program a k/n intake and mbrp turbo back duals and it hauls the mail.

 

[hilinerider]

just say no,


the one i had was in the shop 9 times, couldn't get em to replace it, at times it would shift out of second

 

[GlennRMK]

I have an 03.5 HO with the 48RE.

Been very happy with mine. I've had it for a year and a half and haven't had any problems.

Had an 01 6 speed but never was happy with that tranny and you just plain can't shift fast enough. If I was consistently towing 10k plus, I would opt for the manual. Otherwise the auto is nicer and faster.

I am running the Smarty 100 hp tune, 4" AFE exhaust, air intake, Airdog, 35s and Goerend Valvebody.

Very happy with my setup. I am saving my pennies for Goerend triple disc converter.

If you don't abuse it the tranny it will be just fine.

NO 4WD BOOSTED LAUNCHES! Those = smoked converter and possibly broken input shaft.

ANY STOCK AUTO FROM ANY BRAND WILL NOT HOLD A 100 hp TUNE AND ABUSE!

Seen smoked Allisons and Torqshifts.

 

[summitboy]

04 has the best fuel economy of all the 03+ trucks. The 48 RE will be no problem in stock trim with normal maintenance. I run a Smarty JR, Quad Boost Fooler, Boost elbow, and S&B filter. The truck runs way better than the stocker and gets even better mileage. I can pull a 4 place full of sleds gear and 4 in the cab and drive Calgary to Sicamous on half a tank consistently !

My tranny is still holding together after pulling 16,000 lbs in the summer, 9000 in the winter. I do notice with the Smarty the tranny will hold overdrive longer than it should and get into a situation where you think it slips and let off a little and get some turbo bark. It all has to do with the Smarty Tq management and the way the transmission throttle cable is adjusted for stock power.

The 48RE's torque converter and 3-4 clutch pack are the week links in the transmission. With a couple of tranny upgrades all this disappears. This is why i will have Georend tranny after Christmas sometime. I think almost 200,000 km on the stock tranny pulling these weights is pretty reasonable. The worst part about the Dodge is the front end parts, kind of junky and they don't last like they should. With some upgrades in the front end will make the truck just that much better.

 

[summitboy]

One last thing do not buy a 05. That was the year they went away from the manual transmission cable and went to an electronic control. If you talk to all the tranny builders who know anything about the 05 48RE will tell you it is the most troublesome due to the electronic control. They always cause them the most grief because they have no control over the electronic pieces failing.

 

[Wyoming T/A]

the down side to the 48re is that is just 4 forward speeds. the plus side is it is simple and reguardless to what the ford and chevy guys say it is a very reliable and strong transmission.

you should tell my buddy--he has a 2001 with 90k and its on its 3rd tranny--hasnt pulled anything over 5000# and only a very few time--he wont even hook to a trailer anymore because its acting up againboth trannys were done by a professional hebuilder that also dynos all trannys--we have installed 30 of 40 of there trannys over the last 10 years and the dodge is not a strong tranny--

 

[summitboy]

The 48RE is nothing like the tranny in 01 and should not be labeled as such. The 48RE is a good transmission for what it was designed for. I pull my 16500lb fiver on Smarty Sw1 and it handles the weight like no problem. A 48RE transmission with a simple tq converter and valve body upgrade will take some real abuse ! It all comes down to the way it is built/maintained and handled. Some of the fastest trucks are run with the 48RE, there must be a reason ! From all the builders i have talked to they say the internals of the 48RE are very well made and built. We can't expect trucks to come out of the factory ready for 800HP doing boosted launches.

 

[NEWDUCK]

i thought 01s were 47re....

 

[robertyoke]

you should tell my buddy--he has a 2001 with 90k and its on its 3rd tranny--hasnt pulled anything over 5000# and only a very few time--he wont even hook to a trailer anymore because its acting up againboth trannys were done by a professional hebuilder that also dynos all trannys--we have installed 30 of 40 of there trannys over the last 10 years and the dodge is not a strong tranny--

tell him to go to ats, suncoast, dtt or goerend
ive seen broken allisons, 4r100's and now that torqueshift has something in front of it (6.4)that can make enough power to break something other than itself (6.0) you will see broken transmissions.

any of the big three will break with enough torque put through them.

oh yea the mighty allison bows down to the 47re read this and then say the 618 isnt a strong design
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/featu...ilverado_2500_hd/dodge_47re_transmission.html
this is the fastest street driven dmax 1030 ish hp full built lb7 twin turbo = lots of broken allisons

i thought 01s were 47re....

it is the 47re

 

[Nelson]

I had 115,000 trouble free miles on my 04.5 Cummins with the 48re running an AFE stage II air filter, Smarty Jr. and stacked Edge EZ with an MBRP 5" turbo back exhaust best Cummins I've owned, really kicking myself for getting rid of it for my 07. 04's hands down get the best fuel mileage.

Also towed a 4 place sled trailer and 26' camper with it. For peace of mind I also flushed the Transmission fluid every year.

 

[RC]

Keep $3K in your savings acct

Then you'll be ready when it fails

 

[Polar Express]

A better Torque Converter, and valve body go a long way in those. But, if you drive nice, you should be ok, even with a tuner.

Get a gauge pod. Make sure you have tranny temp, egt, and boost. Anything over 20# of boost, and your tranny isn't long for this world. No monster launches either. Once you're rolling, even loaded you can put a lot of power to the tranny (after the TC and VB). If you're gonna tow, and you want to tow in OD, then you'll need to get a rebuild, and have the clutch packs built so they will handle that. The OD clutch pack is usually the first to go when folks don't lock-out OD when towing.

PE

 

[summitboy]

20 psi ? I don't know about that, stock is like 24. Running 30-33psi keeps EGT's way down ! I have been running Smarty at 100HP with boost to 33psi and i never see EGT's over 1000-1050. I have been pulling 9000 lbs no problem. Tranny has 160,000km so far.

 

[Extreme-One]

Just sold my 2006 Dodge work truck with an auto and the 5.9. Did all the recommended service for the trans and never had an issue. Averaged 1000-1200 miles a week pulling a 12000 -15000 lbs goose neck all over Idaho without issue. Averaged about 10-11 mpg. The only thing I don't like about the 06 dodge with the auto was the hold back on the engine or lack there of. Going down hills it would try to walk away from you and you'd have to make sure the breaks were setup good on the trailer. Went through 3 sets of front pads and one set of rears in the time I had it.

Just got an 09 with the 6 speed auto and 6.7 with exhaust brake. Only have 3000 miles on it but it seems to run fine and I like the six speed. Going down hill with the exhaust brake is a dream.

 

[Nelson]

That can be solved with a Torque Converter Lock-up.

Most converters lock up at high speeds and unlock when you let off the throttle, by programming it to unlock at lower speeds it helps to slow the truck down.

 

[Xrider]

IMHO I wouldn't get a diesel for your towing needs. Everything on them is more expensive including routine maintenance.