Speaking about trannies- here's a question for you Ram guys

pistoncontracting · Jun 1, 2017

Any of you running manual in new trucks? Looks like a few dealers are even ordering lot trucks now, with manuals. My biggest concern with Ram for the past few years has been their slush box, but I'm guessing a standard might be better??

It's time for a new truck I think, and I'm tempted to go to the dark side.

Ronaha · Jun 1, 2017

Had a truck with manual for years it lasts forever trouble free, but you lose turbo spool when shifting, hopefully that helps,.

ABMax24 · Jun 1, 2017

Keep in mind that having a manual derates the Cummins to 660 lb-ft of torque vs the 900 for the aisin automatic.

We have the Aisin transmissions on our 11 and 12 5500 C&C work trucks and they have held up well, don't necessarily shift the smoothest but hold up to the abuse we put them through. The head gaskets and EGR coolers on the 6.7 motor has been a different story however.

pistoncontracting · Jun 1, 2017

ABMax24 said:
Keep in mind that having a manual derates the Cummins to 660 lb-ft of torque vs the 900 for the aisin automatic.

We have the Aisin transmissions on our 11 and 12 5500 C&C work trucks and they have held up well, don't necessarily shift the smoothest but hold up to the abuse we put them through. The head gaskets and EGR coolers on the 6.7 motor has been a different story however.

That derate part is interesting, and something I hadn't heard before.
The engine issues though is what makes me nervous. I had an '11 PSD, that was basically trouble free for 90000 km, aside from a leaky rad, and wrecked tranny (which was entirely my fault, and replaced under warranty no quetions asked). I've got a '15 PSD with 75,000 on it. Just replaced the rad due to the same leak. Aside from that though, it's been great.

I miss shifting gears though, and the new job gets me a decent rebate on ram- so it just had me eyein up the Rams. Sure hear lots of horror story's about them though- including with trying to get warranty.

Stg2Suby · Jun 2, 2017

Stock the manual is very sluggish feeling, make sure you do good test drive before committing. The stock clutch doesn't have a lot of additional capacity over the already derated engine torque so they use torque management to ensure it won't slip. Torque management = no throttle response. Just feels really sluggish. I have a '12 manual but upgraded to a dual disc clutch and tuned it. Still very sluggish feeling throttle response compared to my old 24V 6spd.

takethebounce · Jun 2, 2017

I drove a '16 manual just for the sake of driving it when I was looking for new trucks. It didn't feel horrible but I was trying to recall the last time I had driven a manual pick up other than our work trucks it was tough to compare it to anything. Honestly though, it felt fine. I didn't feel underwhelmed because it didn't have 900 ft lbs of torque driving around the city streets lol

If heavy hauling a lot over grade the extra torque of the auto's maybe welcomed. As far as the Aisin vs 68RFE goes, I prefer the shifting of the 68, the Aisin doesn't feel as refined and there hasn't been as much aftermarket tuning available for it, but I am not out there looking for upgrades for it because I don't own it so maybe now there is if someone wants to tune. For me the 68RFE is plenty fine. I am not tuning and deleting anytime soon and I know several stock trucks which tow fully loaded work trailers around daily with bobcats, gravel trailers over 10,000lbs and so on and the trans hasn't been a weak point but you put anything in the right hands and not abuse it they should easily handle their advertised ratings.

Here are the 16 specs, I haven't checked to see if they are different for this year

[FONT=&quot]6.7L Cummins I6 engine that is paired with the G56 6-speed manual transmission has a lower output: 350 hp @ 2,800 rpm and 660 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm. [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] 6.7L Cummins with 370 hp @ 2,800 rpm and 800 lb-ft of torque @ 1,600 rpm that is paired with Ram’s 68RFE 6-speed automatic transmission.

6.7L Cummins produces 385 hp @ 2,800 rpm and 900 lb-ft of torque @ 1,700 rpm. This engine is mated to an AS69RC 6-speed automatic transmission by Aisin.[/FONT]

Summitric · Jun 2, 2017

Go with the aisin trans... You won't regret it... Turbo stays spooled all the way up

neilsleder · Jun 2, 2017

I am a fan of a standard cummins, don't get much better for towing then that. It's derated but it will pull better then an auto. Why you think most highway trucks are standard? But that being said I think the stock clutch has issues, but it might be fixed now.

SnowJunkie82 · Jun 2, 2017

A good friend has a newer Ram with the manual transmission, mild lift and larger tires. Even before he added a tune he could make the clutch slip. Believe he has upgraded the clutch as well and still has issues. IMO If you want the sporty feel of a manual tranny get a sports car. Having a manual in one of these trucks gets you a de rated motor and a weaker drive train (clutch).

acesup800 · Jun 2, 2017

neilsleder said:
I am a fan of a standard cummins, don't get much better for towing then that. It's derated but it will pull better then an auto. Why you think most highway trucks are standard? But that being said I think the stock clutch has issues, but it might be fixed now.

Most highway trucks are going automatic....
Manuals are the way of the dinosaur.

Ronaha · Jun 2, 2017

dgiles said:
Most highway trucks are going automatic....
Manuals are the way of the dinosaur.

That's just so the chit skins can drive them

arff · Jun 3, 2017

My 6.7 auto trans burnt up at 210 thousand km.
Ric did the full delete about 3 years ago great for pulling toyhauler.

Clutch and Grab rebuilt my trans and made it for pulling my toyhauler.

Works fantastic.

pistoncontracting · Jun 4, 2017

dgiles said:
Most highway trucks are going automatic....
Manuals are the way of the dinosaur.

The reason so much technology is going into automatics, is so the user has less control of what's going on. In large trucks, it's because drivers are going the way of the dinosaur, and the steering wheel holders are nearly useless.

In vehicles, it's for safety reasons. I read an interesting article not to long ago, saying that the vast majority of auto accidents in the US are rear end collisions. And in the vast majority of those, the at fault vehicle never applied the brakes. As the technology advances, collision avoidance systems will include more transmission control.

Theres rumors that highway trucks in Europe are soon going to be diesel/electric, same as large tractors- and that would be a sure way to send transmissions the way of the dinosaur.

Murminator · Jun 5, 2017

SnowJunkie82 said:
A good friend has a newer Ram with the manual transmission, mild lift and larger tires. Even before he added a tune he could make the clutch slip. Believe he has upgraded the clutch as well and still has issues. IMO If you want the sporty feel of a manual tranny get a sports car. Having a manual in one of these trucks gets you a de rated motor and a weaker drive train (clutch).

I can believe it i test drove a G-56 dumping the clutch the trac control kick in to stop tire spin and that much torque something has got to give. On the manual truck you can shut trac control off the second the tire start spinning it will turn back on and stay on . After the fact someone said if you shut trac and stability both off it will not turn back on so I cannot confirm or deny it.
The only reason I didnt go G-56 was i live in the city and get sick of rowing 18 gears around town figured it would get old quick throwing around 6 gears in my daily driver

brian h · Jun 5, 2017

we see more 68rfe trans come into shop compared to the aisin trans,with less horsepower going standard i would go with the aisin trans,imo the weak point in drive train going standard is the clutch and if you tune for horse power the clutch will always be a weak point

Cdnfireman · Jun 5, 2017

Do dodge trannie guys get a special bathroom?

arff · Jun 6, 2017

Cdnfireman said:
Do dodge trannie guys get a special bathroom?

Yes. We get a bathroom.

Baaahhhhh

neilsleder · Jun 6, 2017

Cdnfireman said:
Do dodge trannie guys get a special bathroom?

We do and above the toilet paper we wrote " Ford and Chev drivers license wipe to develop picture" lol

dezmitchell · Jun 6, 2017

I drive my 05 Cummins with a g56 6 speed (same tranny in the new trucks) everyday doesn't feel "sluggish" by any means I prefer the 6 speed for pulling especially thru the mountains.

Pull truck manual all the way
Your average DD in stop and go --Auto

Its preference I for one love banging out gears and if you want to throw power at the truck later a HD clutch is WAY cheaper then an auto build

neilsleder · Jun 6, 2017

dezmitchell said:
I drive my 05 Cummins with a g56 6 speed (same tranny in the new trucks) everyday doesn't feel "sluggish" by any means I prefer the 6 speed for pulling especially thru the mountains.

Pull truck manual all the way
Your average DD in stop and go --Auto

Its preference I for one love banging out gears and if you want to throw power at the truck later a HD clutch is WAY cheaper then an auto build

South bend dual disk and you won't have any issues.
I love it when guys complain that there one ton truck with 35" tires don't feel like sport cars. You want sport car feel buy a sport car.

Speaking about trannies- here's a question for you Ram guys

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