Ballenxj wrote:
Griff in Fairbanks wrote:
So, Leeann is correct. A Gear Vendors Over/Under unit is the only reasonable way of having overdrive in Dodge-based motorhome.
I wonder if there is any way to adapt a 46RE? That's what I have in my 03 Dodge van, and my transmission guys in Vegas tell me it's the same trans they ran behind a Cummings Turbo Diesel. It's an overdrive transmission, and if it'll stand up to the Cummings TD, I'd like to think it might work in a Motorhome. The problem might be compatibility, and wiring? I don't know if the newer bell housings are a match for the older ones? They might have an adapter plate, if not?
Other than that, yes, beware of the older OD transmissions. It was common to take them out of OD in hilly country, as they were not strong.
The Ram with the Cummins used the 46RH, not the RE. The Magnum used the 46RE and I can tell you it's on par with the A518, id est it's a total POS. I was coming home from Ft. Huachuca, AZ with my 21' Sunline travel trailer and the 46RE in my '96 Ram 2500 took a poo on I-695, tranny parts all over the interstate.
I don't know that the RH is any better than the RE, the only difference being Hydraulic shifting vs Electric computer-controlled shifting. The 46RH is longer than the RE. AFAIK, the sun gears are the same in both models, and that is a weak point.
