FCAtfltruck ram 1500 ecodieselThe fact that Ram is running a 8 speed as opposed to Ford and GM's ten speeds is not an issue. Here is why, the ten speed is never going to be able to hold the top gear and maybe the top two gears unloaded and they will never hit them towing. You simply can not run fast enough to hold those gears. The ZF nine speed will not hold the top gear until you hit 78 mph and that is an issue for customers. They complain that the trans shifts in and out of gear all the time. Don

Agree on this folks, a 10 speed will be mostly a 7 spd towing. I seldom see 8th and that's downhill or flat land with a strong tail wind.

You better get your 10 speed looked at. Mine will tow in 9th at 65 mph on flats and downshifts to 8 going up hills (If i forget to put tow haul on it will also shift into 10th on flats, but struggles). Of course there are lots of variables, how heavy your foot is, the % grade, how much weight your towing, just to name a few. But mine tows just fine in 9th; and certainly 8th.

It also can makes a difference in the available gear splits up to 8-9 wherever it tops out at towing. The more gears allows the engine to find an optimum rpm, especially important on a lower powered engine while towing.

Never could understand why they converted a great six speed with two OD’s to a mediocre five speed with four OD’s.

Not that it's the same transmission, but I used to have a 2014 Jeep Cherokee with the ZF 9 speed. It never saw 9th gear - ever. 8 was rare, 7th was the norm at highway speed.

2020 Ecodiesel specs | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

wilber1
Explorer
Jun 11, 2019
Never could understand why they converted a great six speed with two OD’s to a mediocre five speed with four OD’s.
ksss
Explorer
Jun 11, 2019
It also can makes a difference in the available gear splits up to 8-9 wherever it tops out at towing. The more gears allows the engine to find an optimum rpm, especially important on a lower powered engine while towing.
troubledwaters
Nomad
Jun 11, 2019
You better get your 10 speed looked at. Mine will tow in 9th at 65 mph on flats and downshifts to 8 going up hills (If i forget to put tow haul on it will also shift into 10th on flats, but struggles). Of course there are lots of variables, how heavy your foot is, the % grade, how much weight your towing, just to name a few. But mine tows just fine in 9th; and certainly 8th.
hvac
Explorer
Jun 11, 2019
Agree on this folks, a 10 speed will be mostly a 7 spd towing. I seldom see 8th and that's downhill or flat land with a strong tail wind.

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