AISIN or 68RFE on new Ram 3500

I would not want any 4x4 without manual locking hubs on the front axle. It's a shame most of these manufacturers have abandoned front hubs (except Ford, but only on some of their trucks).

I put manual hubs on my big International truck, which came originally with full time drive flanges. Made a little difference in fuel mileage and alot less wear and tear on the front end.

Regarding towing in 5th, with my rig that's a given. At the 65 mph I set my cruise, or foot for it lugs bad if I let it try to use 6th most of the time, and tends to hunt pretty bad. I'm taking the truck in again tomorrow for a couple warranty issues as well as servicing, and the dealer is going to flash an upgrade for the tranny that he thinks will help.

As for using low range in reverse, the problem with that is I'm generally turning sharply as well and it really binds the drive train, unless I'm in the dirt or grass. With the amount of torque involved with these trucks I would thing things could easily get broken. On my last chevy, the front diff used vacuum to engage and I put a shutoff valve in the line so I could use low range without locking in the front differential. I'll have to climb under the dodge when I get a chance and see if the diff works off elec or vacuum and put a cutout system as appropriate in there. I often miss the old manual hubs.

tinner12002 wrote:

Searching_Ut wrote:
One big difference I've noticed is my 2015 with the AISIN tends to hunt gears a whole lot, much more than the 68RFE I had previously. You pretty much have to manually select gears when towing. On the plus side, shifts are noticeably more firm and it just feels more solid all around. I haven't got the mileage or use to determine actual durability in any way yet. First and second forward gears are nice and low but, it's a little tall in reverse which can make the tight spots where you're backing uphill kind of tough. Keep in mind my truck is SRW so it's geared a fair bit taller than the DRW versions.

Never have had any issues with mine as far as gear hunting. When I'm out on the road I always use cruise, downshifts automatically if needed to keep speed on hills, which its suppose to do.

Because you are running around 1,700 RPM's at 60. Perfect towing gears, as I said before they are nearly the same as the 3.42's in 5th.

Searching_Ut wrote:
One big difference I've noticed is my 2015 with the AISIN tends to hunt gears a whole lot, much more than the 68RFE I had previously. You pretty much have to manually select gears when towing. On the plus side, shifts are noticeably more firm and it just feels more solid all around. I haven't got the mileage or use to determine actual durability in any way yet. First and second forward gears are nice and low but, it's a little tall in reverse which can make the tight spots where you're backing uphill kind of tough. Keep in mind my truck is SRW so it's geared a fair bit taller than the DRW versions.

Never have had any issues with mine as far as gear hunting. When I'm out on the road I always use cruise, downshifts automatically if needed to keep speed on hills, which its suppose to do.

Playing with different axle ratios, with a 1.0/1.2 aux 2-speed gear box, or a 1.0/1.2/3.0 3-speed transfer case-

2.73 x 1.2 = 3.28
2.92 x 1.2 = 3.50
3.08 x 1.2 = 3.70
3.31 x 1.2 = 3.97
3.42 x 1.2 = 4.10
3.54 x 1.2 = 4.25
3.73 x 1.2 = 4.48
3.92 x 1.2 = 4.70
4.10 x 1.2 = 4.92
4.30 x 1.2 = 5.16
4.56 x 1.2 = 5.47
4.88 x 1.2 = 5.85
5.13 x 1.2 = 6.16
5.38 x 1.2 = 6.47

It would be really nice to have an auxilliary transmission, or a 3 speed transfer case, with a 1.2:1 ratio, paired with a 3.42 axle ratio.

3.42 x 1.2 = 4.10

Use 1.0 for driving empty, full set of tranny ratios with 3.42 actual overall.

Use 1.2 for towing heavy, full set of tranny ratios with 4.10 effective overall.

It would be like having 2 trucks in one. :)

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Searching_Ut wrote:
One big difference I've noticed is my 2015 with the AISIN tends to hunt gears a whole lot, much more than the 68RFE I had previously. You pretty much have to manually select gears when towing. On the plus side, shifts are noticeably more firm and it just feels more solid all around. I haven't got the mileage or use to determine actual durability in any way yet. First and second forward gears are nice and low but, it's a little tall in reverse which can make the tight spots where you're backing uphill kind of tough. Keep in mind my truck is SRW so it's geared a fair bit taller than the DRW versions.

Use 4 low when backing. Use 5th gear when towing it will give you the same RPM's as a 4:10 in 6th.

I did a lot of experimenting with my 11 HO dually with 3.42's in 5th and 6th. Overall mileage towing in 5th was better than 6th and it did not downshift nearly as much.

Pretty close.

Assuming a 0.75:1 fifth gear ratio and a 0.65:1 sixth gear ratio-

3.42 x 0.75 = 2.57
4.10 x 0.65 = 2.67

Searching_Ut wrote:
One big difference I've noticed is my 2015 with the AISIN tends to hunt gears a whole lot, much more than the 68RFE I had previously. You pretty much have to manually select gears when towing. On the plus side, shifts are noticeably more firm and it just feels more solid all around. I haven't got the mileage or use to determine actual durability in any way yet. First and second forward gears are nice and low but, it's a little tall in reverse which can make the tight spots where you're backing uphill kind of tough. Keep in mind my truck is SRW so it's geared a fair bit taller than the DRW versions.

Use 4 low when backing. Use 5th gear when towing it will give you the same RPM's as a 4:10 in 6th.

I did a lot of experimenting with my 11 HO dually with 3.42's in 5th and 6th. Overall mileage towing in 5th was better than 6th and it did not downshift nearly as much.

I use 4wd Low with the hubs unlocked for maneuvering trailer on hills, or any time I want to crawl slowly. It's a nice 'granny' gear, which my trannys don't have.

One big difference I've noticed is my 2015 with the AISIN tends to hunt gears a whole lot, much more than the 68RFE I had previously. You pretty much have to manually select gears when towing. On the plus side, shifts are noticeably more firm and it just feels more solid all around. I haven't got the mileage or use to determine actual durability in any way yet. First and second forward gears are nice and low but, it's a little tall in reverse which can make the tight spots where you're backing uphill kind of tough. Keep in mind my truck is SRW so it's geared a fair bit taller than the DRW versions.