Dually

My dealer charges $10 labor for a oil change. I supply the Rotella T5 synthetic blend 15W-40 and the filter. I buy the fuel filters off Amazon, but don't remember the labor charge on those.
I did 7,500 mile oil change interals on the SRW and will contimue that with the 2018. I think the fuel filters are every 22,000.

I wouldn’t turn down the Aisin, but I wouldn’t pay extra for it unless I was routinely towing heavy or occasionally towing really heavy.

Thanks for all the input. I have spent several hours on the Cummins forum. What is finally clear to my slow brain, the high out motor, 385 motor and 930 torque only comes with the Aisin. The 370 motor and 800 torque comes with the 68rfe transmission. Since I’m only concerned with payload for a heavy camper and not heavy towing I think I’m going with the 2018 68 transmission and 373 rear end. Hope I’ve made the right decision

The Aisin does have disadvantages.
It would be wise to go on some Ram or Cummins forums and gather some info, not just from a camper site.
The 68RFE is a great transmission and has aftermarket support and great custom tuning available. The Aisin has neither of those.
The Aisin is a solid transmission for sure but it isn’t always necessarily the clear hands-down better choice.

Dealer has a longhorn 3500 Ram 2018 that has a decent price but it has the 68/transmission,not the Aisin. Interesting how confusing these choices are. Some say the 68 is fine other say Aisin only. .?

The 2017 has the Aisin transmission and 373 rear end

Negotiationing with the dealer on a left over 17 longhorn 3500 we are two thousand apart. Interesting to see if they will get close ro my offer. By the way what do are you guyy paying for your 15000 mile services. I pay about $90.00 for my durmax when a fuel filter is not required. How often do change fuel filters on the Cummins?

Get the most HP/Torque you can get in a truck set up, especially if you are financing as it is only a few dollars more a month and will be more costly to try and rectify later, if you could. You will NEVER say "darn, I have too much power in this truck!", but I can't type what you will shout when you find out you don't have enough!
The Aisin WITH 4.10 rear end allows for that max HP/Torque package., and I recommend the 4.10 rear end big time.

The new diesel's with exhaust breaks are a real difference maker. No more feathering the brakes heading down the Eisenhower grade.

If you wish to maintain your new RAM per manual spec. severe service intervals with work done at a dealership you will find there is a price to pay for all that technology and power...thank god it is at 15,000 mile intervals. Don't ask me how I know that...

Be mindful of the GVWR, on my 2013 it was the most at the time of any 3500 at 14,000K. Host's are HEAVY! My Eagle Cap is a single slide and I am right at the max GVWR. I would guess most double or triple slide campers of any manufacture should be on a 4500 or 5500 but folks don't do that as those trucks lack the creature comforts of the 1500-3500 trucks they are used to. Plus setting up a flat bed is a project of itself. NO aftermarket products will increase your factory GVWR, no matter what you might read or hear.

I've read mixed reviews regarding the rear air bag factory suspension option. I would personally go with tried and true leaf springs in the rear.

You may need to swap out your OEM tires before they wear out as they are usually dog poo. Mine were terribly out of round and impossible to balance. You need a good stiff sided tire with preferably 3 ply sidewalls to help alleviate sway.

I've driven in trucks with rear sway bars, I thought the ride was rougher especially if the road you are on is rough to begin with. If you do any kind of off roading (as much as you dare with your set-up) sway bars will limit vertical rear axle travel.

The only mods I did to my 2013 RAM was installing FOX adjustable shocks all the way around and I also had a local shop (DEAVER SPRINGS) add another leaf to my rear leaf packs to help with the ride. I chose an extra leaf instead of Torklift products or air bags.

This is all fine tuned to my current set up running down the road at 7 tons. Your needs my vary.

Cheers!

^ Correct. It only seems simple if you don’t know how to do it.
Apples to apples it would be less to sell the srw and get a comparable dooley. Unless sales/use tax gets ya!

Converting a SRW to a DRW isn't cost effective unless maybe if you used all used parts and did the labor yourself. That's not very practical and time consuming.