Forum Discussion

falconbrother's avatar
falconbrother
Explorer II
Dec 12, 2016

Fightin words, best transmission, 150/1500 series?

As a second career I work at the local community college. I always ask the automotive students their opinion about who has the best transmission, GM, Dodge or Ford in the 150/1500 series vehicles. I can't say that I ever get a reliable answer. It seems to me that it depends on the year and models. One kid actually works in a transmission shop and he claims that the Suburbans are in 4 to 1 more than the Fords, say Expeditions for transmission overhauls. Of course this is extremely unscientific research.

I retired from a municipal police agency. Our city, as a whole, had thousands of vehicles. What I think I observed about cars was that back in the 1990s the GM vehicles were the best. That is most hard miles driven without a repair. By the time I retired it was the Fords that were the better cars.

So, anyway, what American brand has the best transmission for long term life while occasionally towing a travel trailer, excluding diesel heavy duty vehicles?
  • falconbrother's avatar
    falconbrother
    Explorer II
    Dec 13, 2016
    I have a buddy with an early or mid 90s Chevy PU. He has to have a transmission every 70,000 or so and he doesn't tow. He told me that the truck looses 2nd gear. But, he loves that old truck in spite of the known issue. I just want to spend my hard earned cash on a good used vehicle that I can relay on for a while. I'm not overly fond of any brand. My wife has a Chrysler Town and Country van, 2010, that has so far been an excellent vehicle. If the Dodge trucks are this good I'll take one.
  • CavemanCharlie's avatar
    CavemanCharlie
    Explorer III
    Dec 13, 2016
    It depends. lol

    The kids are right. Different years of trucks use different transmissions.

    You have to be more specific about what year. They have each had their ups and downs.

    It's not like in the old days where they used the same engine and transmission for years and years. (or even decades) These days they change them every few years.
  • seaeagle2's avatar
    seaeagle2
    Explorer
    Dec 13, 2016
    Big Katuna wrote:
    My 84 GMC 4 speed auto failed at 80K miles.

    My 92 Chevy 1500 failed at 90K miles.

    Both towed occasionally.

    Those 700R4 transmissions weren't very good, they were a stop gap measure until the electronic 5 speeds came out. I had a 1992 K1500 pick up with a after market trans temperature gauge. It was frightening how towing my 18 foot boat three miles from the boat ramp and backing into the driveway would elevate the temp
  • Big_Katuna's avatar
    Big_Katuna
    Explorer II
    Dec 12, 2016
    My 84 GMC 4 speed auto failed at 80K miles.

    My 92 Chevy 1500 failed at 90K miles.

    Both towed occasionally.
  • rbpru's avatar
    rbpru
    Explorer II
    Dec 12, 2016
    The best transmission is the one in the truck you own.

    That is unless you have problems. :)

    I have had several vehicles with over 200,000 mile on them. The only failure I had was on an 80's vintage Ranger with a manual four speed, and that was at 215,000 miles.

    Now that may not be much for some of you folks, but it is more than most people put on their vehicles before they trade.

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