Ram automatic vs asin

Bionic Man wrote:
The 68 was the only auto transmission offered for my 2012. Overall, I have been very happy with it. I only have about 48,000 miles on my truck, but it is a dedicated tow vehicle, so it has been worked hard, towing up to 18,000 pounds with my 5er/boat in tandem.

Yeah, I would not believe all the hype on the Aisin. I work for a medium and heavy duty truck dealership group and we sell Hino, Isuzu, GM(gone in 2015), and medium duty Peterbilt 220s all with an Aisin option. Some here are lying to you if they say that they don't break. They do break and their failure rate is no different than the Allison transmissions offered in the very same trucks which all have less engine power ratings and are rated at a much less GCWR than the Ram with the Aisin.

The main benefit to the Aisin is the ability for a higher tow rating and a PTO. From my experience with them in our medium duties that we sell, and the fleet of 68RFE backed Rams of ours and my customers light duty fleets. I can tell you that this myth that some how the Aisin will last years and hundreds of thousands of miles longer than the 68RFE towing within each of their weight rating is just that, a myth. If the extra tow weight rating or PTO is not needed then their is really no need for the Aisin unless you just want to be able say you have a "medium duty" transmission because you like the extra inches you think it gives you every time you say that.

I don't think I would ever get an Aisin in a SRW since the 68RFE can easily handle what SRW trucks are rated at and since you cannot get shorter gears even with an Aisin in a SRW. If I could get shorter gears in a SRW with an Aisin then it might be worth it. If I needed to tow something that required a DRW then I would infidelity get the Aisin. Although I can't stand driving DRW trucks and would rather lower the amount of weight I need to tow than to buy one.

The 68 was the only auto transmission offered for my 2012. Overall, I have been very happy with it. I only have about 48,000 miles on my truck, but it is a dedicated tow vehicle, so it has been worked hard, towing up to 18,000 pounds with my 5er/boat in tandem.

If I were to get a new RAM, I would go with the Aisin, but only because I do look at it as a step above any other transmission out there. That said, I think I will be happy with the 68 for many years to come. I think you can make a strong argument that the 68 is every bit as good as the auto in the Ford or the Allison in the GM.

NC Hauler wrote:
I've owned and towed heavy with both...My 13' had 37,000 trouble free miles on it and it towed 16,300# flawlessly in the mountains.This truck IO have now, with 3,000 miles on it tows my heavier Jayco TH even easier, but t has 50 more ft lb of TQ, and yes, I can tell it. The 68 RFE also worked flawlessly.. I paid the extra money for a medium duty tranny strapped to a medium duty dies for our towing purposes when we retire end of July. If you have the money, it's WELL worth it in my opinion, based on fact, not hear say..I know what mine did and how it ran, and the 16' is even smoother, and much more stout..LOVE IT!! Glad I paid the little extra for it...worth every penny..


Jim

Jim , Its tough to compete or discuss much of anything with most of the Ram Mafia. I stated a few things about the 68, and will stand by that. We can get together in a few years towing with these Rams, and compare. I just have a tough time grasping the" worth every penny". I guess I need to understand what the worth is going to be.

I've owned and towed heavy with both...My 13' had 37,000 trouble free miles on it and it towed 16,300# flawlessly in the mountains. This truck we have now, with 3,000 miles on it tows my heavier Jayco TH even easier, but it has 50 more ft lb of TQ, and yes, I can tell it. The 68 RFE also worked flawlessly.. I paid the extra money for a medium duty tranny strapped to a medium duty Cummins diesel for our towing purposes when we retire end of July. If you have the money, it's WELL worth it in my opinion, based on fact, not hear say..I know what mine did and how it ran, and the 16' is even smoother, and much more stout..LOVE IT!! Glad I paid the little extra for it...worth every penny..


Jim

Cummins12V98 wrote:

WTP-GC wrote:
The only complaint I have with my Aisin is the quick shift from 1st to 2nd. Sometimes when moving only a short distance, like from a stop up to my turn at an intersection, it will shift. That's a little aggravating, but once you learn how to drive it, you can work around such minor annoyances.

In the perfect world I would have the truck start out in 2nd unless towing. The ease of getting a HEAVY load rolling makes up for such a minor issue.

I agree, that 2nd gear in the Aisin is more than capable of starting the motion on this truck. I am certainly a fan of useful (and non-destructive) after-market devices for vehicles, but until the warranty runs out, I'm going to live with it.

WTP-GC wrote:
The only complaint I have with my Aisin is the quick shift from 1st to 2nd. Sometimes when moving only a short distance, like from a stop up to my turn at an intersection, it will shift. That's a little aggravating, but once you learn how to drive it, you can work around such minor annoyances.

In the perfect world I would have the truck start out in 2nd unless towing. The ease of getting a HEAVY load rolling makes up for such a minor issue.

"IMO more bite on the Aisin , and the $2600 extra, then necessary. In Cummins12V98 own words, towing heavy with the 68RFE, and 3:42 gears with X amount of miles with no issues. Yes ,and we all should know by now that was his previous Ram truck."

Correct, almost. I have said many times the 68RFE served me very well towing VERY heavy with 3.42's but I did have one negative that was getting the load rolling on a grade that the Aisin would have cured with its lower starting gears.

Yea that was my "OLD" truck.:B

The only complaint I have with my Aisin is the quick shift from 1st to 2nd. Sometimes when moving only a short distance, like from a stop up to my turn at an intersection, it will shift. That's a little aggravating, but once you learn how to drive it, you can work around such minor annoyances.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
A couple more downsides: The HD Aisin is physically heavier and requires more frequent service than the 68RFE.

The service is quite simple on the Aisin. Drain pan (there is a drain plug) every 30K and re fill then at 120K replace filter. I just attended May Madness in Pahrump, NV and confirmed this is the case. Per the Chrysler guy as I have said the Aisin does not break! All three Chrysler guys agreed on service intervals. Can't get much easier.

68RFE service is replace both filters and oil every 60K if towing.

Just pulled several long 6 percent grades today and the hottest the trans got was 167 at 85-90 outside. That is with a measly 32,500# combined.

You seem to have bought in on the Aisin , they all can break. You apparently don't read the forums or chose to ignore the facts

Bedlam wrote:
A couple more downsides: The HD Aisin is physically heavier and requires more frequent service than the 68RFE.

The service is quite simple on the Aisin. Drain pan (there is a drain plug) every 30K and re fill then at 120K replace filter. I just attended May Madness in Pahrump, NV and confirmed this is the case. Per the Chrysler guy as I have said the Aisin does not break! All three Chrysler guys agreed on service intervals. Can't get much easier.

68RFE service is replace both filters and oil every 60K if towing.

Just pulled several long 6 percent grades today and the hottest the trans got was 167 at 85-90 outside. That is with a measly 32,500# combined.