highgrit":3anez1gp said:
Thats the problem with a Dodge truck with a diesel engine. Their automatic transmission can't hold the torque of the engine. Their 5 and 6 speed manual transmission are the best out of all the light truck mfgs.
I pull heavy trailers a lot and have for years on my day job. Had a problem with a mid 90's Ford F350 with diesel and automatic. After we put the third transmission in it we just stopped using it to pull trailers.
Since then I have been using Dodge Cummins with the 6-speed manual with great luck on both the engine and transmission.
Traded trucks this past August and on the recommendation of a trusted salesman I went with the 2010 Dodge 3500 with the Cummins and their automatic.
What a difference from the earlier transmissions. This one can take the torque of the diesel. It has a tow/haul mode which changes the shift points and a standard engine brake ans built in brale controller that works.
What you said in the quote above has been correct. However I think that some engineers finally properly matched a working diesel and an automatic transmission in the 2010 and 2011 Dodge 3500's.
My left foot does go up and sown through the air some times but I have to admit I like the automatic. Having the engine brake also negates one of the advantages to the manual transmissions. With the engine brake and the manual override on the shift lever I can take a heavy trailer down a long steep hill safely without burning up the brakes.
As you can tell, I really like this truck drivetrain for what I do with it. Not designed to just go to Church and the grocery store however. jmho.
Jim