dodge and auto tranny durability?

[RodeoRob]

I've heard nothing but awesome stuff about the CTD, but i've told to throw caution to the wind with the dodge auto tranny. Since i'm looking at something used (99-01ish), it seems like most of the dodge pre-owned market is auto. Are the problems with the dodge auto tranny just rumor? should this keep me from looking at a good/decent deal on a dodge if its got an auto? how do they hold up behind the heavier diesel trucks? how many miles can you expect out of a diesel auto (under mild towing use) before a rebuild? is overheating the primary concern?

I'll be towing single rig/trailer, guessing aroung 6k lbs. So that shouldn't be working the 2500 CTD too hard. lots of weekend trips up and over the Appalachian Mountains and yearly trips cross country.

-Rob

[JasonH]

This is all second hand info, so take it for what it's worth... The only problems I've heard of is on the 1/2 ton trucks. I personally know two people with 1/2 ton Dodges who both had to have their auto's rebuilt at 60K miles. I know of at least one more.

Texican on this board has a Dodge 2500 with the Cummins and an auto. He regularly pulls a big gooseneck with two FJ40's on it. Trips to Utah, Tennessee, etc. I don't think he's had any problems with it. I would doubt a 6K lb load would be that hard on it.

[RodeoRob]

Jason, that goes along with my personal experience. I don't know anything about the 3/4ton and 1ton, but my bud's got a 1/2 dodge w/ the auto. besides being overall gutless, the tranny does have a tendancy to overheat. i've pulled my rig behind it before and the tranny does a lot of searching for gears and we had the auto tranny temp warning light pop on while pulling up over the Appalachian Mountains.

I'm thinking the auto behind the diesels is much better, i just have no experience with them.

-Rob

[fj40charles]

IMHO Dodge autos behind Cummins are weak. This would also be true for Ford trucks too.

If you're thinking about increasing the HP/torque, then you need to get your tranny built to handle the increased power.

I would go with DTT. www.dieseltrans.com

Go to www.turbodieselregister.com and read on some of the threads.

[proletariat]

The turbodieselregister is THE best resource for information you're looking for. This tranny thing has been rehashed about a billion times over there. The tranny's are weak, but if you have stock power or do some upgrades they can last. I've got a 6spd so I don't know ALL the details. Oh, and dieseltruckresource.com is a free dodge site that is almost as good as the tdr.

[thump93yj]

one of the most flame-filled debate topics ever... go to the diesel sites above and enjoy...

My real world experience is this... got a dozen folks I know with CTD autos and Ford autos who use them to pull their rigs, campers whatever... none of them has had tranny issues. Before I bought mine I heard the same doom and gloom about the autos mixed with some decent advice on upgrading or just maintaining a stock one... but have yet to come across someone who's blown one up.

the way I see it... these people are like me and drive sensibly most of the time (not stomping the skinny pedal etc.), take care of the motors and trannys with regular maintenance and proper fluids... the autos will last. You always read about the... "I was a mechanic at such and such and we rebuilt them things all the time yada yada..." but who knows what kind of folks were bringing in that tore up stuff... probably the same ones that never changed the oil and drove the truck/trailer like a damn hotrod... :confused: Mine's got 87K on it... 20% of which is towing a trailer... I treat it nice towing... let the tranny cool down at the end of a haul etc. and don't romp it. My fluids are clean and checked regularly. So far so good.

[gunracer1]

my neighbor delivers boats for a living. he hauls some monsters. he has not tore up a auto tranny in the last 600k miles. his current truck has 260k [2001 4x4 3/4 ton]on it and is doing fine. but he doesn't drive like a idiot and is good about maintenance. mike

[Norm]

I think the autos mostly get a bad wrap, so far I really like mine and I regulary push 16K GCVW. As a bonus my wife will drive it while I watch the cooler :) . With stock power it should last as long time as long as you don't get it hot. The stock tranny temp warning light comes on around 255 degrees F (too hot), so I would throw in a an after market gauge. Keep the temp under 225 and life should be good. If you add power, you will need a valve body and converter to handle the extra power.

[Braden Willard]

Another good thing to do is upgrade the stock tranny cooler. In one of the flex lines going into the cooler their is a check-ball. This check-ball likes to stick in the closed position---thus allowing the fluid to not circulate through the cooler properly.