dodge tranny

[Ryan_V]

Looking at a 98 dodge 3/4 ton with the v10. is the tranny going to hold for heavy towing?? I have a 30 foot travel trailer and have heard bad things about the dodge tranny and pulling. anyone have any experience or advice?? thanks very much

[311Hemi]

The late 90's Dodge trannies did have issues so I would be a little hesitant. What is the mileage on the truck and do you know if it has been towed with? The one thing I don't know for sure though is if the 2500 fit into that, I know the 1500's had issues.

Also, I don't know if the Cummins diesel has a different tranny than the V10's that year, but my dads 98' 2500 with the Cummins has not had one issue. He pulls a 31' travel trailer. If the V10 is a different tranny I would worry a bit more.

I would personally stay away from the 1500's, but that doesn't afffect you.

BTW....I am a Dodge guy and just traded in my 03' 1500 Hemi for a 03' 2500 Cummins. The newer trucks have much better trannies than the late 90's.

My buddy just got a rebuilt tranny installed in his 99' 1500 last week. He bought the truck with a rebuilt tranny so this is the third in the truck in 98,000 miles.

Do a search for dodgetruckworld and dodgetrucks and check out those sites. You should be able to get a lot of info on the forums on those sites.

[McGurk]

I've heard poor reports on the late 90's V10 automatic trannys (no actual 1-on-1 conversations) but my old man had a '94 2500 deisel manual tranny that hit 350,000 miles with hard pulling before he sold it to get duallies and an ex. cab, not because the truck had issues. He now has a 2000 diesel 3500 manual tranny and hasn't had any issues, yet. Was there an Allison Tranny option or am I dreaming this up?

[311Hemi]

I don't think Dodge had an option for an Allison, but it sure would be sweet if they did.

Oh, and I didn't mentione that my dads 98' 2500 CTD has almost 250,000 miles.

[countryboy9799]

The allison tranny is in the chevy's and I dont think they came out till the duramax engines were put in.

Does the truck your looking at have a manual or automatic?

I know around that year they had trouble with 5th. gear in their manual, I have a 99 with a cummins and from what I have heard it has more to do with the cummins because it has a surging that will take it out if you have the rpm's down in the 1000 to 1500 rpm range. On mine it has a place on the 5 speed for a pto, it is supposed to be a heavier duty so I am hoping the problem wont pertain to me and I keep the rpm's above 1500 in 5th. and I don't pull as hard as alot of guy's do.

[Ryan_V]

the truck is an automatic and has roughly 70,000 miles on it. It hasn't done much pulling. he has a trailer that goes about 4500 #'s that it doesn't have a problem with. But I'll be towing very often in the summer with it. Went through the finances and doesn't look possible anyway, but just want to check on the tranny issue in case I convince the boss!!!

[Blaze]

Ryan - if you can afford the gas to pull "often" with a V10, you can afford an extra tranny...or two.

[JohnMickish]

If you can afford to feed a V-10 you can afford the Cummins and be happier with it.

[jltimm]

You hit the nail on the head! Get a Cummins,improve GREATLY on your mileage, and get some resale value in the end.

[311Hemi]

mnfishingguy has it exactly right....if you can afford to pay for the gas that V10 will suck down towing you should have enough to get a Cummins.

And they are by all means worth it. Buying a used one is much more reasonable than a new one. I just picked up my 03 2500 4x4 X-cab with the HO Cummins and it's a great truck. I traded in my 03 Hemi with 30000 miles for this deisel with 87000 miles. It's jsut getting broken in!!!