RAM 3500 Transmission

[High Road Travelers]

I have a 2023 RAM 3500 Dually with the standard 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel engine (not HO) and the 6 speed 68RFE transmission.
Every once in a while I will see a comment about the transmission being the weak link in this truck, that the transmission has a reputation for breaking down.
Is there an issue with this transmission, and is there some care or maintenance that I can do to help ensure it doesn't go out on me?
I've not had any problems with the truck so far but only have 26,000 miles. I tow a 15K lb. fifth wheel RV.
Thanks,

[Old-Biscuit]

I have a 2007 3500 with the 48re tranny that supposedly was the weak leak ...........towed a 14K 5th wheel FT for 7yrs and continued to tow that same 14K 5th wheel for the next 10 yrs on camping trips

Sold the 5vr a few months ago but the 3500 with that weak link tranny is still my daily driver

I changed tranny fluid and had service done per maintenance schedule

The 68re has been called the same weak link

Few folks post about how good this or that is. Posts are about had this or that failed
Was the failure due to weak link syndrome, poor maintenance, overload/use etc. That part of the failure post is rarely stated.

Do the maintenance per schedules outlined in your owners manual and don't hop up engine HP/Torque w/o upgrading the tranny and driveshaft etc

[CecilD]

Like Old-Biscuit, I have the 48RE transmission in my truck. People told me the tranny was a POS and that I would be sorry I bought the truck. I probably have over compensated, but the 48RE has performed flawlessly. Here are some things I do or have done:

I installed a BD oil pan with drain plug and a Derale auxiliary cooler. Every other oil change I do a splash and fill of the ATF in the pan. It doesn't replace all the fluid but freshens what is left.

Every 30,000 miles (not 60) I drop the pan, replace the filter and adjust the bands.

Keep the the engine stock. By curious chance the torque of my engine is the same as the capacity of the transmission. Don't install oversize tires; this only serves to stress the transmission.

I try to take mountain passes fast enough so that the torque converter will stay locked up and not develop heat from slipping. I'm not prone to jack rabbit starts especially with the trailer hooked up. The tranny will heat up in stop and go so I try to time city travel when traffic volume is low.

I don't tow using cruise control. On my truck, when entering a grade, the transmission will downshift out of overdrive and slam into 3rd gear. I prefer to use the tow haul switch and make the gear change smoothly. Maybe this isn't an issue in Texas.

My transmission is now 20 years old and I'm counting on another 10 years.

[workingonit]

Drive it till it breaks and replace it. That's what I plan to do with mine. It's what extended warranties are for.

[jimcumminsw]

The internet is full of NAYSAYERS about anything that is manufactured today.

For the most part the 68RFE automatic transmission should last at least 200K miles or more before it will fail. I know of users who have gotten at least 300K before failure that used their trucks for hauling. Now that is not to say the transmission will stand up to abuse such as extreme amounts of HP/TQ over stock. Or rapid shifting between forward and reverse or wheel burned outs with full torque.

The only requirement for the transmission is to change the fluid and filters (2) per the schedule in the O&M guide for your truck.

I have 140K on my transmission in my truck with an additional 60HP/120TQ over stock since 2009. I have made three changes to my transmission to help extend the life of it.

My first change was to install a MAG-HYTEC AL deep dish transmission pan that holds an additional 3qrts of fluid.

The second change was a gauge to measure the TRANS TEMP so, I would know the fluid temps when towing. (this is usually under 205F, never exceeding 215F)

The third change is I change my fluid and filters at 40,000 miles instead of the heavy-duty schedule as the book states to do.

I tow a 34RL Cedar Creek with my 2008, 4X4, Mega CAB 2500HD 6.7L Cummins, 68RFE Auto and 3:73 gears close to 19,500 combined GVW.

Just saying.

[Cumminsfan]

I think you'll find the bulk of people saying they had breakdowns with the 68RFE have a tuner on them and work them beyond their limits.
I'm on my 2nd Ram (2019 3500) with the 68RFE and have had no problems. Only put 67,000 on the 1st one and currently have 30,000 on the 2nd one. I tow a little over 9000 lbs so not a big test. But half or more of my miles are towing with each Ram. My trans temps stay right at 167-168* when normal ambient temps and mild grades. They go up just a few degrees when ascending 6%+ grades in hotter temps.
Only thing I don't like about it is the spacing. I would love the new ZF 8sp they're going to. But I can't see spending another $30K-$40K just for the extra two gears. I drop down to 5th when in the mtns and run 55-60 mph which puts the Cummins around 1700-1800 rpms. Right in the sweet spot with no lugging. On the freeway in 6th at 65-70 mph the rpms are about the same. I would like a smoother transition in the 2-3-4 gears other than that it's a solid trans IMO.

It's the least of my worries. I worry more about the HPFP or some elec issue even though I had the recall done for the CP.3 swap.

[Gr8bawana]

When used as intended they are very reliable. The problems occur when people tune their trucks and add HP and torque that the trans was never intended to support.
Regular maintenance at the suggested intervals is all they need.

[Dave Pelletier]

The 68RFE isn't a great transmission but I've had little problems with the one I have in my fleet (unlike my 66RFE); it's been fine at stock power levels. The Aisin is a superior tranny though it's still a 6spd. I have hopes that the ZF8 speed in the new CTD Rams will prove to be a worthy option.

Dave

[High Road Travelers]

I appreciate everyone's responses and the encouragement and advice to perform regular maintenance. I'm not concerned anymore as everything on the truck is stock, I perform regular maintenance and don't abuse it while driving. Most of the miles are towing a fifth wheel RV that weighs 14K, I drive it easy and use tow/haul 100% of the time when towing.
Thanks,

[4x4ord]

Originally Posted by High Road Travelers

I appreciate everyone's responses and the encouragement and advice to perform regular maintenance. I'm not concerned anymore as everything on the truck is stock, I perform regular maintenance and don't abuse it while driving. Most of the miles are towing a fifth wheel RV that weighs 14K, I drive it easy and use tow/haul 100% of the time when towing.
Thanks,

I would leave the engine with the stock tune and I wouldn't be afraid to drive the truck hard in stock form. If the tranny craters it can be rebuilt to much higher standards and then you can tune the engine as well some too.

[Nlambert]

Originally Posted by High Road Travelers

I have a 2023 RAM 3500 Dually with the standard 6.7L Cummins turbo diesel engine (not HO) and the 6 speed 68RFE transmission.
Every once in a while I will see a comment about the transmission being the weak link in this truck, that the transmission has a reputation for breaking down.
Is there an issue with this transmission, and is there some care or maintenance that I can do to help ensure it doesn't go out on me?
I've not had any problems with the truck so far but only have 26,000 miles. I tow a 15K lb. fifth wheel RV.
Thanks,

In short.... no, there is no issue with this transmission. I've ran them in all my Ram HDs towing upwards of 15k for hundreds of thousands of combined miles. Keep it serviced and don't hot rod the truck and it will last.

What you typically hear about are the folks who delete their trucks and turn up the horsepower. These transmissions will not take anything more than they left the factory with. But... if you use it as intended, don't tune it, don't overload the truck, etc... they don't really have many issues.

All of my trucks have been deleted (due to emissions failures and lack of available parts), but none have ever been turned up past stock HP/TQ numbers. THAT is the key.

[Dieselguy4]

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

I have a 2007 3500 with the 48re tranny that supposedly was the weak leak ...........towed a 14K 5th wheel FT for 7yrs and continued to tow that same 14K 5th wheel for the next 10 yrs on camping trips

Sold the 5vr a few months ago but the 3500 with that weak link tranny is still my daily driver

I changed tranny fluid and had service done per maintenance schedule

The 68re has been called the same weak link

Few folks post about how good this or that is. Posts are about had this or that failed
Was the failure due to weak link syndrome, poor maintenance, overload/use etc. That part of the failure post is rarely stated.

Do the maintenance per schedules outlined in your owners manual and don't hop up engine HP/Torque w/o upgrading the tranny and driveshaft etc

Great info. My 06 Ram 3500 5.9 Cummins with a 48RE trans has been great since I bought it new. I tow a 10K lb car trailer and a 13500 lb fifth wheel with it. 186K miles and no trans issue. I keep it stock, change trans oil and adjust bands at 50K. Keep them stock, do the maintenance and drive it with a brain and you will be fine.

[Kssteve]

Originally Posted by Dieselguy4

Great info. My 06 Ram 3500 5.9 Cummins with a 48RE trans has been great since I bought it new. I tow a 10K lb car trailer and a 13500 lb fifth wheel with it. 186K miles and no trans issue. I keep it stock, change trans oil and adjust bands at 50K. Keep them stock, do the maintenance and drive it with a brain and you will be fine.

I've got a 2004 Ram 2500 with a 5.9 Cummins and a 48e transmission. It's got 160,000 miles on it, a lot of it pulling a camper, some in the mountains. It works as good (or bad) as the day it was new, but I have changed the fluid and adjusted the bands regularly.