surveyorjp
Missouri
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donn0128 wrote:HaulinBass02 wrote:
What is the take on the Aisin 6spd automatic? I have yet to drive one (I've tested the 6spd manual). Is it going to hold up better than the old Dodge 4spd autos? I got to have something that is reliable. The Cummins is no worry but everyone knows the Dodge autos are notorious for giving out.
So you are looking at a 4500 cab and chassis?
The Aisin automatics is only available on the C&C models. The regular pickups have a Chrysler built 68RFE 6 speed automatic.
And it is fabulous! Couple it with the factory EB and you can literally go down the side of a mountain and not touch the brakes towing 13,500 pounds.
As Donn pointed out, the Aisin is only available on the Cab/Chassis 3500/4500/5500 trucks. The pickups, (megacab included) get the 68RFE. And, the "old 4 speed" autos you mention haven't really been a problem reliability wise since the early 2000s. The last couple years of the 47RE were pretty good, and the 48RE was even better. Too early to say for sure about the 68RFE, but I have read no bad reports about it so far. In fact, most are very pleased with it and the EB.
2005 Surveyor SV-291
1995 Dodge Ram 1500 Laramie SLT 4x4 5.9L V8
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HaulinBass02
Springtown, Texas, USA
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Ok, good to know about the Aisin, the way the dealer made it sound was that it was THE automatic that was mated to the 6.7L.
Well, I guess that the weight issue is really a non issue. My other concern then would be the need for a slider hitch. Is the bed the same length as a short bed/quad cab? My trailer is 98" wide and has a 5th Airborne extended pin box. Do I need to worry about a slider or am I good to continue on with my B&W Companion? I've never had to worry about that since I've only towed with a long bed truck.
Oh and how is the turn radius of that truck. I can tell you that my Chevy STINKS and that a Ford F350 dually 4x4 I test drove turned the tightest turn radius I've seen in a truck that size! And as a lot of yoy may know, if your truck doesn't back and turn very well, then neither does your 5er!
'06 Chevy CC/LB 4x4 3500 DRW Dmax/Alli a few go fast mods
'08 Pilgrim Legends 37QB4S-H5
JT Strongarms, 5th Airborne, few custom touches
Me (DH), DW, darling little boy and sweet little girl.
No longer full-timing but ready to go none-the-less!
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donn0128
Pronounced Ore-gun
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Although a couple of inches shorter than the other brands, the Dodger short bed is the same across the board at I believe 6'3". I get more and more impressed with it's towing powers and the 6 speed auto and standard EB at each pull. Going down the Oregon coast last week was a joy. Power to spare going up every headland and going down was a no brainer. Rarely even touched the brakes even fully loaded.
Donn
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MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
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HaulinBass.......
The Dodge has the tightest turning radius of all three 3500 trucks...by far! I have a 102" wide toyhauler and I can almost do a full 90 degrees. I'm about 1/2" from doing it in perfect conditions. And about 4"s from 100 percent safety. I would keep the hitch you have, but add a sidewinder pin to your 5th Airborne. Check it out, they are cool.
Mav
'08 Dodge 3500 SLT Mega Cab Dually, 6.7l/6 speed.
'08 Winners Circle 36SRV-H5
Pair of '09 Polaris Sportsman 550 XP's
'05 Polaris Trail Boss 330
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1 wife, 2 kids, 3 dogs, 2 cats
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MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
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ib516 wrote:The Megacabs are all built on the same frame, 1500 (8510# GVWR), 2500 (9000# GVWR), 3500 SRW (10,100# GVWR), or 3500 DRW (10,500# GVWR).
The frame on my wifes 1500 Mega is slighly different than my 3500 Mega. Mine has more meat! 
Mav
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ib516
Up here!
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MadMav wrote:ib516 wrote:The Megacabs are all built on the same frame, 1500 (8510# GVWR), 2500 (9000# GVWR), 3500 SRW (10,100# GVWR), or 3500 DRW (10,500# GVWR).
The frame on my wifes 1500 Mega is slighly different than my 3500 Mega. Mine has more meat!
Mav
I might be wrong Mav, but i did read it Here.
"The Mega Cab is based on a 2500 chassis, so the 1500 will have some of the top numbers of any light-duty pickup, including an 8510-pound GVWR and payload range of 1860 to 2410 pounds. The 1500 Mega Cab 4x2 will weigh over 1000 pounds more than a standard Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x2."
"Basically, Dodge took a 2500 Quad Cab longbed frame and put a shortbed box on it."
But then, according to this interview, maybe it's just the 1500s and 2500s that have the same frame. maybe you're right and the 3500 IS different....
"PickupTruck.com: The 1500 and 2500 Mega Cabs are on same chassis with minor differences in towing and other capacities. Can you explain that strategy?
Brad Pinter: The 1500 buyers expect a different ride and handling feel than the 2500. What we didn’t want to do was lose sight of the 1500. The 1500 buyer is totally different than the heavy-duty buyer. The light duty crew cab buyer represents 60 percent of all crew cab sales. The 1500 buyer is expecting maximum capability. So if give them the 2500 frame, allows them to tow and pull more than the competitors. They appreciate that."
LINK to Interview
Maybe they base the 3500 series Megacab on the 3500 quad cab long bed frame?
2004 Cougar 301 BHS
"MEGACASPER" 2007 Dodge/5.9L Cummins/3500 SRW Megacab/48RE/4x4/3.73/10,100# GVWR
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MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
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That's what I was told. 1500 and 2500 same frame/axles, and 3500 same as quad cab.
Love the fact that my wifes 1500 mega has more axle/tire capacity than a 2500HD Chevy/GMC. But the springs are weak! Tried to put 2600lbs of pellets in it and the wife said it sunk too much. We had to limit the load to 1600lbs in the bed, and it sat fine at that and handled very well. Time for airbags.
Mav
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ib516
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Yes, they have said they put lighter springs on the 1500 Megas to make them ride better.
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HaulinBass02
Springtown, Texas, USA
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MadMav wrote:HaulinBass.......
The Dodge has the tightest turning radius of all three 3500 trucks...by far! I have a 102" wide toyhauler and I can almost do a full 90 degrees. I'm about 1/2" from doing it in perfect conditions. And about 4"s from 100 percent safety. I would keep the hitch you have, but add a sidewinder pin to your 5th Airborne. Check it out, they are cool.
Mav
Unfortunately I can't use a sidewinder pinbox with the B&W Companion. It is prohibited by warranty because of the loads it places on the hitch due to the rotation point being at the trailer rather than the hitch. It has to do with the square post they use to mount the 5er hitch in the bed, it doesn't have enough strength for the rotational forces. BUT, if you, with a wider 5er are able to make those kind of turns, I think I would be safe with a narrower trailer. BTW, do you know how far back from the front of the bed your hitch is mounted as far as the actual pivot point?
Can anyone using a B&W Companion towing with a Mega Cab pipe in? (If there are any?)
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MadMav
Colorado Springs, CO
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That doesn't really make sense. The rotational force is the same if not less due to the actual increase bearing support of the sidewinder hitch. If the sidewinder would catch or hold up at the fiver I could see it, but it's free spinning. Oh well, I doubt there are many, if any short bed Companion users. 
Mav
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