Dodge=dump

Well after the excitement of getting my own garage and recent deal with my place of employment, I fell victim to the ole Dodge tranny problems. Can't get it to go above 40mph. Time to get a powerstroke I do believe.

My 14 yr. old power stroke is going to pasture and used to haul scrap only. Looking for a new to me Dodge. Love the F-350 but need a smaller truck for commuting.

Unfortunately you are going to find problem trucks with any make. I have two Dodges (both diesel), a 2004 Ram 2500 (for personal use) and a 2007 Ram 3500 (used for hotshotting), both with 200K+ miles, and have not had an issue with either one (other than small stuff like replacing a water pump and a tensioner).

I also had issues with my trans on my dodge. But it does have 660hp and runs 13s in the 1/4. I also average 5ton a week that I haul behind it. Yes you should buy a powerstroke because they don't have enough power to hurt the transmission, so you wont have any issues there.

you should use some sort of transmission fluid additive in your next truck. My mechanic likes Lucas or TransX

Originally Posted by ResourcefulRecycling

I also had issues with my trans on my dodge. But it does have 660hp and runs 13s in the 1/4. I also average 5ton a week that I haul behind it. Yes you should buy a powerstroke because they don't have enough power to hurt the transmission, so you wont have any issues there.

What do you have done to it? lol

Why dont you get it fixed that will be alot cheaper than getting another truck.
Yeah all auto's have problems sometime or another just fix it and go on with it.

I have had nothing but problems with any Mopar I have ever owned. I never hauled scrap in one ether,they were all before I started scrapping. I'll never own another one. I don't mean to offend anyone I'm just saying.

Wayne you Hotshot an scrap? Interesting. Been thinking of getting into the Hot shotting/expediting side of the trucking industry, while still doing the ewaste/scrap thing.

Can't help on the truck thing, so sorry for being off topic. Do forgive me o'great truck owners!

Sirscrapalot - Always remember the last words of my grandfather, who said: 'A truck!' - Emo Philips

I love my 2011 Ram 2500 6.7, but I wouldn't have it in the automatic version. I've heard way too many horror stories of premature failures and expensive repairs. I've always strongly preferred a manual, anyway.

Sorry to hear about your truck, Dan.

Hey, take it from me, the number one cause of transmission failure in a dodge is two parts. Not replacing your filter and fluid every 30,000 miles and not adjusting your bands. It goes a LONG ways to do both as scheduled maint. My 46RE 1/2ton dodge has a big lift kit with equally big tires and I made it almost 200,000 miles on stock trans. Proper Maintenance, Proper Fluids. Never EVER use an additive in a modern transmission, they account for more failures than abusive driving.

For a Dodge you must use ATF+4 specifically...ignore the universal fluids it is NOT the correct additive package. Dodge does not use organic fiber clutch packs and will have problems with anything other than ATF+4 fluid. Also if you fix it, have a Sonnax Sure Cure Kit installed at the same time as the rebuild and make sure the converter is replaced with a precision TC. Koleen steels, red alto O/D clutches and the transmission will outlast the truck...

I believe the problem was it went too long without fluid change to be honest. When I bought it this time last year, guy said he had just done it. Looking back I should have done it myself anyway. Looking to get a 7.3 and maybe rebuild Dodge. My gf likes the truck more than I do hahaha.

Allison transmission will fail with power adders. Trust me I've have 3 or 4 friends with 400hp d maxs and they will break.
As far as my truck I have alot done to it. It will pull a trailer to say the least.

The sonnax sure cure kit allows full converter flow in park. It eliminates lock up hunting, it's a different throttle valve profile. Also it increases flow and pressure to the valve body (still regulated by the pressure solenoid though). But on that note...if you towing in O/D at all you deserve what's coming. Dodge is probably the cheapest of the big three to rebuild and I believe it can tolerate the most abuse when cared for (fluids and band adjustments). A deep pan would help too. On my end all I did was weld two pans together and buy the extension block for the filter...cheaper, accomplishes the same thing. Coolers are important but you want to plumb to auxiliary first THEN the radiator cooler because in winter time you want to be able to bring the temp up, I block the auxiliary cooler with cardboard from December until the end of this month. I can't hardly get the fluid up to 140 even towing when it's this cold.

wittrans.com is the place to go...but telling the rebuilder you want new steels, red alto overdrive clutches, sonnax sure cure kit and the GM pressure solenoid will fix the weak spots in the design. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot

Wayne you Hotshot an scrap? Interesting. Been thinking of getting into the Hot shotting/expediting side of the trucking industry, while still doing the ewaste/scrap thing.

Can't help on the truck thing, so sorry for being off topic. Do forgive me o'great truck owners!

Sirscrapalot - Always remember the last words of my grandfather, who said: 'A truck!' - Emo Philips

I use to hotshot, got off the road when I was able to find another IT job early November. I used the Dodge one ton with a 32 foot flatbed dovetail trailer. Had the Dodge updated with a chip that I could change on the fly, and a larger air breather. Only reason I went with the Dodge was because of the Cummins. If Ford or Chevy had the Cummins I would have gotten one of them. I will be the first to admit, the Powerstroke or the Duramax will outpull my Dodge, but I could only legally pull about 16,000 lbs with my trailer. With that being said my Dodge easily handled the weight, and I got better economy that what the Ford or Chevy could get.

If you think about getting into hotshotting with the basic setup I had, PM me with any questions and I will answer them the best I can.