What's new
By:
Ram Heavy Duty Forum

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Military First Ram

B

BDarlington

New Member
Messages
7
Reaction score
17
Points
3
Purchasing either a 22 or 23 3500 HO Dually Laramie or Limited Long Bed to tow my wife and I’s upcoming 5th wheel home.
 
You will get a great truck. What is your time frame? It seems that the 2022 diesels are sticking with the current 6 speed transmission. Rumor is the trans will be upgraded for 2023. But of course that is not verified. Also, when my wife and I started shopping for our trailer we looked at a lot of brands. While we ultimately decided on purchasing an Airstream, the other brand we strongly considered was Grand Design. Don't know if you checked them out but they have some really nice 5th wheels and overall quality seems to be above the average. Good Luck!
 
Welcome to HDRams.

I'll second Grand Design, our 2018 330RLS has been great and we love the layouts they offer. Huge for us was having a campside dinette. Build quality is probably on par with the industry or slightly above average but the Customer Service is what seems to set GD apart from other mid-level builders. I think the Solitude/Momentum dropframe widebody models are probably built a little better still. They're owned by Winnebago now (since 2017?) but are mostly left alone to build them as they see fit. Downside, while debatable, is we bought a large enough rig I needed a new truck.
 
JohnandDonna said:
You will get a great truck. What is your time frame? It seems that the 2022 diesels are sticking with the current 6 speed transmission. Rumor is the trans will be upgraded for 2023. But of course that is not verified. Also, when my wife and I started shopping for our trailer we looked at a lot of brands. While we ultimately decided on purchasing an Airstream, the other brand we strongly considered was Grand Design. Don't know if you checked them out but they have some really nice 5th wheels and overall quality seems to be above the average. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Right at a year from now. Is the time frame for purchase. The transmission was a big thing for me, due to always having been a GM guy and herring horror stories about Dodge Trans compared to the Allison. After doing more research on Aisin I’m confident that I won’t be missing much if there is an upgrade.

We’ve decided on Grand Design we’re pulling the trigger once she’s back from her deployment in the summer of next year.
 
BDarlington said:
Right at a year from now. Is the time frame for purchase. The transmission was a big thing for me, due to always having been a GM guy and herring horror stories about Dodge Trans compared to the Allison. After doing more research on Aisin I’m confident that I won’t be missing much if there is an upgrade.

We’ve decided on Grand Design we’re pulling the trigger once she’s back from her deployment in the summer of next year.
Click to expand...
Stories of scattered Dodge trans are old news and largely from hot tunes and bubba tires on stock gearing with stock 48RE or 68RFE driven by twenty somethings. Either current trans is solid. Plenty of hotshots running both to 300-500K with proper maintenance. 2023 may bring a new HD ZF 8 or 9 speed. Don't count on it being an "Allison" I heard they're out of the running. FWIW, the current gen A1000 is now built by GM under license. Allison no longer builds consumer trannies.
 
Brutal_HO said:
Stories of scattered Dodge trans are old news and largely from hot tunes and bubba tires on stock gearing with stock 48RE or 68RFE driven by twenty somethings. Either current trans is solid. Plenty of hotshots running both to 300-500K with proper maintenance. 2023 may bring a new HD ZF 8 or 9 speed. Don't count on it being an "Allison" I heard they're out of the running. FWIW, the current gen A1000 is now built by GM under license. Allison no longer builds consumer trannies.
Click to expand...
It is my understanding that the GM Allison transmission is basically a GM transmission that Allison tweaked and allowed/licensed GM to put their name on it. In other words it was never a true Allison transmission.
 
JohnandDonna said:
It is my understanding that the GM Allison transmission is basically a GM transmission that Allison tweaked and allowed/licensed GM to put their name on it. In other words it was never a true Allison transmission.
Click to expand...
That is what I am told also by some GM contacts
 
Grand Design or something manufactured by Keystone. Both great rigs. Grand Design's walls have a higher "pull apart" rating than the competition. They build their trailers like tanks. Quality is higher than your average, run of the mill RV.

Ram transmissions today are equally as strong or stronger than the Allison. Although 10 speeds would be sweet.
 
gimmie11s said:
Grand Design or something manufactured by Keystone. Both great rigs. Grand Design's walls have a higher "pull apart" rating than the competition. They build their trailers like tanks. Quality is higher than your average, run of the mill RV.

Ram transmissions today are equally as strong or stronger than the Allison. Although 10 speeds would be sweet.
Click to expand...
RE 10 speed. Maybe for the gasser but it's a waste of space for the Cummins. 8 gears are plenty with a good ratio split. There's just no need for 10. Might as well throw in a gear split if you're going to do that. :)
 
You're right. The torque curve (or wall lol) of a diesel doesn't really require all of those gear changes, but even a few hundred RPM variance when pulling the heaviest loads up the steepest hills would allow you to be in the exactly correct RPM at all times.

Overkill.. totally agree, but i like the concept.
 
gimmie11s said:
Grand Design or something manufactured by Keystone. Both great rigs. Grand Design's walls have a higher "pull apart" rating than the competition. They build their trailers like tanks. Quality is higher than your average, run of the mill RV.

Ram transmissions today are equally as strong or stronger than the Allison. Although 10 speeds would be sweet.
Click to expand...
Not sure about a 10 speed for the gasser. My 8 speed never hunts for the proper gear. I have a buddy with a Ford and the 10 speed. He said when towing in the mountains that transmission is all over the place. Can never seem to settle into the proper gear and stay there.
 
Brutal_HO said:
Stories of scattered Dodge trans are old news and largely from hot tunes and bubba tires on stock gearing with stock 48RE or 68RFE driven by twenty somethings. Either current trans is solid. Plenty of hotshots running both to 300-500K with proper maintenance. 2023 may bring a new HD ZF 8 or 9 speed. Don't count on it being an "Allison" I heard they're out of the running. FWIW, the current gen A1000 is now built by GM under license. Allison no longer builds consumer trannies.
Click to expand...
Good to hear as i am hearing of numerous failures with the current Allison's lately
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top