Heavy Towing With The 68RFE?

[egolsen]

I have a 2013 3500 DRW Laramie 4x4.

Deleted and tuned running a plus 60 hp with 4.10 gears and the factory prep kit for 5th wheel and gooseneck ball.

Looking at the towing capacities, it is right at 22k stock.

The HP engine, which has less hp and torque than I am running, came with the Aison transmission specs at 30k.

I’m looking at towing 23-24k with my 68RFE.

Has anyone done this, and how long can I expect the trans to last with good maintenance?

When it goes I would probably do the ATS Allison conversion.

Any thoughts appreciated

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[Corkey]

@Chrisn162001

Could you give some insight on this?

You know transmissions.

Thanks, man.

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[Corkey]

The only thing I can personally say is that 68RFE are decent with stock power.

You'll take half the life away if you plan to hop up power.

Depending on how many miles you have, you may get off with an upgraded valve body in the meantime.

If funds are available, contact @DDP for your parts you seek out.

The input shafts are pretty weak, IMO.

I would also suggest a 300M shaft with a known triple disc converter.

Again, someone with more knowledge on transmissions than I should get with you here soon, bud.

Doing the thermostatic bypass would be very beneficial as well as reassurance.

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[saul241]

The same question: I have a modified 68RFE and pull a five-car hauler.

Whenever I put it in 30hp and tow mode, it seems to struggle a little, even empty deleted, and tuned.

Revmax billet VB
300M Billet input shaft
Revmax stage 4 converter
Sonnax Smartech overdrive housing
Heavy duty low sprag

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[egolsen]

The truck has 128k; I bought it with 120k, immediately serviced the fluid, and added the thermal bypass.

To my knowledge, nothing else has been done.

The transmission shifts fine, and I just leave it set at plus 60hp, and I’m pretty easy on the throttle.

Stock tires as well. It has been better since I set the hp and left it alone.

I think that is because it has learned and doesn’t have to relearn constantly if I always change the settings.

With over 100k on it, I figure I will have the money in upgrades for now and see how long I can make it go, changing the fluid every 30k or so.

Then spend the big bucks on an Allison conversion and be done.

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[DDP]

Good morning, thank you @Corkey for the tag.

These questions are always tough to answer because it is highly loaded correctly.

In my opinion, the life span of a trans is a toss-up because of all of the unknowns.

Some last a long time and others are short-lived.

The 68RFE is already a weak platform under stock power.

If you add more power to it, you are slowly burning away the threads that hold it together, LOL.

Most of the time, what I tell folks is if you can replace it one of these days, then definitely do it.

Some transmission shops charge quite a bit to go into them and replace parts, and after labor, you're only 1-2k away from a new trans with fewer headaches and worry (did he tighten that little nut properly inside the transmission?

I know 1-2k is not a small amount, but i always tell people to think of the bigger picture if possible, as it would help a ton of headaches (if there happen to be any) down the road.

A built trans or a sound aftermarket stage 1 will come pre-built, with an excellent warranty, which is huge if there is a future problem.

If you do have any questions, though, feel free to give me a shout!

I'm always happy to help.

Feel free to message me here or on the email chain and put ATTN: Clayton as we get a lot of messages, and I'll know that one is for me.

Clayton

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[saul241]

The same question: I have a modified 68RFE and pull a five-car hauler.

Whenever I put it in 30hp and tow mode, it seems to struggle a little, even empty deleted, and tuned.

Revmax billet VB
300M Billet input shaft
Revmax stage 4 converter
Sonnax Smartech overdrive housing
Heavy duty low sprag

Any ideas?

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[egolsen]

I did 950 miles towing a 20,500 5th wheel with my stock 68RFE with 130k on it.

I’m deleted and running a plus 60 tune all the time.

Ran around 65 most of the time.

Below 60, I would only let it shift to the 5th and not the 6th.

I’m running 4.10 gears, which kept RPM around 1700-2100 pulling.

The truck and transmission performed excellently with DRD tunes.

Exhaust temps never got above 1100 degrees, and it pulled the hills fine.

I did not have any mountains, though.

I’m pleased with the performance.

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[cgunter73]

I have a 2013 3500 DRW Laramie 4x4.

Deleted and tuned running a plus 60 hp with 4.10 gears and the factory prep kit for 5th wheel and gooseneck ball.

Looking at the towing capacities, it is right at 22k stock.

The HP engine, which has less hp and torque than I am running, came with the Aison transmission specs at 30k.

I’m looking at towing 23-24k with my 68RFE.

Has anyone done this, and how long can I expect the trans to last with good maintenance?

When it goes I would probably do the ATS Allison conversion.

Any thoughts appreciated

So I'm not an expert, but I know that if the truck is rated to tow 22K pounds and you want to tow 23-24K, you are already over the max factory recommended tow capacity.

You are leaving yourself open to a whole host of problems mechanically by towing more.

Things such as exceeding the axle weight, tire loading, and payload capacity.

I won't even touch on the liability if you get in an accident.

So the transmission will probably go depending on how hard you push it.

Changing the fluids and filter will probably not up the longevity of a 120k transmission.

I have a 2500 with the same transmission and the same amount of miles.

The truck is tuned, but I don't hot rod it, and when I tow, I'm smart about it even though I'm coming to know where near the rated tow capacity.

I perform the maintenance needed and expect the transmission to make it at least another 60000 miles.

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[egolsen]

Valid concerns, which is why I did a lot of research.

The HO diesel 3500 DRW has 200 pounds less payload than the same truck equipped with the 68RFE.

That is because the Aisin transmission weighs more.

I was comparing the same gear ratios and went so far as to look up suspension components, brakes, wheels, and tires, and none of the changes between the two options.

The only change giving the HO model 8000 pounds more weight it can pull is the transmission.

This is the research I performed before hooking up.

The two setups are identical; RAM doesn’t think their 68RFE stock can pull more than 22k and survive the warranty period.

I have a friend whose son hooked 35k to his, it pulled it, and one month later, the trans was done.

He was ready to kill his son.

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