What part about your HD that you wish Ram would change or update?

What part about your HD that you wish Ram would change?

  • Engine

    Votes: 2 9.5%
  • Transmission

    Votes: 11 52.4%
  • Axle

    Votes: 1 4.8%
  • Suspension

    Votes: 2 9.5%
  • Interior

    Votes: 3 14.3%
  • Exterior

    Votes: 3 14.3%
  • Capability/Ratings

    Votes: 2 9.5%

  • Total voters
    21

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SouthTexan

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For me it is the transmission. The 68RFE and Aisin are ancient compared to the competition and the 68RFE will break if you look at it wrong. Never understood why Ram never put a great(not good or adequate) transmission behind the Cummins. They should be spending their new truck or model refresh budget on a better transmissions that would benefit all diesel owners instead of this "best in class towing" ******* match with Ford that only a very small fraction of Ram HD owners would ever tow or find useful.

I will be in the market for a new truck in a few years to replace my 2014 and sadly to say I will not be going with a Ram if they do not offer a better transmission but then. I am not alone either. Have a few fleet customers that feel the same way. I was kind of disappointed that I didn't see a new transmission with the latest mid-model update.

@RamCares, please tell us that Ram is working on updating their transmissions soon.
 

18CrewDually

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Cummins 6.7 H.O.
I'm sorry but with all the problems I've seen and experienced with Ford's 10 spd I'll pass on that trend.
The Aisin works great for me and I'm happy to have a designed / built medium duty commercial truck transmission.
 
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SouthTexan

SouthTexan

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I'm sorry but with all the problems I've seen and experienced with Ford's 10 spd I'll pass on that trend.
The Aisin works great for me and I'm happy to have a designed / built medium duty commercial truck transmission.

The Aisin is ultra reliable and strong. The only problems I have with it is you can't get it in a 2500 and it is rather clunky and slow in its shifting.

I had to replace my input shaft of my 68RFE not too long ago with a billet one because the stock one snapped in half. The transmission shop kept my old input shaft for me and when I went up there to pick up the truck, he had an Aisin and Ford 6R140 input shaft laying right next to it. Damn 68RFE looked like a pencil compared to the Ford's input shaft. The Aisin was bigger than the 68RFE shaft, but not nearly as large as the 6R140's. The 68RFE shaft was so small I was shacking my head wondering whose bright idea was it to put something that small behind a diesel that makes of 850 lb-ft of torque.
 

White six four

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2016
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6.4
If my 16 2500 6.4 had a manual transmission it would be the perfect truck for me. I just do not like autos especially the 6 speed in this truck. There's a lot of times when I go somewhere by myself and I take my work ****** car with a 5 speed instead of the truck.
 

Omegasupreme

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The 6.4 needs about 100 more torques. I bet it would get better mileage as well since mine is always bumping down gears to pull the trailer.
 

MN-Ram

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6.4L Hemi
I wish there was a way to turn off the MDS n my 6.4L without voiding my warranty. And I have to agree with the OP. The tranny is lacking even in the gas models. I haven’t tried the new 8 speed, but the 6 speed leaves a lot to be desired.
 

Fatbob Frank

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I wish there was a way to turn off the MDS n my 6.4L without voiding my warranty. And I have to agree with the OP. The tranny is lacking even in the gas models. I haven’t tried the new 8 speed, but the 6 speed leaves a lot to be desired.
You still have warranty?
 

jaflowers

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6.4 hemi
I wish there was a way to turn off the MDS n my 6.4L without voiding my warranty. And I have to agree with the OP. The tranny is lacking even in the gas models. I haven’t tried the new 8 speed, but the 6 speed leaves a lot to be desired.
All you have to do is hit the gear select on the shift handle and it turns off MDS. Simple and doesn't void the warranty.

Me, I'd like the newer 8 speed in my 2015 and while I could easily afford to trade mine in there's no way I'm getting rid of my current truck with the MaxCare warranty. The MaxCare is worth its weight in gold.
 

tjfdesmo

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Is the Aisin tough? Yes. But TBH it is a clangin', bangin' stumblebum in operation. False neutral/slam shift 2-1. With the toy hauler behind it mine has a serious shudder on the 2-3 upshift, as in shake you out of the seat. My wife hates that. , and others have reported the same.30K service intervals on a "commercial grade" transmission in today's world is absurd, and the 60K filter swap would make more sense if it was an external filter.

Do I hate my Aisin? Nope, but to be 100% honest, it is way past time to eliminate the two transmission strategy, and have something competitive with the other guys. Way past time. Does it have to be a 10 speed? No, I think an 8 speed would be ideal. What I have read on the ZF sounds promising, and reviews and road tests of the Paccar labeled version(TX8) are positive. All things being equal, I'd wager the ZF would net 1-2 MPG improvement, and huge gains in acceleration at the same time.
 

crash68

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please tell us that Ram is working on updating their transmissions soon
I know they have been R&D a ZF 8spd for behind the Cummins, I've seen the test mules in person. There's even a video that's been posted showing one of the trucks going around a test course.
If I was to take a guess, you won't see an 8 spd behind the Cummins till the HD body and frame is updated (it's still the Gen4 body/frame).
 

tjfdesmo

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I know they have been R&D a ZF 8spd for behind the Cummins, I've seen the test mules in person. There's even a video that's been posted showing one of the trucks going around a test course.
If I was to take a guess, you won't see an 8 spd behind the Cummins till the HD body and frame is updated (it's still the Gen4 body/frame).
If they think they can wait 2-3 model years to update the driveline, they are vastly over-estimating their brand loyalty. I have owned three Dodge/Ram trucks over 18 years, but they need to step it up, or I'll be shopping around.
 
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SouthTexan

SouthTexan

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Is the Aisin tough? Yes. But TBH it is a clangin', bangin' stumblebum in operation. False neutral/slam shift 2-1. With the toy hauler behind it mine has a serious shudder on the 2-3 upshift, as in shake you out of the seat. My wife hates that. , and others have reported the same.30K service intervals on a "commercial grade" transmission in today's world is absurd, and the 60K filter swap would make more sense if it was an external filter.

Do I hate my Aisin? Nope, but to be 100% honest, it is way past time to eliminate the two transmission strategy, and have something competitive with the other guys. Way past time. Does it have to be a 10 speed? No, I think an 8 speed would be ideal. What I have read on the ZF sounds promising, and reviews and road tests of the Paccar labeled version(TX8) are positive. All things being equal, I'd wager the ZF would net 1-2 MPG improvement, and huge gains in acceleration at the same time.

Yeah, I would love to have the ZF 8-speed with a Cummins. I have a smaller version paired with the little diesel in my BMW and it is the best transmission I have ever driven. Very quick shifting and always in the right gear. It makes the car feel a lot quicker than it's power output would suggest.
 

18CrewDually

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Cummins 6.7 H.O.
Is the Aisin tough? Yes. But TBH it is a clangin', bangin' stumblebum in operation. False neutral/slam shift 2-1. With the toy hauler behind it mine has a serious shudder on the 2-3 upshift, as in shake you out of the seat. My wife hates that. , and others have reported the same.30K service intervals on a "commercial grade" transmission in today's world is absurd, and the 60K filter swap would make more sense if it was an external filter.

Do I hate my Aisin? Nope, but to be 100% honest, it is way past time to eliminate the two transmission strategy, and have something competitive with the other guys. Way past time. Does it have to be a 10 speed? No, I think an 8 speed would be ideal. What I have read on the ZF sounds promising, and reviews and road tests of the Paccar labeled version(TX8) are positive. All things being equal, I'd wager the ZF would net 1-2 MPG improvement, and huge gains in acceleration at the same time.

Have you addressed the issues with a good dealer? There was an update reflash available for your truck that I've heard from other guys that it helped tremendously. I don't have any of those issues but I don't baby it. The only thing I could complain about is if you go from D to R you better be at a complete stop, no slight roll or it will slam. Other than that she pulls great.
 

tjfdesmo

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Have you addressed the issues with a good dealer? There was an update reflash available for your truck that I've heard from other guys that it helped tremendously. I don't have any of those issues but I don't baby it. The only thing I could complain about is if you go from D to R you better be at a complete stop, no slight roll or it will slam. Other than that she pulls great.
Yes, it has been reflashed multiple times. It's just the nature of the beast. I alway pause in neutral to let it "unload" between D and R, or before going into Park.
 
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SouthTexan

SouthTexan

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Ram CEO: Alright team, we have $100 million for the next model's R&D budget. What should we work on fixing?

Drivetrain Vice President: How about we spend that money to finally give the Cummins a great overbuilt transmission it deserves, and all Ram diesel customers would benefit.

Ram CEO: For the last time no. You have been asking me that every year since 1989.

Some no-name executive in the back: How about spending all that money and then some to win a "best in class" pi$$ing contest with Ford on who can tow the most that will only benefit maybe 1% of our customer base who actually tows a 30k plus pound trailer.

Ram CEO:
1664985658298.png
 
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JerryETX

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2016 2500
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Hemi 6.4- 3:73- 6 Speed
For me it's the engine specifically the torque. Coming from an F150 Ecoboost I was disappointed to say the least to find my F150 had more towing power than my 2500 with the 6.4. Chevy has the 6.6 gas and Ford has the 7.3 all with more torque than the 6.4. Ford is also doing away with their 6.2 gas and introducing a 6.8 gas. You can bet it will have more torque than Ram's 6.4.

Ram will have no choice but to step it up and do something with the 6.4 pretty soon (2024 is my guess)
 
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SouthTexan

SouthTexan

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For me it's the engine specifically the torque. Coming from an F150 Ecoboost I was disappointed to say the least to find my F150 had more towing power than my 2500 with the 6.4. Chevy has the 6.6 gas and Ford has the 7.3 all with more torque than the 6.4. Ford is also doing away with their 6.2 gas and introducing a 6.8 gas. You can bet it will have more torque than Ram's 6.4.

Ram will have no choice but to step it up and do something with the 6.4 pretty soon (2024 is my guess)


I think part of your issue is the transmission. Friend of mine traded his 2016 6.4L 6-speed for a 2020 6.4L 8-speed. I have only driven both unloaded, but I can tell a difference. He said that there is a significant difference when towing his RV. It doesn't bog down due the steep difference between 3rd and 4th in the 66RFE and off the line is way more peppier due to the 4.71 first gear followed by a 3.14 second gear which is not to from the 3.23 first gear of the 66RFE.
 

JerryETX

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Hemi 6.4- 3:73- 6 Speed
I think part of your issue is the transmission. Friend of mine traded his 2016 6.4L 6-speed for a 2020 6.4L 8-speed. I have only driven both unloaded, but I can tell a difference. He said that there is a significant difference when towing his RV. It doesn't bog down due the steep difference between 3rd and 4th in the 66RFE and off the line is way more peppier due to the 4.71 first gear followed by a 3.14 second gear which is not to from the 3.23 first gear of the 66RFE.
Yep I'm sure that has a lot to do with it. I'm not buying anything right now because prices are falling and who knows how far they'll fall before it stops.
 
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