Yep the NV3500 is a great unless you really load up your truck like us... 15000lbs on a 1/2 ton. Stay within the factory rating of 7000# and the NV3500 will perform like a top.

 

Yeah the 46RE wasn't designed for much. Dodge actually rated the early 46RE's at 90,000mi.... lol.

 

Thats amazing how accurate they were! Not many of them made much over 100k without needing some serious attention. Thats funny. Seems like all the Dodges you see for sale say "Has 12x,xxx miles... Tranny recently rebuilt"

 

We are looking at getting a travel trailer so the towing use will probably go up quite a bit I have a friend that owns a tranny shop he buys rams dirt cheap rebuilts the trannys and turns around and resells them all the time

 

For what its worth, people tend to like the gearing of the NV3500's a little more than the NV4500's. Small difference, but something to consider.

 

You're saying 1st gear comparison of these 2 is a small difference?

3500: 3.49

4500: 5.61

Just unclear about your statement.

 

The typical NV3500 has a 4:1 1st.

I'd rather have a NV4500 because the 3500 1st is too low for normal driving but at least the NV4500 has a manageable 2nd gear to take off with.

 

I want the NV4500 because I use my truck like a 2500. And its one of the most reliable transmissions you can get.

 

My "small difference" comment was in regards to it being an opinion of which is better. My opinion of what gear ratios feel the best, is most likely not going to be a deciding factor in which trans to get. Therefore, it probably makes "little difference"... Just to clear that up.

 

I have a NV3500, and you are correct about 1st being too low for normal driving. I cant remember the last time I used it without a trailer. Aside from that, I love the spacing of the gears, and the smoothness of the shifts. IMO, it shifts more like a car than a full size truck, yet still strong.