I usually hang out on 2nd gen forum. I am looking to buy a quad cab 5.7 4x4. I am looking at the 06-08 years. I pull a travel trailer that weighs abot 6250,unloaded. The kids are bigger now and we need more room. Are the transmissions reliable in these trucks? Anything to look for when I go to look at a couple this week? My 01 has held up well,but we are outgrowing it fast. Thanks in advance, Steve

 

Is a '04.5-'07 CTD in the budget? Not that a Hemi won't be able to handle it but add about 1500 lbs. Of gear, supplies & passengers and you are right about at a Gasser Ram's limit. It's gonna suck gas as it is with just 6k behind it.
At the minimum I would look Hemi 2500.

But to answer your question, the 545rfe is light years ahead of 2nd Gen transmissions and is at least on par, if not a little better than Ford or GM Gasser truck transmissions...

 

thanks hammer. I was thinking that the hemi has the 48re behind it.

 

Nope, has the 545rfe which has been a pretty solid transmission. I mean there are those with issues, but far as I've seen over decade it's been out, it's no more problematic than even the import truck trannies.

I just mention a '04.5-'07 because the 5.9 CTD is about bullet-proof, runs on about anything from salad oil to off-road diesel to modern diesel fuels and doesn't have the inherent emission component problems that has plagued the 6.7. Starting with the mid-'04 it also got a nice HP/Torque boost.

Obviously a CTD is gonna cost more, but at roughly 18 mpg pulling 7000# vs. single digits with a Hemi it won't take long to re-coup initial outlay. The Hemi does pretty damn good on fuel comparing it to the 5.9 gasser you have now unladen but it's gonna suck it down hauling weight.

It may be that all you may find will either be beat to hell or out of your budget, but it's worth a look IMO. You can always relegate a 2500 Hemi as plan "B", which really isn't a bad platform to "settle for"...

 

I have thought about a CTD,but I just keeping going back to gas. My ol 01 gets 9-10mpg while pulling my TT. Gets about 13 without TT. I havent really ruled out the CTD,but we get to camp so few times a year with all the activities the kids are in. Thanks for the help. The search now gets full speed...