The one other pet peeve I've found is that the truck won't kick down when your going up a grade, so you'll drop 5 mph while your going up hill, with it never kicking down.

that personally drives me nuts, so when I drive on the highway I first would justl eave it in tow/haul mode, but then I realized the benefit from tow/haul mode was that it probably keeps it out of OD, so now when I travel I just hit the gear selector lock botton. (although I'm a little confused because its supposed to have a 5 spd transmission, so how come when you hit the selector/tow mode it says it locks it in 5 and below? that would suggest it changes nothing, but you can feel it change gears, so when it says "5" it must lock it in 4 and below?

I know the benefit of 6th is fuel savings, but I dont care that much about fuel savings and I'm getting just .2 MPG worse driving like this than I did before, so it seems like a fair trade off.

Is there a better way to do this? Any permanent way to lockout OD or in my old 98 ram you could just adjust the throttle control cable?

I'm perfectly pleased with the performance as is when I'm controlling the throttle, my only issue is with cruise control, but I am pleased with it when you drop the selector down to "5"

Thanks!

 

Odd, mine kicks down with no issues when in cruise

 

I actually watch the RPM's and the road. As I start up a hill I kick it into 5th and 4th if necessary, then back into "D" so it will go back into OD on the way down the other side. I also will kick it down to control downhill speed the cruise control usually lets you get as much as 5 over the set speed before it kicks down automatically. Actually taking an active part in driving the vehicle keeps me alert. I drive about 3,500 miles a month highway.

 

Doesnt that defeat the purpose of cruise control? haha... No I see what your saying, but I find it easier just to leave it in 5th. I am confused though... Everywhere I read says that this is a 5 spd transmission... So if its a 5 spd transmission, whats the difference between leaving it in 5th and OD? Shouldnt 5th BE od? I'm really confused. Should be 5 spd with the ratios of 3, 1.67, 1, .75, and .67) . Technically 4th and 5th are OD, but whats the difference between 5th and OD in when it comes to transmission control?

I wish I knew these engines/trannys like I knew the 2nd gen (i've owned 3 of them...)

Is there a throttle control wire like the 2nd gens? if so, I wonder if its just an adjustment issue.

Alternatively it could be ratios: Whats your drivetrain setup?

 

It's technically a 6 SPF. It uses 2nd prime in tow haul mode.

The 11 and up use 2nd prime all the time hence calling it a 6 spd.

 

2wd hemi crewcab with 3.21's Every thursday I've got the cruise set at 70 for 2 hours, up and down through a couple valleys. Havn't had any issues with it not maintaining speed or downshifting when needed

 

Not sure if Superchips Trans tune covers the 2011's, but that is what I would reccomend. Since the tuner, I control how much pedal pressure it takes to have the truck downshift. The partial upshifts and partial dowshifts are the cats meow!
For ex. I can drive through the city at 28mph with the truck never shifting out of 2nd. As soon as I hit 30mph with 7% or less pedal position, the truck will then shift into 3rd. Another, Highway...I have it set so that when I'm cruising 65-74mph the truck will downshift immediately with very little pedal effort. So if cruising down the highway requires 11% pedal, all is needed is 12% pedal to downshift and go. No lag, its instant!
It does take awhile to get all the shifts they way yo want them but I'll never go back!!! My sig has a Compilation thread I made. Caution, theres a Ton of info!

Also, MDS slows the trucks down, then they need to kick off mds and even downshift sometimes to regain the original speed. Very annoying and unproductive in hill towns and windy days.

 

Interesting... So I wonder why they call it a 5 spd?? Whats the difference between the 11 and 12? I know they are advertising on rams website that the '12 has a "new 6 spd transmission"?

That could be why yournot seeing it right there. I've got a 4.7L 4x4 with 3.55s. Your skipping a whole power drain (transfer case), and adding 80 HP.

With my 2010 camaro SS (426 HP 6.2L), I could take it down to 35/40 MPH in 6th gear and it would accellerate fine back to highway speeds without a problem. It was unphased by steep inclines, and CC always held it at speed at any terrain. The 2011 Camaro LS however (315 HP) bogs down in 6th in steep inclines, so if we are highway driving it we leave it in 5th where it does alright.

I'm guessing the hemi is going to bog down less than the 4.7 to start with, and then on top of that you have the 2WD which removes the transfer case power transfer, which leads me to believe drop downs are rarely needed.

the 4.7 4x4 3.55 bogs down on every incline.

 

I have the 4.7, so no MDS. I checked out superchips, there is nothing for the 11s on. It may be a waiting game, which doesnt bother me because I dont like to void warranties anyway, but I know you can always flash it back to OEM.

Is there any difference between a '10 and '11 though? why couldnt I use a '10 tuner on the '11. Everything I've read says it has the same engine/tranny/diff? (But then above someone says the tranny is a different set up???)

 

DO NOT use a 2010 tuner on a 2011, there is a reason you can't find tuners for the 2011s yet. All the companies are having a REAL hard time cracking the new encryption on the PCMS. I was speaking with superchips and Bullydog, I am set up to be a beta tester for bullydog when it comes out, they said they were close but that was a month ago. You probably wont even be able to get a tune into a 2011 with a 2010/09 tuner, but don't take that chance in trying.

I don't really have a big issue with my Hemi and 4x4. Sure it goes down a little bit, but understand that your cruise has a little delay time, and if the hill is steep enough it does not take long to bring you down a little bit. Tow Haul mode I do believe changes the shift patterns in the tranny, and if I am not mistaken removes the 5th gear and shifts the line. This is why you will not get OD, and therefore MDS. MDS (only activates in OD) takes .4 millseconds to engage and disengage so that being the delay is not likely. I know that you don't have a 5.7, but thats just for those reading this thread. Often times my truck does not even gear down going up hills, only the really steep ones. That I think is what you could be seeing with your delay. Do as one guy stated here, if you feel your truck lagging, just bump your shift lever back and manually put it in 4th. Or just pull it out of OD. Or just take it easy and let the truck do its thing, you possibly save fuel then :P

And the tranny changes "a little" on the 2012 models, basically they just added another gear into them if im not mistaken, and shifted some patterns around. As far as I know there is no tranny differences between 09-11