Took the 28ft. travel trailer (Appr. 6000lb) across the state to trade for the new 35ft. 5th wheeler (appr. 11,000 lb.) the truck pull the 28 great no problems. On the way home with the 35 footer the tranny started slipping bad especially on longer inclines. I was running it with the Smarty Jr. on #2 tow mode. Checked for codes with the smarty and no codes.
Could this be the band adjustments or just go for the rebuild with upgrades, and then will it pull the 5th wheeler ok?
ATS or any other reputable vendors?
The 03 CTD 4X4has 88,500 miles on it and it has been serviced about 20,000 ago.

 

Is the fluid burnt?

 

Did you have it in tow/haul mode on your shifter?

 

thats the first thing I would check. . .if the fluid id still ok, your bands will just need to be adjusted.

 

the fluid didn't seem to be burnt, but I check it out.
I ran with Overdrive on the interstate and downhill but turned it off uphill.

 

On the interstate in overdrive you aren't using any bands. Usually if overdrive is slipping the friction material on the overdrive clutches is all burned off. Then if it starts slipping when you're not in OD it's because all the clutch material has clogged the filter. I thought '03s switched to the 48RE?

 

early 03's and the cali 03's used 47RE's. . .you can also find some 03's with the NV4500HD's.

 

if u do have to rebuild i would say red egale clutches and banks TC

 

Just to pass on what I was told by the transmission mechanic at my local dealer. I asked him about all the problems Dodge had with the transmissions. He told me the most common masteak people make is not putting it in to tow/haul mode when pulling to lock up the converter. He explained to me if you have it in O/D and are pulling and the converter starts slipping or slipsyou are asking for it. That all the metal and or metallic particle's get into the valve body and or the filter. And the result is a trashed transmission. So I always us tow/haul mode when pulling anything. True are not? But I do not take the chance....

 

Tow Haul Mode? my 03 just has an O/D off button, which is a problem at interstate speeds, with 4:10 gears, 68 to 70 mph is almost in the red, I always pull in O/D. How tight do you guy turn yours.