my dads looking to replace his 99'3/4ton dodge ram cummins. he was set on a newer 3/4t dodge, but his tranny just kicked the bucket, so now he's open to other makes. we asked the tranny guy what model they think is the best, and they suggested the duramax w/ allison. truck has to be automatic. anyone know of problems associated with the 02',03' duramax? or any reason to stay with the cummins or go powerstroke?ive done a fair amount of research, but i'd like to hear some real world experiences.
Lately I think the general opinion is that the Cummins is the engine of choice and the allison is the tranny of choice. The 48RE is a fine tranny. It is not as stout as the allison trans but technically, under stock power specifications and factory tow ratings, it is plenty strong and will get the job done fine. The Allison is a great trans and is overly stout for a stock Dmax, which is great when performance parts are on the mind, but it's got a V8 diesel in front of it, not an inline 6 Cummins. You win some you lose some with these trucks. It all depends on what is most important. Personally, I wouldn't leave Dodge to go to GM just for a slightly better tranny, especially if I had no intentions of BOMB's and factory exceeded towing. But it depends on the fellow. How many miles did the 99 have when the tranny kicked? THe best advise I can give is to test drive all three brands. Some of the trucks just fit some folks better than others. Bottom line is all three make fine trucks and he will probably be happy regardless of truck he gets.
the dodge had around 150-160k on it when the tranny blew. he also had other problems with solinoids going out around 100k. i've heard that the allison also keeps the motor in its powerband better. probly due to it being a 5spd. another selling point of the duramax is the noise. he loves his cummins, but being in it 14 hrs a day giving bids for the last 5 yrs has gotten to him. i think the dmax is even quieter than the new cummins.
150K is darned good. Thats about average for most automatics. The allison does do better with keeping the motor in it's power band, vs. a stock 47RE of course. Incorrect. THe current Dmax is the noisest diesel out of the three. The new Cummins is the quietest right now.
I generally agree with Bobby, except by matter of degrees. I think the Cummins is marginally better in *some* scenarios, but it's not the hands down winner most Cummins fanatics like to claim. IMO, there is only one place the CTD wins hands down, and that is for extreme "bombing". When the pro/con of the DMax/Alli vs the Cummins/48RE are tallied, including power band (width/height and tranny ability to keep it there), trans strength/longevity, and over all drive-ability for typical multi-purpose use, I would claim that the D/A is a clear winner for *most* (but certainly not all) people. I guess I may be a bit biased, and I've had VERY good luck with my '02 which has yet to visit a dealer, but where some people support what they own just because they own it (not saying that's the case with Bobby or anyone in particular), I bought the D/A 2500HD after a lot of research and deciding IT was the BEST fit for my needs and desires, and THAT is why I support it on the web and in person. My point is that regardless of anything you are told, especially on a web forum, you have to make the determination for yourself based on your needs and perceptions. Irrational bias is FAR too heavy on the internet to put much stock in what you read there in response to this type of question. Each post or article you read should be taken as only a single data point, and you have to try to sort through all the noise on your own. In my book, people who definitively state that "Cummins is the best PERIOD" are no more rational or credible than someone who makes the same sweeping statement about Fords, GMs, Glock, or any other "brand" of choice. My belief is that, with a few exceptions for "known problems" (such as the introductory PSD 6.0) you're equally likely to get a good, long running truck from any of the big-3, and also equally likely to get a troublesome pig. The details will vary, but the over-all odds seem about the same. Good luck!
