When will we see the 8 speed?

[fyrfytr704]

Happy winter, Winch Mob!

I've been missing my PW since I traded it for my Mega Cab with Cummins. That whole thing is an issue for another day and thread...

I have been ready to pull the trigger on a new PW, for a while now, but really want to see the 8 speed trans behind the 6.4 to see how it does. Any insight as to when we might see the trans upgrade in the PW? It's a bit of a surprise to me that it's not already in these trucks, since it's behind the 5.7 hemi.

[olyelr]

Yeah, but its only in the half ton. They need a stronger tranny for the hd trucks.

I have not read about any release date for the 8 speed in the hd rams yet. Which means it will probably be quite a while yet.

[04Ram2500Hemi]

From what I've seen the 2018 Ram 1500 is supposed to get a big update, which means the HD lineup will see their big change in 2019. Here's a link to review on the 1500. Not much is shown on the HD lineup. http://www.allpar.com/trucks/ram/2016-1500.html

[Mike-H]

Happy winter, Winch Mob!

I've been missing my PW since I traded it for my Mega Cab with Cummins. That whole thing is an issue for another day and thread...

I have been ready to pull the trigger on a new PW, for a while now, but really want to see the 8 speed trans behind the 6.4 to see how it does. Any insight as to when we might see the trans upgrade in the PW? It's a bit of a surprise to me that it's not already in these trucks, since it's behind the 5.7 hemi.

Interesting. I had a Mega cab Cummins also. Had my reasons for not keeping it. Do miss the torque and mileage but not the truck. Mind if I ask what you're not liking about yours?

[fyrfytr704]

Happy winter, Winch Mob!

I've been missing my PW since I traded it for my Mega Cab with Cummins. That whole thing is an issue for another day and thread...

I have been ready to pull the trigger on a new PW, for a while now, but really want to see the 8 speed trans behind the 6.4 to see how it does. Any insight as to when we might see the trans upgrade in the PW? It's a bit of a surprise to me that it's not already in these trucks, since it's behind the 5.7 hemi.

Interesting. I had a Mega cab Cummins also. Had my reasons for not keeping it. Do miss the torque and mileage but not the truck. Mind if I ask what you're not liking about yours?

I actually really like my 3g Mega Cab. The only things I wish were different are things I could change - open front diff, little undercarriage protection, and not enough suspension travel. Quite honestly, I don't need a new truck, but there's something I really miss about my PW... I just can't describe it.

[TwinStick]

Well, let me help you out here. LOL It is called Power Wagon Envy. Now, I can only speak for my truck, mind you. The ability to drive around other factory stock trucks & pull them out is nothing short of awesome (at least to me anyways). Then, to drive right through where they were stuck, without spinning a tire, is priceless. I have never had mine rock crawling yet, but it does well in the snow & mud of hunting season, and after large amounts of snow too.

[fyrfytr704]

Well, let me help you out here. LOL It is called Power Wagon Envy. Now, I can only speak for my truck, mind you. The ability to drive around other factory stock trucks & pull them out is nothing short of awesome (at least to me anyways). Then, to drive right through where they were stuck, without spinning a tire, is priceless. I have never had mine rock crawling yet, but it does well in the snow & mud of hunting season, and after large amounts of snow too.

I think you got at least 90% of what I was trying to describe!

[TwinStick]

I'll tell ya what i'd like to see: an 8 speed with gear ratios that really work for HD truck use. As low as the 6.3:1 first in my G-56 & only 1 over drive. I mean, really, do we need more than 1 OD for anyways ? They will prob call it an 848RFE & it will be a 4 speed with 4 over drives !!!! The 545RFE i had in our 04 was just a 3 speed with 2 overdrives, that sucked beyond belief for HD work. 80% of us do not need diesels but because the transmissions in the gas trucks have such wrong gear ratios & suck so bad for HD work, people end up with diesels, for the awesome torque to make up for the lack of proper gear ratios in the gasser transmissions.

ARE YOU LISTENING RAM/FIAT/DODGE/DAHMLER/WHATEVER ???

[loveracing1988]

I'll tell ya what i'd like to see: an 8 speed with gear ratios that really work for HD truck use. As low as the 6.3:1 first in my G-56 & only 1 over drive. I mean, really, do we need more than 1 OD for anyways ? They will prob call it an 848RFE & it will be a 4 speed with 4 over drives !!!! The 545RFE i had in our 04 was just a 3 speed with 2 overdrives, that sucked beyond belief for HD work. 80% of us do not need diesels but because the transmissions in the gas trucks have such wrong gear ratios & suck so bad for HD work, people end up with diesels, for the awesome torque to make up for the lack of proper gear ratios in the gasser transmissions.

ARE YOU LISTENING RAM/FIAT/DODGE/DAHMLER/WHATEVER ???

The 8HP70 in the 1500's have 6 gears plus 2 overdrives. It is literally the best feature of the 1500's.

[TwinStick]

Maybe, but REALLY, do you really need 2 overdrives ??? How about lower gears, closer together, for REAL WORK !!! Now there's a concept !!!

If FIAT wanted to sell more 2500/3500 gasser pickups, an auto with the same gear ratios of the G-56, would make that happen. My truck is literally night & day difference from my 04' w/545RFE. Same engine, same h-power, 345.

I'm just sayin'.

[azracer]

Maybe, but REALLY, do you really need 2 overdrives ??? How about lower gears, closer together, for REAL WORK !!! Now there's a concept !!!

If FIAT wanted to sell more 2500/3500 gasser pickups, an auto with the same gear ratios of the G-56, would make that happen. My truck is literally night & day difference from my 04' w/545RFE. Same engine, same h-power, 345.

I'm just sayin'.

If they put in 513-1 gears you would need two overdrives !


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[TwinStick]

[FirerescuePW]

The transmition has been a weak spot for years. Gear ratios not matched to the capabilities of the gas engines. Internal components not capable of standing up to the torque of the diesels. Jump over to some of the diesel sites and you will quickly find someone that changed a turbo, or plugged in a tuner, and suddenly the trans explodes. Aftermarket performance rebuilders quite often recommend billet shafts except for either the input or output, so that something acts as a fuse. If you can completely rebuild a trans with all billet guts, and it is still possible to break it, this says that the parts are under-engineered. Maybe engineered right to the edge of acceptability for average use. Sound like the steering?

What they should really do is what Twin said. Design a TRUCK trans. Gear it properly for the engine to which it will be mated. Make sure the components can handle tq/hp with a margin of safety. Sadly, I envision engineering going the opposite direction. Just enough to get by, if you will.

FYI, I have never had one issue with my trans, so these are suggestions to improve the trans, not fix a completely unacceptable component.

[trk4sale]

"I actually really like my 3g Mega Cab. The only things I wish were different are things I could change - open front diff, little undercarriage protection, and not enough suspension travel. Quite honestly, I don't need a new truck, but there's something I really miss about my PW... I just can't describe it"


You can add lockers, suspension, protection, etc for a lot less than a new truck.

[TwinStick]

Yes, you can, but you simply can't beat ALL the things that come with the PW package for $6400. No way, no how. To pay someone else to do it---Lockers $2000 per axle, winch & mount $2000, rims $660 each, last time i checked. Skid plating, shocks, swaybar disconnect, etc, etc.


And some of us live in the rust belt as well.

[fyrfytr704]

"I actually really like my 3g Mega Cab. The only things I wish were different are things I could change - open front diff, little undercarriage protection, and not enough suspension travel. Quite honestly, I don't need a new truck, but there's something I really miss about my PW... I just can't describe it"


You can add lockers, suspension, protection, etc for a lot less than a new truck.

I'm with you on that. There are a number of considerations that have me keeping my truck, right now. One of the biggest is that, if I'm honest, I don't really need any of the things I want on a truck at least 90% of the time. But that 10% or less of the time they're the best thing since sliced breuad.

The day they put a modern, well-matched, trans into the Power Wagon is the day I'll buy a brand new one. Until then, I have (shamefully) been interested to see how the new Raptor will actually perform. It's a completely different animal, but a truck that could also check all of the boxes for what I'd want it for.

[RAM4ROKS]

Only transmission that would make me want to trade in my Power Wagon would be if they made the six speed manual available again!!!!

To my knowledge the 66FE trans is what is in my 2012, a six speed auto with two overdrives. I seems fine to me as far as an auto goes but, I'd still rather have a stick!

I honestly would not touch an 8 speed auto trans equipped offroad aimed three quarter ton truck! That is WAY too much expense if anything goes wrong with a trans that complicated and a heavy truck that gets wheeled extensively is tough on a trans! Only maybe after several years of its being offered would I maybe consider it, and even then it's unlikely- a proven six speed is good enough for me! Heck, if I were to run into troubles with my 66RFE I would be seriously shopping how bad $$$ it would be to swap in a G56 or NVG5600!!!

[TrueCowboy426]

I'm not sure how the new 8HP70 (500 lb-ft max input torque, 8 speed), would work a 3/4 ton truck application, but in the light duty market these transmission are a gift from god. My brothers truck has one (QCSB '13 Laramie, 4x4), and it is by far the best trans I have ever driven mated to a hemi. The gear ratios are very close to that of the G-56, and they make the truck just flat out fun to drive. The thing that turns me off, is there is no way for the average guy to service them and they are very expensive right now. I would like to see the 8HP90 (660 lb-ft max input torque) which is behind the automatic hellcats, in a heavy truck because if they can survive with what guys are doing to them in a 707hp, 4000lbs car, I'm sure behind 400hp, 8000lb truck they would be just fine.

From another site I'm on, supposedly Sonnax has something big coming for the 545's to make them more reliable for the hardcore guys.
http://nadodge.com/showthread.php?t=10650

Also don't think the G56 is all that of a trans either. I have had one fail on me (syncros had a castastrophic failure) that cost me a hell of a lot more to get a new trans (at that time, no one really supplied individual parts for the G56) than I would have for me to rebuild an automatic 3 or 4 times. Right now I think I am loosing my 3rd/4th gear syncro again, but I have a spare (my original trans) sitting for parts if I do need to rebuild one. That being said, in a heavy truck like this I wouldn't want the 545 in it with it's poor ratio's. Even the G-56 I don't really like the ratio's as when I'm towing heavy (over capacity mind you), I find it is too big of a gap between 1-2 and would like a gear inbetween.

[TwinStick]

"Even the G-56 I don't really like the ratio's as when I'm towing heavy (over capacity mind you), I find it is too big of a gap between 1-2 and would like a gear inbetween."

Exactly. I just can't believe the EPIC FAIL of the transmissions & their gear ratio's for the HD gas engine Rams by Corporate and or the engineers. Do they even drive trucks ? Do they even work their trucks ? Do they even tow heavy with their trucks ? If they did, it would seem they would see the error of their ways in VERY short order.

[adeluca73]

From another site I'm on, supposedly Sonnax has something big coming for the 545's to make them more reliable for the hardcore guys.
http://nadodge.com/showthread.php?t=10650
.

There are other sites out there...