OWNERS OF THE NEW 2025 RAM HEAVY DUTY DIESEL TRUCK CAN REJOICE!
It’s no secret that since 1989 the transmissions that Dodge (and now RAM) have opted to install behind the Cummins engine leave something to be desired. Search any internet forum or Facebook group and you’ll find countless tales of failed 47RE, 48RE, and 68RFE automatic transmissions. The company’s 68RFE has been used extensively and found behind every 6.7-liter Cummins engine from 2007.5 until 2024. And, while the Aisin AS68RC/AS69RC transmission that RAM used behind the high-output Cummins was more reliable, its driving characteristics however made most drivers of these vehicles wanting something with better driveability.
In addition, the AS68RC and AS69RC are only available on trucks that are built as incomplete vehicles. This means you buy a chassis with an engine and transmission and then put a custom body on it depending on what vocation it will serve.
Because of these transmission woes, a collective sigh of relief was uttered from RAM and Cummins fans worldwide when the company finally announced that it would finally be changing to an eight-speed gearbox from ZF for the 2025 model year. RAM’s new automatic transmission for 2025 is the ZF TorqueFlite HD 8AP1075. It’s a variant of the company’s storied PowerLine gearbox, which is claimed to be the only torque converter-equipped eight-speed automatic transmission engineered specifically for commercial vehicle use.
This transmission features adaptive electronic control with either automatic or Electronic Range Select (ERS) manual control. Internally, the transmission utilizes a five clutch-pack design with only two open clutches in any gear. The torque converter features a turbine torsional damper for low lock-up speeds in any of its eight ratios. ZF claims the transmission will provide not only smooth and responsive gear changes, with the ability to skip gears, but also improved fuel economy and acceleration. The unit’s wide gear range offers increased torque at launch with a higher top gear for improved fuel economy.
The gear ranges are perfectly stepped and matched with intelligent software and an integrated TCM. ZF has designed the PowerLine transmission with minimal moving parts and has packaged all the peripheral components inside the transmission case to minimize excessive external wires and cables. The transmission comes equipped with numerous safety features as well, including Autopark, which automatically ensures that the park lock is engaged even if the driver forgets.
Hill hold is also available. And the electronic shift-by-wire system has allowed RAM to install a new electronic column shifter in its trucks.From a packaging standpoint, the ZF PowerLine is also quite compact by commercial truck standards. The transmission weighs just 328 pounds dry (375 pounds installed) and is just 29.7 inches in length. The transmission also offers power take off (PTO) ability from both the left and right side.
For anyone concerned about potential reliability, ZF claims that the PowerLine transmission is based on the company’s proven eight-speed design and that it has released more than 20 million transmissions into the global market.
TorqueFlite HD 8AP1075 Gear Ratios
| Transmission Gear | Ratio |
| 1st | 4.71 |
| 2nd | 3.14 |
| 3rd | 2.10 |
| 4th | 1.67 |
| 5th | 1.29 |
| 6th | 1.00 |
| 7th | 0.84 |
| 8th | 0.67 |
| Reverse | 3.30 |
Source: Diesel Army