Hello all,
Just a few questions about towing a travel trailer and possible needed upgrades in cooling. First of all I have a 01 Supercrew 4X4, 5.4, 3.55 gears and factory tow package. My plan is to get a new travel trailer to pull. The one we are looking at is 5700#'s empty. What is everyone else pulling and feeling comfortable with out overload? Also anyone look at Troyer performance electric fans and transmission fan? I just want to be able to pull this thing without killing my truck. What do you all think?

 

5700# empty=7k loaded (ish). Under your trucks limit so as long as you get a good tranny cooler you should be fine.

 

I do have the factory transmission cooler that came with the tow package. Should I upgrade to something like Troyers transmission cooler with the electric fan mounted on it.

 

I had a gauge on the trans, 195* with the stock cooler was the norm pulling 5K. I upgraded to an enclosed trailer, loaded 7K. I put an additional Tru Cool cooler(same thing as b&m stack plate) between the condensor and radiator. I also added an aluminum pan for an additional 3qts. It would run 175-180* pulling 7K at 65mph in ambients ~105*. I couldn't get electric fans to cool as good as the mechanical unit while towing in high ambients, others say they work good, but I would see upwards of 220* engine temp.

 

what truck you got?

 

02 F150 5.4L 3.55 2wd (for sale!) Replacing it with an 02 F250 V10 4X4 4.30s

 

Did you ever pull the 7k with the stock cooler? What temps did you see? And why are you getting a V10?

 

I never towed the heavier trailer with only the stock cooler, if it could only maintain 195* with less load I figured it wasn't going to do well with something heavier and offered more wind resistance. The stock cooler is to far away from the fan/condensor imho, the slower you go the higher the temps you see. I put the other cooler in direct air flow after cooling the stock.

I attempted to band aid a truck to do a job it's not intended to do, it'll do it just not as well as a bigger truck. I don't want to hear everyone tell me the truck is fine, try pulling a trailer through phoenix at 110* in rush hour. The suspension and brakes on this thing work really hard to stop 7000+lbs behind you. I don't pull more than 65mph so the power of the 5.4L isn't an issue, but I added long tube headers, 3" exhaust, tuner, intake, rear sway bar, coolers, extendable tow mirrors, weight distribution. I pulled once with my old mans 250 V10 and it was easy to see the difference. I decided to sell the 150 with 29K on the clock since the truck is pristine and pick up a higher milage 250 that doesn't need any mods to pull 7K, I only use the truck ~3k a year so it can be a little rough...cost is a wash, loaded gas milage is a wash as well.....

 

I think he was trying to ask why not a diesel?

 

Most used 2002 PSDs go for the $20k+ range with lower mileage.

V10s go for $12-16k with the same mileage. Going to be hard to recoup the costs of the diesel for a vacation hauler, especially since they both don't get that great of mileage unloaded.

 

True, and the V10 is still a very capable engine. It just sucks gas like crazy.

 

I would love to have a diesel, but simply connot justify it. I desired a heavy chassis truck, v10 has plenty of power coupled with 4.30s and gets the same milage as the 5.4L while towing. Home depot is the only other place it goes

 

I've got an 06 Screw 5.4 4x4 with factory tow package and I've talked to a local 4x4 shop and they said the factory auxiliary cooler is better than what they put on, I tow a MaxLite 28' trailer which dry is 5100 so figure 6000+ and I don't have any problems with tranny temps, they typically run 150-160 and towing it depends on how many big hills and how much shifting but 180-190 normally. My friend at the 4x4 shop recommends using synthetic or at least part synthetic tranny fluid so you won't lose viscocity at higher temps and it might help save a tranny when you get into higher mileage if you tow a lot. I think you should be fine as long as you have it changed every 20-30K and whether you use synthetic is up to you and up for debate.

 

To meet Mercon V specs, all tranny fluids have quite a bit of synthetic content. I do recommend a full synthetic for heavy duty use, I believe Amsoil is the best (my opinion).