Would a 6'x12' U-Haul Toast My Tranny Fluid?
 

A couple weekends ago, I towed a 6x12 UHaul trailer about 200 miles. I have the aux. tranny cooler and fresh Motorcraft fluid that was changed in December. Would towing that trailer be enough to overheat my tranny? What tranny temps should I be seeing with normal everyday driving?

-Craig

Since the GVWR of that trailer is 4400 lbs according to Uhauls' website, you should be perfectly fine, providing you didn't overload the trailer.

That's somewhat reassuring. The reason I'm asking is because I think my front pump seal is leaking. I'm pretty sure it was leaking a little before I towed the trailer, but the tranny shops I've called have asked me if my tranny has overheated recently.

-Craig

Any other opinions?

-Craig

If it makes you feel any better, I've towed a 5x8 U-Haul 900 miles from Killeen, Texas to Georgia several times with no transmission problems whatsoever. And that was with a heavy foot, with a lot of forced 4-3 downshifts. You'll be fine.

Thanks for the reassurance fellas, I appreciate it.

-Craig

We towed my husbands 1968 Bronco from North Idaho to Valdez, Alaska - a distance of about 2300 miles - with no problems at all. The Bronco weighs about 3800-4000 pounds and was full of miscellaneous stuff. The Alcan highway is rough in places and we had more than a few grades to negotiate. The F150 came through with flying colors, I'm sure yours did too :thumbsup:

I towed a 6x12 enclosed trailer with my 06 F150, 5.4, 373 LS, Tow package, Supercab with the trailer loaded with 2 bikes and gear. Not even a hint of problems. I be crusin at 75-80.

The only way I could see your transmission being overheated from that tow is if it had a problem before and the tow made it worse, or it was shifting in and out of OD and/or locking/unlocking the TC all the time and you did not take it out of OD.

No problem.

I'm assuming the trailers tires were inflated. ? :p

Yeah, the tires were the first thing I checked. You never know what you're gonna get when you pick up a U-Haul . . .

-Craig

Up to 180* would be "normal" for the most part. You might spike up to 210* or a tad more if you were not watching things.... Like backing up a steep driveway, or having to manuever in tight quarters where you are going back and forth a lot. Even going up some steeper grades and the TC runs unlocked for a period of time.

Does the fluid smell burnt? Dark in color? Or is it just leaking?

Mitch