1,000 Mile Round Trip Pulling ~8k lbs Coming Up

[heefageLA]

Ok guys. I have a 2020 Crew Cab Laramie 1500 4x4 with 22k miles on it. It has 3.21 gears and Anti-spin Rear Diff. It has a Trailer Brake and Hitch, but no Tow Mirrors and I dont think it has a Trans or Oil cooler. My build sheet just says "Heavy Duty Engine Cooler". I have Firestone Transforce 10ply tires.

I have to drive from LA to TN and straight back in two weeks. Im pulling a 2k-3k lbs trailer up there, and pulling a 5k lbs Jeep back on it. I will get more information on the trailer in a day or two.

I will change the oil to Redline 5w30 with RP oil filter this coming weekend. I already have a 190* Thermostat, and I removed my Active Grill Shutters. Other than that, theres not much more I can do to prepare the truck for 1,000 miles of nonstop towing is there?

 

[caulk04]

You won't need tow mirrors for an open trailer with a vehicle on it. No issue there.

You should be fine, even though 8k is likely pushing the tow rating given the 3.21 gears. I'd recommend the trans heater bypass valve that I make, if it fits your time table...

Here's one lengthy thread on the topic: https://www.ramforum.com/threads/8hp70-heater-bypass.172998/

 

[heefageLA]

I have an 8hp75 on the new 5th gen. I dont know the differences between the 8hp70 and 8hp75. Ill read through your thread and hopefully your product will work with my trans.

I see 190* on my transmission without even towing anything. Im worried ill be pushing over 210* once I start going up and down some hills with that trailer.

 

[Firebird]

Just take it slow and easy, and make sure your weight is properly distributed. 8K could definitely wag the tail a 1500

 

[caulk04]

So far all 1500 Rams with the 8spd (70 or 75) use the same thermal unit on the side of the trans and my part fits.

 

[heefageLA]

Just take it slow and easy, and make sure your weight is properly distributed. 8K could definitely wag the tail a 1500

I have a B&W Hitch that will adjust accordingly to level everything out.

EDIT: And of course the load will properly placed on the trailer.

 

[Riccochet]

You'll be fine, so long as the vehicle is situated on the trailer properly and you use a weight distribution hitch.

It's mostly when towing large box trailers and travel trailers where things get sketchy.

 

[NH RAM]

Check your air filter before you leave if it hasn't been changed recently. Adjust tire pressure. Aside from that, drive at a reasonable speed and let the truck work. Fortunately pulling 8k on a car hauler is easier than an 8k pound 32' travel trailer, so it should handle it fine. I've done trips of several thousand miles towing my campers with both a 1500 and 2500- the truck does it's part without drama as long as we do our part. Have a safe trip!

 

[scampcat]

100% agree with the weight distribution hitch with sway dampers. That keeps the truck front end properly loaded and restores good braking and steering. I wouldn’t use the chain version either. At 8k, you’ll need a 10k hitch. I recommend the Equal-i-zer. You can grab one at your local CampingWorld store. Your trailer needs to have space for the tension bars to attach though, so check into that. Air bags on the rear axle will also help smooth the ride and assist in leveling things while relieving your suspension from the heavy duty, but the hitch is far superior if you have to pick one or the other. Watch YouTube videos to show comparative benefits.

 

[runamuck]

car on trailer a little more aerodynamic than travel trailer but proper positioning of car on trailer is key. reduce speed..be steady eddy.

 

[heefageLA]

Got back from the trip on Saturday about 8pm.

Everything went great. Truck pulled everything fine. My oil temp was a steady 220, coolant at 205, trans at 195. Those numbers stayed stayed pretty well rock solid the whole time. I set my gear to hold 6th at 65mph and was pulling just north of 2,000 rpm. Even on ups and downs in the hills it would only down shift on the steepest inclines. Once I got closer to home and the ground flattened out I went up a gear into 7th and set the cruise at 70 mph and was at 2,000 rpm.

I did my best to keep the truck at a steady rpm the whole way. I would cringe a little bit when it would downshift into 5th and shoot to 3,000 rpm and only going 60 mph up those hills, but watching the temps everything stayed right where it should be.

 

[HEMIMANN]

With trans oil temp that high, you'll need to change oil much more frequently, like every 30,000 miles. Oil oxidation life is cut in half for every 20 degrees F above 140 degrees F. That is 1/5 the standard oil change interval for constant 195 F oil temp, which of course, is not when driving without trailer. But even 160 is 1/2 oil change interval.

Many of use have gotten rid of the ridiculous trans oil cooler thermostat and small orifice, and replaced with a RevMax or ATS open valve block for that reason. RFE transmissions don't take excessive heat well, nor does any oil. These transmissions were lambasted by owners and inadequate, then it was really they were being overheated.

 

[heefageLA]

With trans oil temp that high, you'll need to change oil much more frequently, like every 30,000 miles. Oil oxidation life is cut in half for every 20 degrees F above 140 degrees F. That is 1/5 the standard oil change interval for constant 195 F oil temp, which of course, is not when driving without trailer. But even 160 is 1/2 oil change interval.

Many of use have gotten rid of the ridiculous trans oil cooler thermostat and small orifice, and replaced with a RevMax or ATS open valve block for that reason. RFE transmissions don't take excessive heat well, nor does any oil. These transmissions were lambasted by owners and inadequate, then it was really they were being overheated.

I have a thermal bypass to install but havent got a chance yet.

How do these transmissions last a "lifetime" at 190* if the oil breaks down like that? Why would Ram even allow the trans to get that hot if those temps were so harmful?

Serious questions, not trying to be a troll.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I have a thermal bypass to install but havent got a chance yet.

How do these transmissions last a "lifetime" at 190* if the oil breaks down like that? Why would Ram even allow the trans to get that hot if those temps were so harmful?

Serious questions, not trying to be a troll.

US EPA CAFE fleet fuel mileage requirements. They do other dumb stuff like 5W-20 oil instead of 5W-30. Any miniscule fuel mileage increase they will do, regardless of reliability or durability. If it wasn't for CAFE, non of this would have happened.

 

[crash68]

With trans oil temp that high, you'll need to change oil much more frequently, like every 30,000 miles. Oil oxidation life is cut in half for every 20 degrees F above 140 degrees F. That is 1/5 the standard oil change interval for constant 195 F oil temp, which of course, is not when driving without trailer. But even 160 is 1/2 oil change interval.

Many of use have gotten rid of the ridiculous trans oil cooler thermostat and small orifice, and replaced with a RevMax or ATS open valve block for that reason. RFE transmissions don't take excessive heat well, nor does any oil. These transmissions were lambasted by owners and inadequate, then it was really they were being overheated.

The OP truck doesn't have an RFE transmission and it doesn't use standard ATF so why bother posting information about either? Last time I checked a 2020 Ram 1500 uses an 8HP transmission. Even more soon RFE doesn't have a 7th gear nor would the OP have to hold it to 6th.
The fluid used in an 8HP transmission is fully capable of handling 200°F temps for duration double of 30K miles your quoting.
There's a couple of 8HP trans pushing over 400K and 700K miles that tow travel trailers for a majority of the time using stock cooling. The fluid gets changed in them every 100K miles.

 

[HEMIMANN]

The OP truck doesn't have an RFE transmission and it doesn't use standard ATF so why bother posting information about either? Last time I checked a 2020 Ram 1500 uses an 8HP transmission. Even more soon RFE doesn't have a 7th gear nor would the OP have to hold it to 6th.
The fluid used in an 8HP transmission is fully capable of handling 200°F temps for duration double of 30K miles your quoting.
There's a couple of 8HP trans pushing over 400K and 700K miles that tow travel trailers for a majority of the time using stock cooling. The fluid gets changed in them every 100K miles.

Sorry wrong thread. Anyway, that temp is too high regardless. There are tribology papers on this. These oil temps are too hot for long duration use.
Granted, they don't run 200F at all times, but long enough to reduce a 100k interval.
Why do you think there is an entire thread on this issue? A member has a thermostat bypass design worked up for the ZF 8 speed. There's nothing magic about it compared to the RFE except for more gear packs and perhaps larger gears.