Trans temps while towing

[Masond1287]

We recently bought a 2018 Coleman Lantern 21ft travel trailer. Dry weight 4300 lbs I believe with about 430tw. We are pulling it with our 2014 Ram 1500 quad 4wd hemi. Going up to the campground with an elevation gain of about 1000 ft, tow mode on, I was watching the trans temp pretty closely and the highest it reached was 161. What temps are others hitting while towing in their hemi?

 

[billyw]

Mine tends to be right around the high 190s when towing. There is always lots of elevation changes around here too. My last truck would creep up to around 250 once in a while for short periods with no damage.

 

[monteholic]

Mine was holding at 170 yesterday pulling about 6000#

 

[OC455]

Mine was about 195 pulling my Hideout TT....5500lbs. plus....8 speed

 

[Masond1287]

This is reassuring guys! I was running the ac, with all 4 kids and the wife in the truck and I estimate close to 4500lbs for the trailer. (I had the coolers and camping totes in front of the rear axle in the bed. I've never really towed at all so our first time out I was watching those gauges!!

 

[silver surfer]

Your good. Mine is usually in the mid to upper 170s

 

[BossHogg]

You guys should state if you have the 6 or 8-speed tranny since operating temperature are very different between the two.

 

[silver surfer]

8 speed. Mid 170s.

 

[Masond1287]

I have the 6speed. I've checked my average driving as well and it sits about 140

 

[14hemiexpress]

I have the 6speed. I've checked my average driving as well and it sits about 140

I ran temps like you in my 14 6spd 160s while towing and 140s not. My 2010 5spd would run 160s in the heat of summer towing or not.

 

[MasonD21]

I have a 2500, 6.4L, 66RFE (6 speed). Temps seem to top out at 180 towing severe grades (7-10%). With my camper, wife and kids, fuel and cargo, the truck is pretty well loaded.

I've seen my trans temp go from 168-180 really fast. But once it hits 180, I don't see it move up any further. Cresting a hill, the temp starts to drop pretty good. I assume that would mean the transmission doesn't start max cooling til that mark.

 

[Masond1287]

With the 6 speed and towing what temp range should I be concerned with? From what I have read these have a trans cooler already so it wouldn't do much to add one right?

 

[jasonw]

If I recall correctly, the transmission cooler is actually the lower segment of the radiator. The radiator is internally divided, so if you follow your transmission coolant lines, it will look like they run into (and out of) the lower part of the radiator. Someone correct me if I am mistaken.

With the 6 speed, an additional transmission cooler is not necessarily a bad idea. I've read about many guys installing them, most with positive reviews. With the 8-speeds, its a different story.

 

[Blkhammer]

Mine was around 200 pulling around 7500lbs. But once I changed my fluid to red line transmission fluid I’m now around 150-165

 

[Carlstone]

I have the 8-speed with 3.21 and almost always run at 195, even towing. Everyone seems to be all over the map when it comes to temps on these forums.

 

[Farmer Fran]

Dang I just pull my setup for 11 hours and did not look at the temps. I have the slider gauge on the dash and it did not go much over halfway but no numbers just a bar graph. It did not move much higher than just driving around in the truck alone.

 

[Masond1287]

Here is the latest info. Just got back from another camping trip today and had the wife snap a pic while towing up to the site. Trans temp looks normal, it's the oil I wonder if it is normal.

 

[Wahrsuul]

Just towed a 94 Accord on a tow dally to FL - trans stayed between 140-150 for the most part. Jumped a little while in stop-n-go, but back down once we got moving again.

I did notice the oil temps being higher than the coolant temp. Pretty close to what you're seeing.

2009 5spd.

 

[SyN]

68RFE - Stock Pan/FF ATF

This picture was taken two hours into our towing adventure ambient temp was about 97°F.

We were towing a large enclosed trailer loaded between 11,000 to 12,000 pounds.

Defiantly going to be draining and refilling with -Schaeffers- (All-Trans) around the 10K mile mark. Not a fan of that 172*F temp.

Also would like to install a deep finned aluminum transmission pan but that extra expense right now is just not a good idea.
I will install a new Dorman Pan with a drain plug--> which will make fluid drains much easier and a easier way to keep a fresh (6 1/2 qts) of ATF in the 68RFE before each summer camping adventures.



Maybe next spring I can find the extra $200 for a deep Aluminum pan which I know will help drop this temp.
This is something I feel these HD2500 6.7L CTD trucks should have come with from the factory.

 

[RaftingDave]

We just got back from camping - we had slow 'n go up the steep eastbound side of Eisenhower Tunnel (tops off at 10,200'), pulling my 2200# popup, with an additional few hundred pounds of rafting gear, unused water/propane, and misc. A lot of slowing to 20 mph, then regaining speed to 60, then slowing, etc. All uphill, 6-7% grade.

8 speed tranny, 3.21's, we were at 185 at the top, dropped to 170 a few minutes into the downhill run on the other side.