How heavy have you guys towed with your 518s? I was towing about 7000# with no problems so far but that number is going up. I have a good TC and the heat issue is under control. I know the book says 14,000 gcvw but I think that was because of the bad factory TC.

Thanks

 

What model of Goerend did you go with? What trans temps are you seeing while pulling/climbing hills? I am running a Hughes and highly thinking of going to a Goerend.

 

I got my Goerend over 2 years ago it cost around 550.00. With the Derale pan and cooler under the bed I haven't seen over 140deg. pan temp yet. I do like the TC and I'm sure that Dave set you up.

 

Interesting data, my trans temp gauge is plumbed into the "hot line" and I normally see 160-170* under normal conditions. If I hit a grade of any kind, the temp will rocket up to 190* very quickly. Again, I have the Hughes converter and dealer installed underbed cooler. I figured maybe going with a Goerend converter and a deeper pan will drastically lower my transmission temps. I sure hope so.............

 

The Derale pan with the cooling tubes made a big difference for me, plus it added about 3 extra qts. of fluid. I think I'm about as low as you can go on temps. There's about 30 degs. difference between hot line and stock pan temps but not sure.

 

i had the level three TC the expensive one and had my sensor in the hot line and saw 230 on tranny temp hauling about 7-8 k up pretty steep and rocky road it did awesome.. got to top of hill cooled off to about 160-170..

 

Thanks, I think I'm to be around 8500#

 

The temperature of 230* degrees is pretty steep. That is normally where lubricating oil starts to cook and break down. I know many on here have driven their rigs at that temperature or above. The truck will work, but the fluid will be burnt. These non-lockup transmission always seem kinda scary to me. They ride a thin line between maximum temp and overheating.

 

Lock up trannys get hot too. A friend of mine had a 94 Ford IDI with a lock up that was towing less than me and his tranny would get so hot it would spew fluid out the dip stick tube. Yes lock up is better.

 

A lot of heavy duty automatics are non-lockup... but they're very heavy duty.

Now that I think about it I'm not even sure if the older International buses at work even have coolers after the heat exchanger (the same kind of cylinder on the engine block as our trucks, just bigger). The trans temp never gets past engine coolant temp pulling ~26k.

 

I tow a 5th wheel with a weight of 11,500 empty and around 15,000 lbs loaded. I have been towing it for two years and see 180 on flat ground and 200 - 220 in the mountains of Tn. My trans is still stock but in need of a goerend , shift kit and clutch upgrade for the automatic.( Upgrades in process.) If you don't use the OD temps shouldn't be a problem.

 

I gotta ask, what are you hauling regularly with a 11,500 lb trailer that is only 3,500lb?

 

If it's a 5th wheel, I'm thinking food, water, fuel, a bbq, maybe a motorcycle or small car, clothes...

 

I think it's a 5th wheel camper, I haul 2 antique tractors on a 25ft gooseneck that tip the scale at 14,000 just the tractors not counting the trailer so i'm thinking around 17,000-18,000 lbs, Now let me say this i (DO NOT) cowboy it when i'm pullin, and it does just fine.

Dar

 

Ah, Fifth wheel CAMPER. That makes sense why there is little difference between empty and full. My boss's 5th wheel FLATBED is like 6500lb or something empty but 18000lb loaded. I was having a hard time understanding that for a second, I get it now.