First post here, just found this site...very impressive. I've had a 2500 Ram 4X4, (auto trans) for a few years now. I love the truck. I've only had one problem and maybe someone can shed some light on the issue for me. <br><br>Every year my family and I go on vacation during the summer to this beautiful little lake in Utah. I pull a 28' trailer that's pretty hefty. I'd guess it at 8 or 9 thousand lbs. Anyhow, This hill that we pull to get there is like no other. Never seen anything so steep. It's also usually about 105 degrees out. My truck gets going slow towards the top. I usually end up shifting it down to low gear &quot;1&quot; on the column. Both years I've taken the heavy trailer, bingo, the dreaded &quot;TRANS TEMP&quot; light comes on. Both times I've pulled over, put it in neutral, and the light goes off. <br><br>Bottom line, I don't want to even think about it this year. Would a bigger cooler help? Another cooler in-line? I've even thought of mounting a fan in front of the existing cooler to throw more air at it. How about a piece of black electric tape over the warning light ;D Any ideas greatly appreciated.

 

Yes to additional cooling! I have been sorting through this myself. I'm not happy with the factory cooler. It does OK while cruising, not so good for slow speeds and traffic. I think part of the problem is the cooler sits off to the side, not much air flow (draw) from the fan over there to the side.<br><br>Might have a clearance problem with a fan in front of the existing cooler (the grill will hit). A secondary cooler is a great idea, I have read on this forum (do a search for &quot;transmission cooler&quot;, &quot;tranny cooler&quot; etc). I am trying to figure a good set up for me as well. <br><br>I would like to install a secondary cooler with a fan and electric switch, thinking right on the front of the condenser but clearance is a problem. When temps get high, kick on the fan, I live in michigan so I need to be aware of &quot;over cooling&quot; in the winter. I even considered one up under the truck somewhere out of the main air flow, when temps climb, turn on fan, if up uner the box or something, then I don't have to worry about clearance or over cooling in the winter.<br><br>Do a search, you find a fairly recent post regarding running two coolers, electric fan, thermostat, etc. Good info. Hope this helps, Kevin

 

Another option that might help some is a deeper pan with more capacity such as the maghytec.

 

[quote author=live wire link=board=4;threadid=16627;start=0#155996 date=1057209542]
Every year my family and I go on vacation during the summer to this beautiful little lake in Utah. [/quote]

Might I ask what lake? Just curious.

If you've had the trans temp warning light come on, I'd get that tranny fluid out and replaced ASAP.
Once that light comes on, you've reached temperatures that destroy transmission fluid.
If you pull over and shift to N right when that light comes on, you probably didn't do too much damage, but I'd still err on the side of caution and get it serviced.

You might have another underlying problem that creates the heat as well, such as a clogged filter, bad pump, bad valves, etc. (in the tranny of course)
Might even have clogged cooling fins.

Might also help if you fill out your signature line, with year of truck, any mods, etc.
There is a &quot;profile&quot; button up towards the top of page, and it will have a box to fill in such information.


phox

 

Another option would be to soup that engine up so you stay in 3rd lockup all the way up!! What hill are you talking about? If it's Parley's, I'm a little surprised you have to go down to 1st. I pull a 24ft trailer up that and as long as I have the AC off, I can stay in 3rd lockup the whole way up and only dropping down to 60mph. This is stock. With the AC on (dumb thing I tried) it came out of lockup but stayed in 3rd but tried to jump to 2nd a couple times and I dropped down to around 50. Anyway, let us know what hill you're pulling.

 

The lake question is has got me baffled. I can think of 6 or 8 lakes whcih have got some slow pulls to get into, but nothing that hard. Either it's in the Unita's or in southern Utah. If it's in northern Utah the 105* tempurature thing is a fluke of this year and last.<br><br>A 8 or 9,000 lb 28' is heavy. Must be a toy hauler full of stuff.<br><br>Straight 6, you need to do something with your truck. I've pulled my 24' up Parley's many times at 75 mph, w/AC running, and hardley broken a sweat. Would probably do 90 if I wanted to. It's only a 5% grade on the west side and 6% on the east.

 

All right......I'll tell you what hill......just don't all go rushin up there at once ;D<br><br>First off, thanks for all the great tips from everyone. <br><br>The hill is to Kolob Reservoir, near St George. No way 3rd lockout is an option. I've got grey hair from this Hill [undecided] Believe me, coming down is worse that going up. Smell them brakes a cookin. In the old days our motorhomes use to vapor lock going up...no fun. Ever gone up Baker grade by Vegas? A mere bump in the road compared to Kolob grade. We go up Baker on the way there and the rig flies up that baby 55 no problem, usually 115 degrees out, AC on blastin, no worries. <br><br>Thanks phox, I'll definitely swap the fluid and filter. Good idea. Straight 6, no way, AC is always off, windows down with my dogs head hanging out for air. Bart, you nailed it, a Dunes toy hauler with a boat and quad inside. Not to mention 110 gallons of water. <br><br> think I might try a permacool cooler. I see they make an aftermarket for the Cummins. Looks pretty beefy. You all think this might work? They make a big 6 pass cooler too. <br><br>Thanks again for all the great info folks.

 

Kolob Reservoir!! Talk about off the beaten path!! Never would have guessed that one.<br><br>Extra tranny cooling sounds like it may be your ticket. Good luck.

 

<br>Been looking for a good place to go! Just kidding.<br><br>Looks like you need gauges! Cant tell whats going on under there without them. Get the biggest cooler you can. I have an older rat big block GMC 4x4 with an auto and 35's. I put a huge trans cooler on it and never ran into problems again pulling a boat to the lake in swelting summer heat, up hills. And I've never had an over cooling problem in the winter either. If your tranny gets around 260*+ you are risking oil break down and seal failure. Also I've seen guys plumb big tranny coolers in such a way that they have the oil running straight through the cooler in summer heat and then by turning the a valve running the oil also through the radiator cooler to keep it warm in winter.

 

Get at least the tranny gauge, its cheep insurance. And easy to install.