MrKen

I have been trying to figure out what may be best, give me your opinions.
Should I be worried about ground clearance with a double deep pan, or is a deep pan a better choice? Maybe an extra trans cooler with a fan is more cooling for the buck? Is an extra cooler with a deep pan going overboard?
I don't tow, but carry a camper. Alot of driving is back roads/forest roads. not 4wheeling, but going slow so not alot of wind coming through the stanard trans cooler. At this time the truck is still stock. thanks

MrKen

no knowledge or opinions?

Buckshotram

I think the double deep pan is still 1/2inch from bottom of frame. I got just the reg deep pan. Any of those will be an improvement, maybe someone else will chime in.

greasemonki

I'm looking into some trans upgrades for my 2nd gen too. I know with my plow trucks, the trans coolers help a lot. The extra fluid capacity of a deep pan can't hurt either, I plan on doing both. just my 0.02

Marine

I have a deep pan on mine from NADP. I am going to put on a larger cooler, or put a fan on the stock one. I am not sure yet.
Extra capacity is good- you should do that anyway by replacing the pan.

RowJ

I would do the double deep pan and get a tranny hot line gauge. Add cooler only if needed, but can't see where it would be in your part of the country!
Synthetic ATF would be good insurance. Working the gears manually to keep the RPM up around 2000-2500 will help a lot. Stay out of OD and keep the engine from lugging!
Logging roads I've been on are usually good surfaces...allowing for some clear ram air, which makes a big difference... even at 10-20 mph. I think grid lock in town would be harder on an auto tranny than what you see?? BUT, without a gauge your just guessing!

RJ

ib516

Here's my $0.02. I think the deep and double deep pans look purdy, but they do not provide very much in the way of "extra cooling". I read a post or two over on RV.net of a guy with a tranny gauge that checked his before and after temps. Certainly the deep pans wouldn't hurt, but they aren't very effective at cooling compared to an actual cooler.

For the situation you describe (slow speeds with a camper on the truck), the cooler with the fan sounds like a much better cooling idea for the dollar. That's where I'd put my money if I were in your situation.

I also second the idea of getting a trans cooler line with the built in sensor port. I have one on my truck, along with a trans temp gauge. I got mine from dieselmanor.com.