Cooling improvements needed for towing?

[ppressle]

Hi all,

I have recently started using a nearly stock 99 cruiser for towing a 3000 lb car + 1500 lb trailer to track events. I have had no issues thus far with an open trailer with electric brakes.

My cruiser was not equipped with any special tow options.

I would like to make sure my cooling system is appropriate for towing.

Were there different oil/tranny fluid coolers available from the factory?
If so, is installing the larger unit an easy retro fit?

Any other recommendations for upgrading the cooling? An after market cooler? If so any opinions on the right one to use?

Last, any hints or tips on getting a temp gauge on the tranny?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[calamaridog]

I noticed you had no replies yet

There should be a tranny cooler mounted in front of the radiator? I think

Check it out, it should be there...

Temp gauge on the tranny might be a good idea, I'll ask my Tundra friends if anyone has done this...

 

[LX_TREME]

I noticed you had no replies yet

And thats the cooler looks like...

 

[tabraha]

Give us some more info like distance, elevation change, geography, climate. Unless you are looking at some serious elevation changes, the stock setup is very adequate for this. Towed my 911 to the track plenty and its a piece of cake. I've towed a fully loaded uhaul tandem axle, as large as you can rent, overloaded and there were no temperature problems and thats running through the pine belt from Houston to SC. I'll take a pic of the factory tranny cooling unit if no one else posts one once I'm home. I also tow a 1949 Ford 9n "redbelly" tractor with bush hog with no problems.



edit: sorry ford 8n, not 9n tractor, about 3800 pounds with wet tires and bush hog.

 

[calamaridog]

And thats the cooler looks like...

OMFG, is that truck lowered???

 

[ppressle]

I had figured that my post would just slide off into oblivon! Thanks for the replies!

I believe there is a factory tranny cooler. It was my understanding that for some trailer packages, manufacturers would install heavier coolers and beefier springs and lower gear ratios. I am going to do the air bags for the rear springs.

I don't know the details for the cruiser in what tranny coolers were available from the factory. (And I'm not sure how I would find out, other than asking experts like you guys... )


I would like to be able to trailer a 4.5k lb rig up to tahoe (8k ft pass) for hot august nights. More typically, I would like to be able to tow the same rig over Pacheco Pass (2k ft). It is also insurance that I the tranny will hold together while I am towing. I believe I am pretty close to the load limits...

LX_TREME, that looks like an aftermarket cooler with the earls style fittings. Any details on why you went with that?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[calamaridog]

Pete,

What year is your 100? Do you have the 5spd and 4.10's or the 4spd and 4.30's? If you do a search on gearing, you will find that gearing the rear requires some extra work as standard replacements are not currently available for the 100 such as 4.56 or 4.88. It can be done but you need some 80 series parts.

With stock size tires, I don't think you need to regear. I'm sure you can find a larger tranny cooler if needed. I doubt they offered more than one size of stock cooler and I'm not sure if all the LC's came equipped with them.

 

[NMuzj100]

A tranny temp gauge might be the best investment. Run it with the gauge for a couple of typical drives and you'll know whether the stock system is up to the challenge. I suspect that it is. The LC comes with a tranny cooler that is larger than many "Tow Package" coolers added to light trucks. Regular fluid changes with a high quality fluid like a synthetic transmission fluid or new Dextron III "H" (if you have a Dex tranny) will help deal with any high temps that do arise (Avoid the generic cheap brands of transfluid).

We need some good gauge threads here. Maybe we can get Christo to detail the gauge installs for his Turbo so that we can steal some mounting ideas.

 

[ppressle]

Calamari:
I have a 99 which I believe has a 4 speed. I was not really thinking about changing the gearing.

I'll double check that I actually have a tranny cooler then. Perhaps I was assuming too much? I thought it would be mandatory in a car like this.

NMuzj100:
I really like the idea of doing the temp gauge. I did replace the tranny fluid about a year ago. probably due again.

Thanks all.
Pete

 

[calamaridog]

I asked some friends who tow with a Tundra about coolers and gauges. They have all responded that the stock Tundra tow package works fine. No comments yet regarding gauge intalls

 

[cary]

I would like to be able to trailer a 4.5k lb rig up to tahoe (8k ft pass) for hot august nights. More typically, I would like to be able to tow the same rig over Pacheco Pass (2k ft). It is also insurance that I the tranny will hold together while I am towing. I believe I am pretty close to the load limits...

Thanks,
Pete

Considering that neither of those climbs is really that bad (I assume by pacheco pass, you mean the Altamont Pass on 580), I really wouldn't worry. 80 is a long climb, but there are not really any steep sections and there are many flat sections and rollers that allow the engine and tranny to cool a bit. Altamont isn't that steep and is only about 5 miles.

As others said, change the tranny fluid regularly, make sure you are up on your maintence and don't worry.

Cary

 

[ppressle]

OK, Thanks all.

Altamont pass or Pacheco pass are the two options to get to hw 5 and both have hills. I never really paid attention to which is higher.

I thought Tahoe would be pretty tough. I know the cruiser drops down into 3rd even without a trailer. Heat is the enemy and lifting that much weight up to 8k feet in the thin air seems tough.

I'll see what I can to about a temp gauge and watch it on some of the smaller climbs.

I trailered the car this last weekend up from San Jose to Chico and it was just a pleasure. (No hills...) I remain really impressed with the Cruiser.

Pete

 

[cruisermaine]

If one was to fit a tranny temp gauge, where would mount the sending unit? Is there something existing to tap into?

 

[NMuzj100]

You want to mount the temp gauge at the outlet port where coolant leaves the tranny enroute to the cooler. That way you are measuring the coolant at its hottest point. I don't have any 100 specific knowledge however.

 

[IdahoDoug]

Toyota is very conservative with its tow ratings, so your 4500lbs is easily within the LC's abilities even on the hottest day and highest pass. Your rating is at least 5000lbs. The US LC's all came stock with tranny coolers (and oil coolers, I think), which are better than most mfrs tow pkg coolers. Toyota spends a great deal of time testing towing heat load on the worst US passes to ensure they're balanced well in terms of shedding heat.

In addition to the above comments on tranny fluid (I'd change it annually for towing usage, btw), you can do something simple to improve cooling next time you wash your truck. With the engine stone cold, spray Simple Green into the radiator fins from the front and the rear - soak it as liberally as you can. Relax for 10 minutes, then wash the car as normal, finishing up by hard spraying into the fins of the radiator again.

Road grime is oily, and a LOT of air passes through those fins laying down heat-trapping films, which later trap dust, etc. Get them down to bare metal again and your radiator will become measurably more effective. A year or so ago I actually measured the temp change on a Subaru's a/c system at something like 12 degrees cooler at the dash vents before/after. So, you can imagine what that will do for a radiator's heat shedding. I do it every spring to get ready for tow season.

For rear air bags, look at the AirLift brand. I've had them on every tow vehicle I've ever had, and the 93 LC has 145k miles on her bags, just put them on the 97. Simple and highly effective product. PM me if you have questions on install.

Regards,

DougM

 

[gopriest31]

cleaning tip

Idaho Doug is right on the cleaning issue- cleaning is important for AC and cooling efficiency- Also, use a pick tool to straighten out any bent cooling fins- you can get a pick from snap on or any good tool company

Ive found that the foaming type of Scrubbing bubbles cleaning product for bathrooms (cant think of the actual product name) works great for cleaning aluminum core radiators- Start with the radiator cold, spray it down with the cleaner, allow it to work for a few minutes, then rinse with a low presssure garden hose- dont use a pressure washer - they can really bend fins!

 

[ppressle]

The cleaning sounds like excellent advice. I am plannng on doing the air lift bags.

With the air lift bags, is it safe to assume that I can bump my tongue weight ? Any guess on how much?

Pete

 

[Jim_Chow]

There are some mods you can make to force the torque converter to lock up much sooner. This will help while towing up monster climbs. Sleeoffroad has some offerings. I heard there's a company in the NE that can mod the tranny to force quick lockup...great for extended wheelin' in 4wd low.