Towing observations

[sailor]

I picked the boat up on the Sunshine Coast and towed it home to Tsawwasssen which gave me a chance to see how the truck did- turns out to be pretty good I think the tow weighed around 2500-3000 lbs? The 2 biggest problems were the pathetic brakes and having to drop $170 on a 12" drop hitch. The Labs bumper worked just fine. Power was adequate- I was able to keep up with traffic up the big hill out of Horseshoe bay with about 230 degrees F on the trans temp, EGT was a non issue, and It (trans) stayed around 215 mostly. I used the trans for braking and used a 1400 rpm idle in N at lights to cool the gearbox. Noticeable heat around centre console. The ATEB power mods were appreciated as I was able to be in overdrive mostly, except for all the East Van morons that kept jumping in front of me in traffic. This is why I no longer live in East Van.. lol

 

[AJAEbj42]

Have you got a tranny cooler in your truck, Graham? Remind us again, what tranny mods you have in terms of Torque converters, etc?

That's a nice looking truck/boat combination!

 

[ikeedikeed]

I have no aftercooler so, since the power rod install, I need to keep a close eye on EGTs while climbing. Often, a downshift is necessary to keep EGT south of 1100 F. But then I'm out of lockup and tranny temp starts to climb. It's a delicate dance sometimes.

 

[Glenn-BJ74]

Then you need a bigger boat!

 

[sailor]

I always need a bigger boat Mr. Quint!

I have the biggest trans cooler from Lordco we could fit in front of the AC condenser. The little intercooler is in front of half of it. The trans is totally stock to my knowledge, but we do flush the fluid every 10K km, no strange behaviour or slippage (yet). Stock gears and 35" MTs. The Trans temp gauge is on the output line to the cooler. I think there is a trans cooler in the bottom of the radiator, and recall this is still in the loop. I also considered an additional cooler but am out of space - maybe one of those inline ones?

ATEB John has tuned the power delivery of my truck (I don't know how) to my taste- that is to say it is all down low. I have never had it over 3000 rpm and 99% of the time it is under 2400. This keeps me in lock up as much as possible. There is quite a lot of power available below 2000 and I can get ahead of traffic from a light without exceeding 2000 so maybe this helps with the towing?

I always wanted a 40 but have to say the 81 is one useful work vehicle. With our giant renovation underway I have hauled 6 tons of trash to the dump and recycling, moved boats and furniture with a variety of trailers, transported the little guy in air conditioned comfort, wheeled the snot out of it and it has never missed a beat. Great vehicle, but be prepared to pay for the fuel.. oh well...

 

[Tmax]

my stock oe cooler is very nice. doubling it up would be killer. do you know if the later trucks have bigger coolers?

 

[drifter dave]

Is your EGT probe pre or post-turbo?

 

[sailor]

pre turbo. kind of useless otherwise, no?

 

[BCR4619]

ATEB has put them in post FYI......

 

[sailor]

Sass- Can't comment with authority as I don't know other trucks...My truck had a factory trans cooler in the radiator. We added the aftermarket one while still utilizing the stock one. Trans heat build up is still a problem, though I have only seen the idiot light one time- whilst climbing the forestry road to the Indian River in high range. I would like to find an inline or linear cooler to put in place of one of the lines running back to the gearbox. Trans temp is more of a problem than EGT in my truck while towing it seems and I am only at around 16 psi boost as the red light rarely comes on. I am sure my truck could be faster but I am very satisfied with the setup as is. Any further tweaking would be superfluous in my opinion excepting increasing trans cooling potential.. Attached the trans cooler before aftercooler installed..

 

[ForealBoreal]

Thats a really nice core set up.
What is the spacing between your rad and that core?
You could get a really high pulling Spal fan to push some air through if you felt it was necessary.

I keep meaning to ask where does your EGT max out at Graham?

 

[GTSSportCoupe]

Nice boat and cruiser you have there!

I tow a 2500-3000lbs 16' camper trailer with a LJ78 Prado (try not to laugh , engine is quite modified and runs great). The LJ78 has the A343F trans. I found the trans heat builds on long hills when the torque converter is not locked. As long as I can keep lock-up the trans stays cool.

The A343F in the LJ78 locks in 3rd or OD at 70km/h and above. 8% grades or more slow me down to the point where I loose lock-up. Then the heat builds. The A343F is electronic controlled, and my plan is to put a switch in that can force lock-up in 2nd gear (has been done by other folks). This will keep me at peak engine torque in 2nd with out creating heat from the torque converter on the brutal hills. Not sure if this is possible with the A442 or whatever is in your HDJ81?

I have an external trans cooler as well as the factory one in the radiator. I've never seen the trans temp warning light come on, but I do notice coolant temps going up when the TC is not locked on those big hills in hot weather while towing.

 

[sailor]

I can spend $1,200 + labour for a valve body to control 3rd gear lock up. Not likely. No other manual control available that I am aware of. Full manual control of the lock up would be something I would be tempted to pursue.

 

[Cruisin']

Full TC lockup would be wonderful, but in the meantime I've found that keeping rpm up helps keep trans temps under control. Like if I'm seeing it creep up over 230f, I'll drop into 2nd, get the rpm up around 2800 and the trans temp will start to creep back down. Tested this theory again on the Hope/Princeton hwy last weekend. Also in high range travelling on gravel roads if I stay out of D and run 2nd gear mostly the trans temp isn't an issue. Very handy now that I'm running the 3:1 low range as I can't go as fast in low range.

These trucks will tow fine, but you gotta watch the gauges!

 

[wrongway around]

wheeling nobb has the elusive v/b full lock up , im not sure what the plan him and longbow have about production,waiting on a test drive first i think. i hope it works out ,but then ,not sure of the power difference between an 4 banger isuzu and a tweeked 6 banger 1hdt. my transmission is actually normal till i full fuel it ,then its a slippery slide down the bad side ive found. i would love to send it to my buddy for a boo. im thinking full lockup is sweet but more clamping pressure is what these a442 full hydro's need with the new mods comeing to light as of late. and yes nice kicker on your tender sir.

 

[Vanny]

I've found that keeping rpm up helps keep trans temps under control. Like if I'm seeing it creep up over 230f, I'll drop into 2nd, get the rpm up around 2800 and the trans temp will start to creep back down.

I have read this in the gasser 80 section as well. Keep the RPM up while climbing

 

[sailor]

Yeah George- a 150 Yamaha will get your attention when you poke it...

 

[sailor]

OK so if anyone is interested we went to Tsawwassen - Merritt with the M416 loaded down again. The transmission was locked in OD the whole way and ran rock solid 175 Deg. F. Probe is on the output line. The snow shed hill seemed a bit more of a challenge this year, like we were down on power a bit- started at the bottom at 100 kph and were down to around 90 at the top while using enough wellie to keep it at 1350 deg. F. pre turbo. Not much smoke. I had just changed the air filter and tires were at 40 psi. About due for a fuel filter. Last year we just blasted up the hill. Anyway - great camping at Nicola Lake and back no problems- unsure is we could make the round trip on one tank, probably not.

On the way out of Merritt back home there is a long hill and I was on Cruise at about 110 or so when one of those Delica space gear things passed me just as we began the climb - he got about 10 car lengths ahead so I left it on cruise and watched as we started to reel him in.. I knew he was out of power when the dark smoke was coming out the back so we just motored past him no problem and left him far behind. Of course he flashed past us again on the down hill..

 

[AJAEbj42]

That's better speed than I can do in my subi fully loaded up that hill. Fantastic.

 

[sailor]

Thanks Rob- I am pretty happy with it. Truly been a trouble free experience with this 'Cruiser over the 100K I have driven it. All thanks to John and Philip I'm convinced. My 60 was equally reliable and much cheaper but waaaay slower and less easy to live with.