Traveling in Mountains?

Originally Posted by TravlinOn

I checked the link from above and it seems that only diesels, cars, and light pick-up are covered. In any case, my towing package has extra cooling for the transmission - but maybe not enough?

I have a ScanGauge II on my 2006 F150, and it shows transmission fluid temperature, but only after programming it into the X-Gauge function. You can get those figures here: http://www.scangauge.com/support/x-g...cific-xgauges/ The instructions explain how to do that.

In addition to the tranny temperature, I also monitor the gear ratio and torque converter in/out ratio to see if the torque converter is locked up or not.

My truck pulling the 7 & 8% grades around here with a 5500 lb. conventional trailer needs to shift to 2nd. I have seen the transmission temperature reach 215° in the summer time for a short period. My transmission typically runs in the 150-170° range.

I have 5.4 L, 4 speed automatic transmission, 3.73 final drive with the auxiliary transmission cooler included in with the heavy duty tow package.

Any recommendations on a specific transmission temperature gauge?
Thanks.

[T and C]

TravelinOn,

I have the same truck you do. I assume you have the 4.6 3 valve motor. If you have the larger v8 even better.

My 3023 weighs in at about 4000lbs with our camping stuff in it. Clothes, food, some water and such. I carry tools and such in the truck bed under a locking lid.

I have gone over the pass between Sacramento CA and Reno Nevada at 55mph on cruise control. Altitude is 7000 feet. I put the trans in Tow/Haul mode of course. I do watch the transmission temp gauge, (the one on the right) though. So far, no problems.

Two years ago I drove up I-25 over the Raton Pass. Then I cut off just before Pueblo and went up into the Wet Mountains, elevation 8000 feet. Again, no problems.

Just keep your speed down, especially going downhill, and you should be fine.

Tom

Tom

Thanks for the encouragement. We've already got the maps out and planning a trip for early Fall - maybe all the way up to Jacksboro, TN for a tuneup.

[rickst29]

Originally Posted by T and C

....
I have gone over the pass between Sacramento CA and Reno Nevada at 55mph on cruise control. Altitude is 7000 feet. I put the trans in Tow/Haul mode of course. I do watch the transmission temp gauge, (the one on the right) though. So far, no problems.

Two years ago I drove up I-25 over the Raton Pass. Then I cut off just before Pueblo and went up into the Wet Mountains, elevation 8000 feet. Again, no problems.
Tom

Try CA-108, "Sonora Pass". (Only 9624 feet, but the grade reaches 26%. More than once.) I've pulled my little 2619 up from the Mono County side (Bridgeport) to Sonora, but going the reverse direction (26% downhills) would probably make DW freak out.
Come to think of it, she did that already. I didn't use cruise control.

[rvcycleguy]

IH17 from Camp Verde to Flagstaff gains almost a mile in elevation in an hour of drive time. We pulled our TM while carrying our cruiser motorcycle. Knowing that we were starting our return to our home in Houston and had 1500 miles in front of us, we took this section with care. Truck lane speed was down to 45-50mph.

Hi Jim

I started out pulling my 3326 with a 1995 f150 w/302. I purchased the TM in NY and live in Fla so the trip home was through mountains which I had slowed down going up each hill to the point of speeding up to 80 mph at the bottom of the rest of the hill just to finish at 40 on top. I made the trip no problem at all so take it easy and enjoy the sites.

Bob