NoDakAFRVr
North Dakota
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Anyone have any experience adding a transmission cooler to a GMC Sierra 1500? Truck pulls the camper great...UNTIL we get into those lovely 20+ mph North Dakota winds. Maybe NO truck would do well in this, but sure makes the transmission unhappy. Also entertaining other thoughts for things we could do to the current truck? (new truck is in the plans for next summer). Thanks in advance!
~Em & Mike
Baby O 
2013 Outback 250RS
2012 Keystone Premier 31BHPR
2007 Dodge Megacab 2500 Cummins
2007 GMC 1500 Sierra
<2012 many many years of tenting it!
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the bear II
Torrance CA.
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Joined: 02/14/2008
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Add a transmission cooler and use Redline's Wetter Water in your radiator. (http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=10)
You'll see a drop in tranny temp of about 20 degrees vs. no changes.
Speaking of the North Dakota winds, I once got 3 MPG for 150 miles fighting the wind. I could watch the gas gauge fall.
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reno82
Cardiff by the Sea, CA
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You can also go with a larger finned pan to keep the fluid cooler(more fluid plus cooling fins) Shouldn't be hard adding a cooler since some of those come with a cooler stock.
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fla-gypsy
North Florida
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What motor and what is the weight of the trailer? Maybe it is just not suited for the work it's doing?
09 SuperDuty Crew Cab 6.8L/4.10(The Black Pearl)
06 Keystone Hornet 29 RLS/(The Cracker Cabana)
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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I would think that in MOST cases the loss of wind through the radiator would be compensated for by the less wind resistance traveling down wind would produce. Kind of true also when traveling UP wind. INcreased air flow through radiator compensates for more power needed to pushing against the wind.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
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music69
Tennessee
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What kind of temps are you talking? It may be normal operating range for the conditions (?).
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NoDakAFRVr
North Dakota
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Temps run in the 170's when we're heading into the wind. If it's a calm day (or a tail wind), they are just fine (120's/130's)
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SDfromSD
South Dakota
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I don't think 170 is a very high temp for pulling. I see temps over that even when not pulling. I'd start to get worried in the 220+ range for a long time. JMO though, some guys like around 175 max, others don't blink an eye at 200-220 in the newer systems. Your money I guess, but I wouldn't stick money into it with temps where you're at.
We normally see tranny temps at 100-110 degrees over outside temps while pulling.
2009 Suburban 1500
2010 Puma 30FQSS
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NoDakAFRVr
North Dakota
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Truck is a 2007 GMC Sierra 1500, 3.73 gearing and 5.3 liter, if that bit of information helps at all.
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NoDakAFRVr
North Dakota
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Truck was purchased used, though we have the original sticker. It's got the extra "towing package" on it, that SAYS it includes a transmission cooler, though thinking it doesn't do much (if anything..who knows the last time it was dealt with). Will be taking it to a local mechanic ASAP to find out 1) if the one there is working at all, 2) add the stuff the first poster mentioned 3) see if a bigger one would help. Just need to get through this season, then work on a new truck next year (unless hubs gets deployed, in which case camper will sit next year -booo- but then gives us another year to work on finding a truck).
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