Did some "real" towing with the 'Stro today.

[overdrive75]

It's been a while since I have been on here, I have been busy, sorry for that.



Boat is listed at 3,900 lbs dry, she has a SBC 350 in here and holds 75 gallons of fuel, it was full. Also had some of my stuff on it and both coolers full. So I estimated the boat and trailer somewhere in the 5,500 to 6,000 range as it sits in that picture. My van is AWD and has the 3.42's in it. I just turned on the tow/haul and put her in D3 and rolled. She did really good on the 60 mile round trip. I was 90 here today we were running the AC and the temp gauge never never went north of about 205. I forgot my DashDAQ at home otherwise I would of had trans temps too. She got right up to speed and was stable, I ran here up to 65 mph.

Next question, I don't have and AUX trans cooler, but I do have the 8 wire trailer light harness in the jack area, so does that mean I have the trailer tow package?

Oh yeah I am going to add the firestone ride rites, as my Monroe air shocks wouldn't lift it much once hooked up.

[CaptSquid]

Nice looking boat. You know the old saw about the two happiest days in a boat owner's life -- the day he gets the boat and the day he gets rid of it.

I, too, have the trailer light harness in the jack area, I don't know if I have the towing package, but I have a 350 lb scooter hanging off a Class III/IV receiver. It does give the Stro a nose-up attitude, so I'll be looking into helper springs on the back.

[astroturf]

What a load !!!

The towing package (as far as I know) was the 8th wire to the back.

Everybody else got only 7.

The trans cooler (stock & towing) is the same.

Jim

[arlon]

My van has a towing package. It has 3.73 gears and a g80 locker. Seems like the taller gears might have been part of the towing package. Receiver hitch may have been part of the deal too. Also has electric brake connections.. And I'm a little concerned about towing a 2500lb Casita..

[astroturf]

My van has a towing package. It has 3.73 gears and a g80 locker. Seems like the taller gears might have been part of the towing package. Receiver hitch may have been part of the deal too. Also has electric brake connections.. And I'm a little concerned about towing a 2500lb Casita..

Good Points...

I missed the Hitch, Most important part by the way, well without it, we know how that ends up.

Good Save, Thanks, Jim

[overdrive75]

Point taken about the trans cooler. So I have the 8 wire harness in the rear. I have the orange and blue up front. However I have the 3.42 gears, so is it possible that the trailer tow package was something other than the axle being the 3.73. Maybe wiring, and different fan clutch or some thing like that? Anyhow the van towed, well actually really well, however I did not let it go to 4th I locked it in D3. Normally we pull the boat with our '02 2500HD, however with one kid and the second due here in about a month I thought I would give the van a try, after all it has more kid friendly comforts in it then the pickup and rides much better too. So based on yesterday, add the trans cooler throw some ride rites on the rear, and it looks like we have a second tow vehicle. Now we can take the travel trailer and the boat up north and vacation.

Thanks for the complement on this boat, by the way I am actually happy with this one, so I don't know how much that statement applies, it.

[1Gary]

Yeah without a aftermarket trans cooler your trans isn't going to show you much love very soon.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

The "towing package" only consisted of the brake controller wiring and a hitch in the newer vans. 3.42 gears were standard and if you wanted better, you had to order the 3.73's and G80. They were not part of a package. All the vans (96+) got the same fan clutch, trans cooler and engine oil cooler both which are in the radiator and are only good for an empty van. You definitely want an aux trans cooler.

[overdrive75]

You definitely want an aux trans cooler.

Ok, I read the how to on the trans cooler install, and I have put on my Cherokee, so no newbie there. However I cannot find the how to on removing the grill on the van. I keep reading about hidden screws? Thanks for the help.

[astroturf]

Behind the turn signals.

[1Gary]

I suggest you want to zip tie the trans cooler so there is a air space between the cooler and rad.I also suggest to not use those through the rad zip ties because of the potential of vibrations of them creating a rad leak with them rubbing against the tubes of the rad.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I wouldn't use zip ties at all. Bend up some simple metal brackets to mount the cooler. Gary is right in that you want it spaced away from the a/c condenser.

[overdrive75]

Not going to use zip ties, I am going to brackets. Here are the pieces I am going to install. Thoughts?

Trans cooler: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000C3 ... PDKIKX0DER

Fitting kit: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EP ... PDKIKX0DER

And trans fluid thermostat, so I can keep my Fuel Economy up in the Michigan winters: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004XO ... PDKIKX0DER

Looking for feed back.

[mdmead]

The link for the trans cooler thermostat is for the fittings kit again. (I want to see the thermostat!)

[overdrive75]

Thermostat link fixed, sorry.