Cooler or not??

[Fred MaN]

Im just about to purchase a new camper and it's going to weigh aprox 3,480 lbs dry weight and I figure aprox 4,500 lbs after my wife gets through loading it

Im sort of taking a vote here how many here think I should install a transmission cooler ??

By the way It's an 06 V-6 sport

 

[Baba Booey]

You would probably be OK without one, but I guess it depends on how many and what type of hills you will be climbing, outside temperature, etc.

If money were no object, I would say have a trans oil cooler installed and rest easy knowing that you are protected. I can't imagine that it would hurt anything. Considering that heat is probably the number one enemy of the transmission, it may help the overall life-span of the trans even if you weren't towing.

 

[RickyCRX]

A trans cooler costs less than $150 IF you have somebody else install it... More like around $60 if you do it yourself in 30 minutes.... You're going to be pushing that V6 to its limits of what it's made to do (5,000lb towing capacity), so why would you even question it when it will help increase the longevity of the transmission? Just put one on....

Ricky

 

[Baba Booey]

As RickyCRX said, it doesn't cost that much, but be sure to purchase an aftermarket unit like Hayden.

A few months ago, I called the local dealer and asked about getting a cooler installed on my V6. After repeatedly explaining to the service and parts people that I understood that a cooler wasn't available for the V6 4Runner, I finally talked them in to giving me a price for the cooler used on the Tacoma, which has the same 4.0L engine. In fact, it's probably the same cooler that's used on the 4.7L. The dealer wanted over $300 for the cooler and more $ for other related parts (fittings, lines, etc.).

It's probably no better than the Hayden, which you can buy anywhere for about $50 - $60.

 

[greasefingers]

Absolutely

 

[TRBenj]

Since the cost isnt that great, I say go for it. We have some of the hilliest terrain Ive seen here in New England. I towed a boat back from Chicago and the nastiest hills we hit were in northwest CT, just a few miles from my house.

 

[boston_kevin]

Yes... Cheap insurance against overheating the tranny (which isn't very likely). I have one on my '04 V6 and never thought twice about it, and I tow a 4200 lbs boat ~10 times per year.

 

[RickyCRX]

It doesn't just help when towing... Keeping the fluid cooler when you're stuck in rush hour bumper-to-bumper traffic helps make the fluid last longer, which in turn makes the transmission last longer if you happen to wait too long between fluid changes.

Ricky

 

[mikestang]

Every vehicle w/an automatic tranny should have a cooler installed (in addition to the pass the fluid makes through the radiator) regardless of whether or not it tows. A cooler costs much less than a new tranny.

 

[slimjim]

you probably don't need one but why chance it? besides it'll make a nice conversation piece and add to the re-sale value.

and it'll be a nice start on a lot of mods...hehe. pretty soon you'll need revos, lift, bull bar...

 

[Koz]

When you put in the cooler you may want to go synthetic all the way around. (Diffs and Transfer case). A set of inexpensive air bags in the rear coils may help bigtime.

Koz

 

[wolfgang]

When you put in the cooler you may want to go synthetic all the way around. (Diffs and Transfer case). A set of inexpensive air bags in the rear coils may help bigtime.

Koz

I tow a 4300 # Forest River 25 LB "Lite" trailer with my '03 SE V6 with NO problems (no hills - just highway). I have weight/load distributing hitch and sway bar with trailer (which has electric brakes, of course). Air bags should not be needed --- unless you have trailer loaded wrong or don't have WD hitch --- then you'll need more than air bags as the front will want to lift up in the air.

Don't buy normal synthetic DEXTRON AT fluid (ATF) -- the newer 2003 up 4Rnr take Type T-IV ATF. There is a synthetic available for about $5/qt from Mobile 3309 ATF --- it's hard to find though. Castrol and AMSOIL make a multipurpose synthetic ATF that they claim will work too.