Need advice on choosing another Tow Vehicle?

Well, after a long discussion over on the chevy truck forum, I have figured out that I don't need my mechanic to install trailer brake controller.

I ordered the "Tekonsha 90195 P3 Electronic Brake Contro" and the "Tekonsha 3015-P Brake Control Wiring Adapter ". It just plugs right in and your ready to go (after testing and a tuning of course). I order the "BAFX Products - Bluetooth OBD2 scan tool " to use in conjunction with with my android phone to monitor transmission temps.

I just finished waxing my trailer with the "Star brite Premium Marine Polish Boat Wax with PTEF" and have some 303 on order to treat the roof and trim with.

Looks like I almost about ready to go. Thanks for all the advice guys and I will report back with the result of my trip.

In my case my TT sticks way out on either side and the mirrors are not out far enough to see down the side of the TT. I don't think a convex mirror will fix this.

Okay. Different question. When I was pulling my TT home (300 miles) I could not see behind me at all because my stock side mirrors are not out far enough. This made me very nervous. I really want to correct this before getting out on the road again. I was thinking of mirror extensions or possibly even some sort of camera on the back of my RV. Anybody done this?

Mirror extensions will only get you so far. On my chevy, I have a simple convex mirror with sticky tape mounted to the bottom left corner of the mirror. For me, it works just fine and only costs about $2 at the auto part store. The main thing you're trying to accomplish anyway is to not have a massive blind spot. Just my opinion. If you feel more comfortable with mirror extensions then get them.

Okay. Different question. When I was pulling my TT home (300 miles) I could not see behind me at all because my stock side mirrors are not out far enough. This made me very nervous. I really want to correct this before getting out on the road again. I was thinking of mirror extensions or possibly even some sort of camera on the back of my RV. Anybody done this?

AirForceAngler wrote:

kodiakcanuck wrote:
Item 2 and 3 are extra precautions only, and not necessary. You already have a tranny cooler, keep it in TOW/Haul mode and it locks out overdrive and keeps you in the 3rd or 4th gear.

Item 4 needs to move to item NUMBER 1. You NEED a brake controller for panic stops and down hills. This should happen before you change the rear end....:E

Tow/Haul mode does NOT lock out overdrive. It only changes the shift points and raises the pump pressure for firmer shifts.

That's what mine does, shifts later on accelaration and earlier on downshifts.

The only way to lock out overdrive is to manually shift down to 5th or 4th.

jungleexplorer wrote:

jerem0621 wrote:
I would not replace the stock cooler.

If I needed to I would just run a second cooler in line with the first.

And yes. You can get the tranny temp too cold. Just run the one and see how it works.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

From what I read optimum tranny operating temps are around 170 degrees. I will get to temp gauge and watch my temps. I am just gathering info here that I might need down the road at some point when I am not connected to a computer. "The best tool you can have in your tool box is the knowledge in your head."

Here's a Transmission life expectancy chart based on transmission temps. I keep my trans temp right around the bottom end of the scale.

http://www.txchange.com/heatchrt.htm

All I have ever done to any of my automatic transmissions is filter and fluid changes. I sold my '91 Mustang 2.4L auto at 255000K (155300M) the only thing that had been done to that transmission was fluid/filter changes.

jungleexplorer wrote:
I just got back from visiting a dear friend that is on the border of the promise land (last days). His son is an expert Ford mechanic. I had a long talk with his son and he feels my truck would be much better off with the 3.42 gears in the rear end. He suggested picking up a rear end a salvage yard and just swapping it out and keeping my current one for the future if I stop pulling.

I think I will skip this and keep my existing gear for the time being, but he did talk about getting an aftermarket chip for RV towing. Anybody have any experience with aftermarket chips?

After market chips open up a whole lot of possibilies for mods.

Your can recalibrate the tire size if you changed tire size, reprogram the ECM to change shift points and give a firmer shift, change engine mapping to produce more power from things like a high flow airfilter and low restriction exhaust.

You can get two different types of tuners, on that you plug into the ODBII port and reprogram off the chips screen or there are tuners that have dash or A-pillar mounted display screen. The second type of tuner usually allow you to change power settings on the fly.

I have used both types, a Superchips plug in and reprogram the ECM on my Ford gas. I have the display on my Ram Cummins. The dash mounted screen allows you to monitor several functions at once. I when with the screen version for several reasons, the ability to monitor trans temp, boost and exhaust temp were my priority. As an added bonus it has a built in turbo cool down timer. Allows me to stop, shut the truck off and walk away, the truck runs until the EGT gets to 380F then shuts down.

To get a decent tuner with a display your looking at several hundred to a thousand dollars.

APT wrote:
Save your money for when you can upgrade the whole truck to something with more transmission gears.

That is where this thread started out at. Lol!

Trans coolers are closer to $50 than $500 for parts and trans shops should install for 2 hours labor.

There is little point in changing the rear axle from 3.23 to 3.42. If you are going to swap, go for 3.73 or 4.10. GM offered both ratios in pickups and SUVs using that rear axle.

Skip the tuner/aftermarket chip. There is little extra power to be made over stock under 3000rpm. Save your money for when you can upgrade the whole truck to something with more transmission gears.

jerem0621 wrote:
I would not replace the stock cooler.

If I needed to I would just run a second cooler in line with the first.

And yes. You can get the tranny temp too cold. Just run the one and see how it works.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

From what I read optimum tranny operating temps are around 170 degrees. I will get to temp gauge and watch my temps. I am just gathering info here that I might need down the road at some point when I am not connected to a computer. "The best tool you can have in your tool box is the knowledge in your head."