Front Cargo Rack Creating Overheating

I was very aware of that when I built my front hitch cargo box and I wanted to make sure that it would not interfere with adequate air flow to the truck. I see others with boxes that shield a large portion of their grills and I can't help but think that this could create issues with cooling. It would be a shame after spending the money and time to add a mod like this and then find out that it wont work.

I've been thinking about doing a front hitch receiver on my truck too but this has been the reason I haven't. I live in SE Texas and for the last few weeks the temps have been around 100. My Ram has a cutout in the bumper for air flow to the lower cooler. I was going to put a low mounted receiver that came through the bottom of the air dam but I don't want to cause overheat problems.

Is that an aftermarket grill? It seems to have very little air flow compared to others I've seen. You could consider changing it out to a better flowing one.

Link to the original thread with pic is below.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27027148/gotomsg/27029119.cfm#27029119

When first installed my front mounted generator, I found on long uphill Colorado grades in hot weather, the aftermarket grill reduced the flow enough that I was getting 10 to 15° hotter temperatures than normal.

Generator Post




When I returned from that first trip I replaced that grill with one that is open, that completely fixed the problem



Lynnsr

Post more info on your truck/cargo.
I wonder if your colling system isn't compromised already?
How much of a restriction did you have on front; big box? Motorcycle? Bike?

We have travelled 10k's miles with 3 or 4 bikes on front rack in temps over 100 deg F through Planes and Rockies and never had an issue...

B

bikerdib wrote:
I've been thinking about doing a front hitch receiver on my truck too but this has been the reason I haven't. I live in SE Texas and for the last few weeks the temps have been around 100. My Ram has a cutout in the bumper for air flow to the lower cooler. I was going to put a low mounted receiver that came through the bottom of the air dam but I don't want to cause overheat problems.

Although I have spare weight capacity on my Dana 60 front axle, I have the same worries about blocking flow to the radiator or transmission cooler. It may be fine if everything is working well, but what happens when you need that additional capacity? On our Seattle - St. Louis trip, I lost the fan clutch and was able to continue on to service at 50-55 mph in 90 degree heat without overheating (200-220 degrees coolant and 170-190 degrees transmission) as long as we didn't use the A/C. This was with a GCW of over 19K lbs using the setup in my profile.

I redirected the airflow with pvc . On long hills during the summer, my truck climbed up 15-20 degrees prior to the mod. Ill know better by Thursday how it worked , i'll report back.
You have to keep making mods of some sort and they need to be field tested . My DW is becoming suspicious :h as to why i have to bring fishing equipment to try out and test all these mods. I told her they are sensitivity rods to measure air flow .

The pvc pipe redirect is pretty cool. That opens up lots of options to redirect that could be attached to the rack.

I've only used a front rack in cold weather so far.

Its funny that no one is talking about restricting air into intercooler.

You are also sucking hot air into the motor causing the truck to run hotter.

Heat isn't something to play with, especially in newer diesels with EGR coolers.

I don't think you will get enough air volume with those PVC pipes to make a difference. If you mounted some tall hood scoops or air foils vertically on your tote instead, the increased surface area may bring in more airflow. It still will not help in slower driving conditions where ram (forced) air flow will be limited.

I know a buddy with a snowplow that can lazy at times and not remove his. Once he starts seeing the engine temps go up is his clue to get off his butt and take it off for the season.