Need towing advice
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
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From: Sequim WA
Need towing advice
I'm moving back to WA from San Diego on Feb. 12th. I will be towing a full 6x12 cargo trailer via receiver hitch. On Feb 10th however I will be getting the Econo HD transmission built and installed by John Wood Automotive in Holtville. I am also paying for a TruCool transmission cooler to work in conjunction with my factory cooler. I'm not clear on whether I should be using OD or not while towing, I seem to read mixed opinions on it. If I understand correctly, I should try to avoid towing with OD on to avoid burning up the transmission. That would mean the "OD off" light being lit on the shift lever, correct? The only downside to this is adverse fuel economy. Tips?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,579
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From: knoxville, tn
I am sure others will chime in on this, but with a Woods tranny and only a 6x12 trailer I would think you could tow in OD. How heavy do you think it will be? That will be the determining factor on whether you use OD or not.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
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From: Sequim WA
Right i'm just not sure what all of my possessions weigh. I don't have a ton of towing experience with this rig. Is there a certain threshold?
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 11,269
Likes: 1,654
From: Las Cruces New Mexico
What gears you have? Tire size? Mods? What are your trailer tires speed rating? Even if at that you will be fine towing in OD, as long as your not lugging the engine and trans, keep rpms between 1700-2000 rpm the sweat spot for any 7.3
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 0
From: Yreka, CA
You'll be fine in OD most of the way up I5. Kick it out in traffic in LA, Stockton, and Sacramento. Lock it out for the hills too.
Give yourself extra room crossing the bridges at Shasta Lake. People down there have a hard enough time driving in winter conditions and they have no concept of the room it takes to stop trucks like ours.
Where are your stops? If you've got the time you could stop in Ashland and grab a beer with me to celebrate pulling over the Siskiyous (Highest elevation on I5).
Give yourself extra room crossing the bridges at Shasta Lake. People down there have a hard enough time driving in winter conditions and they have no concept of the room it takes to stop trucks like ours.
Where are your stops? If you've got the time you could stop in Ashland and grab a beer with me to celebrate pulling over the Siskiyous (Highest elevation on I5).
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
You did the right thing getting a John Woods, I have one also. Mark, our E40D expert, says not to run two trans coolers. You will do just fine with the tru cool. I have towed for ten years up to 18.5K all over the country and use OT. The thing about OT is to use common sense. You feel it lugging down because of a hill or head wind, push the button. Its that simple.
Have fun on the Siskiyous pass. I scared the he!! out of my wife on that hill. Beautiful clear day going up north bound but when we topped the hill and started down fog rolled in. You couldn't see anything. I kept it about 45mph with my wife yelling at me the whole way down. I didn't have enough brakes to slow down any more anyway and I also didn't want to get rear ended by a truck. I now have disk brakes on my 5er so its not a problem anymore but she has never forgiven me for that. I still defend what I did but oh well!! You shouldn't have a bit of problems with that tiny trailer.
Have fun on the Siskiyous pass. I scared the he!! out of my wife on that hill. Beautiful clear day going up north bound but when we topped the hill and started down fog rolled in. You couldn't see anything. I kept it about 45mph with my wife yelling at me the whole way down. I didn't have enough brakes to slow down any more anyway and I also didn't want to get rear ended by a truck. I now have disk brakes on my 5er so its not a problem anymore but she has never forgiven me for that. I still defend what I did but oh well!! You shouldn't have a bit of problems with that tiny trailer.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 0
From: Yreka, CA
You did the right thing getting a John Woods, I have one also. Mark, our E40D expert, says not to run two trans coolers. You will do just fine with the tru cool. I have towed for ten years up to 18.5K all over the country and use OT. The thing about OT is to use common sense. You feel it lugging down because of a hill or head wind, push the button. Its that simple.
Have fun on the Siskiyous pass. I scared the he!! out of my wife on that hill. Beautiful clear day going up north bound but when we topped the hill and started down fog rolled in. You couldn't see anything. I kept it about 45mph with my wife yelling at me the whole way down. I didn't have enough brakes to slow down any more anyway and I also didn't want to get rear ended by a truck. I now have disk brakes on my 5er so its not a problem anymore but she has never forgiven me for that. I still defend what I did but oh well!! You shouldn't have a bit of problems with that tiny trailer.
Have fun on the Siskiyous pass. I scared the he!! out of my wife on that hill. Beautiful clear day going up north bound but when we topped the hill and started down fog rolled in. You couldn't see anything. I kept it about 45mph with my wife yelling at me the whole way down. I didn't have enough brakes to slow down any more anyway and I also didn't want to get rear ended by a truck. I now have disk brakes on my 5er so its not a problem anymore but she has never forgiven me for that. I still defend what I did but oh well!! You shouldn't have a bit of problems with that tiny trailer.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 774
Likes: 25
From: Reno, Nevada
I think we want to keep routing the fluid through the internal radiator cooler and replace the small external cooler with the new one. So, on paper, we do have two transmission fluid coolers, one in the radiator and one new external cooler. We just don't want to keep the small factory external cooler and end up with three coolers?
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 0
From: Yreka, CA
This sometimes gets confusing since I think the fluid in the factory system is routed through a cooler in the radiator, then through a small air cooler, so we do have two coolers to begin with.
I think we want to keep routing the fluid through the internal radiator cooler and replace the small external cooler with the new one. So, on paper, we do have two transmission fluid coolers, one in the radiator and one new external cooler. We just don't want to keep the small factory external cooler and end up with three coolers?
I think we want to keep routing the fluid through the internal radiator cooler and replace the small external cooler with the new one. So, on paper, we do have two transmission fluid coolers, one in the radiator and one new external cooler. We just don't want to keep the small factory external cooler and end up with three coolers?
.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20,419
Likes: 197
From: AZ
Maybe I didn't understand, YES, keep the radiator cooler and add the tru cool. Get rid of the factory air cooler. I thought you were adding the tru cool connected to the little factory air cooler, sorry for any misunderstandings.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Sequim WA
You'll be fine in OD most of the way up I5. Kick it out in traffic in LA, Stockton, and Sacramento. Lock it out for the hills too.
Give yourself extra room crossing the bridges at Shasta Lake. People down there have a hard enough time driving in winter conditions and they have no concept of the room it takes to stop trucks like ours.
Where are your stops? If you've got the time you could stop in Ashland and grab a beer with me to celebrate pulling over the Siskiyous (Highest elevation on I5).
Give yourself extra room crossing the bridges at Shasta Lake. People down there have a hard enough time driving in winter conditions and they have no concept of the room it takes to stop trucks like ours.
Where are your stops? If you've got the time you could stop in Ashland and grab a beer with me to celebrate pulling over the Siskiyous (Highest elevation on I5).
You did the right thing getting a John Woods, I have one also. Mark, our E40D expert, says not to run two trans coolers. You will do just fine with the tru cool. I have towed for ten years up to 18.5K all over the country and use OT. The thing about OT is to use common sense. You feel it lugging down because of a hill or head wind, push the button. Its that simple.
Have fun on the Siskiyous pass. I scared the he!! out of my wife on that hill. Beautiful clear day going up north bound but when we topped the hill and started down fog rolled in. You couldn't see anything. I kept it about 45mph with my wife yelling at me the whole way down. I didn't have enough brakes to slow down any more anyway and I also didn't want to get rear ended by a truck. I now have disk brakes on my 5er so its not a problem anymore but she has never forgiven me for that. I still defend what I did but oh well!! You shouldn't have a bit of problems with that tiny trailer.
Have fun on the Siskiyous pass. I scared the he!! out of my wife on that hill. Beautiful clear day going up north bound but when we topped the hill and started down fog rolled in. You couldn't see anything. I kept it about 45mph with my wife yelling at me the whole way down. I didn't have enough brakes to slow down any more anyway and I also didn't want to get rear ended by a truck. I now have disk brakes on my 5er so its not a problem anymore but she has never forgiven me for that. I still defend what I did but oh well!! You shouldn't have a bit of problems with that tiny trailer.
I was livid when I was driving thru shasta back in december. They really need to paint those lines. I was driving in heavy rain and the paint had very little reflective properties left.
