I tow a 4 horse trailer and have a cabover camper so loaded I am at about 8000#. Would you recommend a transmission cooler or any other additional equipment for my 1996 F250? If so what name brands and models give the best results? I have the 460 EFI engine with a 4 speed electronic auto transmission and I thinks it has the 4:10 rear end (is there an easy way to identify the rear end?).

 

Steve:
1. Go to www.summitracing.com. Order one of their free catalogs, then order the biggest trans cooler you can afford. Make sure it has threaded hose ends, because you are going to go to the nearest hydraulic hose place you know and blow cash on good hose with similarly threaded ends. Yes, an automatic trans needs all the help it can get.
2. Look at the mylar data panel on the driver's door jamb. Along the bottom with be a row which includes "axle". It will have a numeric or alphaneumeric code. Post that here and I will decode it for you.
3. When you wire up that horse trailer, and if you are using a Bargman-style round seven-wire connector, use the following connection pattern, it is standard throughout the trailer industry:
(Facing the permanent, truck-mounted connector under the bumper, clockwise)
Center:Backup lights (Red/Yellow)
Top R., 1 o'clock position: Trailer Hot, (Orange)
Ctr. R., 3 o'clock: Right Turn/Stop, (Green)
Bot. R., 5 o'clock: Trailer Brake, (Blue)
Bot. L., 7 o'clock: Ground, (White)
Ctr. L., 9 o'clock: Left Turn/Stop, (Yellow)
Top L., 11 o'clock: Running Lights, (Black/White)