www.iFourWinns.com

I just bought a new tow vehicle - a 2008 Toyota Highlander. Its 3.5 litre, 270 hp and has a rated towing capacity of 5,000 lbs "when properly equipped". I expect to only tow my 205 Sundowner (about 4000 lbs) for couple short trips (2 hours) and one long trip (4 hours) a year, and a friend told me for that amount of towing, I don't really need a transmission cooler. He said that instead, just change the transmission fluid more frequently - about twice as frequently as recommended by Toyota.

I'm liking the $400 savings by not getting a transmission cooler, but wondered if anyone else had any experience or advice?

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2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6

How flat is it where you will be towing? I tow through Kentucky and Tennessee and there are some big hills putting extra strain on my tow vehicle. If you think you might encounter any of these kind of conditions, I might recommend the $400 investment. If it is flat--you might be able to get away without it. Just keep in mind that with trailer, passengers in the car (yes--you and your passengers count towards the towing capacity), all your luggage and gear, plus fuel--it is not difficult to exceed the 5000 lbs.

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Norris Lake, Stardust Marina, Andersonville, TN
2005 Four Winns 230 Horizon 5.7L Volvo Gi/DP
2001 Maxum 1900SR 5.0L V8 (Sold)
2011 Nissan Armada Platnum

Don't tow when it's 100 degrees out. Take it easy on major hills - you might need to stop and let it cool down a bit.

No speed racer while towing and you'll be fine.

Nice new car!

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA

I disagree with anyone who says you don't need a transmission cooler when towing a significant load with an automatic transmission. And still change the fluid twice as often (I believe that should be done even without any towing).

Coolers don't cost much, in the scheme of things. If Toyota is quoting $400, I'd bet you can get one installed for much less somewhere else.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Agreed. Further, it can only help in the grand scheme of things in the unfortunate event you have a transmission-related warranty claim.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)

I'll have to agree with those that would recommend a trans cooler, but here's a substitue that could give you peace of mind if you decide not to. Have an aux trans temp guage installed, this way you can keep an eye on dangerous temps and pull off the road before trouble starts.

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2008 H210SS VP 5.7 Gi/SX
2011 Ford F150 FX4 EB

Thanks guys - the tow routes are fairly flat, no mountains or anything. Not sure what I'll do yet. Might see if I can get a cheaper price at Mister Transmission or some after-market place, or maybe get the temperature gauge and monitor the first time out...

Really like the Highlander - no issues with the accellerator pedal so far!!

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2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6

If towing anything of substantial weight, I recommend both an aux cooler and trans oil temp gage. Have this set up on both vehicles in garage that can tow.

My last aux trans cooler was somewhere around $70. see link for more info

http://haydenauto.com/Featured%20Produc ... ntent.aspx


Does not matter if you are towing on flat land or not, if you over heat the trans, at the very least you will do is cook the oil, and it get worse from there. Very cheap compared to trans rebuild or replacement. I would bet that most drivers do not know how to properly drive/tow with an auto trans and therefor, over heat the trans. Most just put the selector in drive and go....... You still got to pay attention to what gear your in, manually shift to keep trans from hunting between gear, which creates heat.

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2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

Well if it's under warrantee...you better for sure find out what Toyota defines 'when properly equipped'...I bet that they mean that you will install their cooler...keep in mind all coolers are not equal...there are tube and fin...stacked plate...low pressure drop...if you put a generic cooler on and the trans burns up guess what will happen...'not properly equipped.....no warrantee'....
My experience with Japanese cars and maintaining them shows me that their automatic transmissions are very good but VERY expensive to repair...that 400 will look like a drop in the bucket....these computer controlled transmissions are not like the hydraulic Turbo 400s....Mopar TorqueFlite 727s and Ford C-6s of my youth...they demand specific fluid temps....flow and pressures...the wrong cooler can slow down circulation and cause a trans failure....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Very good points, Lou. You'd think for 4 bills it would come with a couple of extra gas pedals or something.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I like to recomend to install a right trasmission cooler for your truck.... $400 should not be too much if you can afford a boat...... It is well worth for investment and reduce a risk.

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08 H260 VP 8.1Gi DP.....Previous
2013 Crownline E6 Merc 8.2MAG BIIIX, DTS/SC

Just as an FYI to you. Your 205 dry on the trailer is going to be at about 5,300 pounds. When I weighed mine loaded with fuel and gear it was right at 6,000 pounds. Just so you know and to be careful.

I have a honda ridgeline that I towed my 225 sundowner with a couple times a year and properly equiped for it required the trany cooler. If you look through your manual they might derate the towing capacity without a trany cooler down to some where around 4500 lbs.

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2001 328 Vista "Nauta Dream 2"
AB Inflatable 10AL "Little Dreamer"
2000 248 Vista
1997 225 Sundowner


Mike

4000lbs is not a light load for a 3.5 engine. You are going to be in the throttle alot to pull that. You can bake and blow a Trans. in less than 20 miles or so if the load is too much for it. My 20ft cuddy was around 4500 lbs. My Tahoe did just great with it. But, my son pulled it 30 miles to his house with a Durango and over heated the trans. It knocked out the controller and cost him around 450 bucks. Now that is with a V-8 engine and no trans cooler.

Unless you never, ever want to tow anything and just use it as a car, it would be foolish not to get a cooler.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!

I think I'm now convinced that it's wiser to install the cooler, protect the transmission and get peace of mind before bad things happen...

Thanks all!

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2005 Sundowner
2008 Highlander V6