Tranny hot while towing on dirt mountain roads
 

I have a 2001 dodge 2500 automatic. I tow a pop up toy hauler loaded and another quad in the pick up bed. When I am climbing the dirt mountain roads my tranny gets very hot. The gauge on my juice with attitude read 240 the last time i went up and I know that is pushing the limit for damage. Before that trip I had already installed a 25" finned aluminum cooler inside the bumper where it will get a lot of air flow from the fan. I have another one on the way to install before my next trip in a week. Does anybody have any ideas on the heat problem.
The temp stays fine on the highway.
Thanks

Any modifications to your truck? I had heat issues as well, and it was a bad torque converter. After a rebuild, I installed a cooler with a fan.

At low speeds, minimal air is going across the cooling package. The fan clutch relies on the hot air from the radiator to kick in and start moving air. With the slow speeds on the trails, the T/C doesn't lock up and causes lots of heat. I have the same issue. I battle this issue two ways. One, the cooler with a fan. Two, I use 4Lo while on the trails. The lower ratio allows the trans to get up into 3rd and O/D, where the T/C can lock up and produces less heat.

Rawilliams.
I replaced the tc a couple years ago. I would hope its not bad already. I have 35"s so I'm sure that doesn't help,since it makes everything work alitte harder. And the juice w/ attitude but I keep it on tow when towing. I will deffenatly try going in 4 lo next time. And see how that works out. Thanks for the help

No problem at all. I also have 35's with 3.55 gear ratio, it doesn't help the heat situation at all. Rolling down the hiway at a lower RPM sure is nice though.

I pull a 38' RV that comes in around 12,000lbs, in similar conditions you describe. The 4Lo trick works very well. Max speed is a lot lower, but one can't go fast anyway. If you pop the hood, disconnect a vacuum line, and plug where it came off, you get 2Lo. There is a write up on here that I need to find on how to automate that process. If I find it, I'll share it here.

I lock my convertor when I am very slow towing my TT, even in first gear.

Russ how do you lock your converter?

Aftermarket VB and electronics is the only way i know how to lock in 1st. Otherwise I would.

Thanks for the help men. I'm going to take it camping one last time on Friday. I installed my new cooler and will try the 4lo trick. I'll let you know how it went.

i had a after market cooler with a little fan on my 97 psd and i towed some good loads never got pass 200 the little fans help out! my cooler was mounted out side radator where it got air flow and fan!

Yup. I have a Dunrite VB.