Does anybody here know if the first gen. D is equipped with a tranny cooler, as my 2000 does not have to tow package included on it, and I will be towing a trailer for about 1000 miles in the next couple of months. Also, if there are some step by step directions that someone has, that would be great too.

 

Not all D had a tranny cooler. If it came with thefactory Tow Package, then it would havea tranny cooler, as well as powersteering cooler.
A few questions I have to ask though......how heavy is the trailer? What type of roads will you be pulling? How many km's per day will you be towing? What engine and rear diff do you have?
I pull a trailer, about 3000lbs i believe (plus 5 pass. and gear in car), for anywhere from 200-500km in a single day, mainly flat but there are a few strecthes with 10% grades, and I don't have a tranny cooler. I just make sure I have proper level of fluid, and an extra bottle with me.

If you want a tranny cooler there are a few options. Cheapest is a deep sump pan with fins on it, but there are after-market options for tranny colers.

One last thing, Welcome to DodgeForum.

 

Thanks for the welcome. I have the 4.7 in mine and the trailer is about 3500lbs and the trip I am going on is a one shot deal, 1600 kms there and 1600 back. Not too much grade on the roads. When I was looking under the hood, I did see a power steering pump attached to the fluid resevoir, so maybe it does have the tow package. How would I know if it does have the tow package, as when I bought my D a few months ago, I specifically asked the previous owner if it had it and he said no, but you never know, as he was the 2nd owner.

 

One way to tell if you have a tranny cooler is you will have 3 radiators (successively smaller). 1 is your actual radiator, 1 is the a/c condenser, and the last one is the tranny cooler. The D's radiator also has a tranny cooler but the second one is not a bad idea if you plan on towing for long distances.

 

I have the tow package on mine, but no extra tanny cooler. just the one in the rad. I'm thinking on adding an extra one this summer when I start towing more often. and I might get a brake controller too.

 

have you checked in between the radiator and a/c condensor? beneath that peice of rubber? thats where i found mine, or i should say my wife found mine. i did notice the powersteering cooler bolted to the bottom of the engine.

also. off topic. but i travel alot during summer. would a deep tranny pan with fins be helpfull? im also considering the same thing for both my front and rear diff's since i have 4x4 and 3.92 gears.

 

The deep dish does help keep the tranny fluid cooler, it allows you to have more fluid in your tranny, so the heat disperses more. (same theory that a large pot of water boils more slowly then a small pot)......the fins are also designed to catch more wind and cool the fluid with ambient air.

A buddy with a Sonoma and 350cui transplanted into it, had tranny issues due to heat, with a deep sump pan with fins, and a superchips tuner to increase shift firmness, hasnt had an issue with excessive heat

 

Yup just think of it like an on tranny radiator...

 

I have the tow package onmine itran on the hot side. I put in a semi tranny cooler. It was money well spent runs cool all the time now even floored uphill andmy trailer is6000lbs empty.