I'm looking to buy a RAM 1500 QC 4.7 2002 - 2004 and I looked at a 2003 yesterday that had factory transmission and oil coolers in front of the radiater. The dealer said that they are standard on all 1500's but I thought that it was installed as part of the tow package. Can anyone tell me what year they started putting oil and transmission coolers on all Ram trucks? What is included in the tow package other than the hitch and 6-pin plug?

Also, Is there anyway to tell what the gear-ratio is and if it has LSD installed by looking at the truck?

Thanks for the help!

 

There is a sticker in the glovebox that will tell you the ratio and stuff.

I'm not sure when they started putting the coolers on all trucks, or even if they do that. The tranny coolers have always been used, but were inside the radiator. Over the last several years, DC has put power steering coolers on cars and trucks. Even my 96 Neon had a PWR steering cooler.

 

Yeah, that rack and pinion steering can build up a lot of heat. As far as I know the tranny coolers come standard with the towing package and/or the Hemi. So Hemi with no tow package still has cooler. If you buy one that doesn't have a cooler, just add one. Oh yeah, and the tow package comes with a 7-pin wiring harness, not 6 pin. You can buy the hitch and 7 pin for under $200 and do it yourself. Really easy. The longest part was placing the wire loom and strapping it down to my satisfaction.

 

check out dodge.com i'm pretty sure it's a tow package or upgrade item

 

dodge.com says that the tow package includes:

7-Pin Wiring Harness
750-Ampere Maintenance-Free Battery
Heavy Duty Engine Cooling
Class IV Hitch Receiver

I assume that "Heavy Duty Engine Cooling" just means a bigger radiator? I didn't see any options for transmission or oil coolers so maybe they are standard??? That would be nice. Anyone know the deal? BTW, I saw two 4.7L trucks that had both the engine and oil coolers (unless one was actually a power steering cooler?).

 

The small rectangular black one bolted horizontally to a frame piece is for the power steering. The one in front of the radiator is for the tranny.

 

Thanks Osteodoc, Yeah I looked at a couple more trucks today and figured out the small one was power steering. All the trucks I've seen (4.7L 2002 - 2004) have had the tranny and power steering coolers so I guess it is standard. Thanks for all the help, I'll probably be pulling the trigger tomorrow or early next week!