GMT 800 Towing Package?

[MINIz guy]

I just pulled this 150 miles today with my Tahoe. I estimate ~5100lbs and ~600lb tongue weight on the stock factory cooler, 3.73 gears and class 3 hitch. I struggled on one hill trying to keep 45 mph (dropped it down to 2nd) but otherwise kept it in tow/haul and 3rd. Transmission temps never went over 191°F and coolant never peaked 205°F.

For the occasional tow I think a stock Tahoe will do fine. I still plan on doing a trans cooler and they are cheap insurance to protecting your 4L60

 

[RED TAHOE LS]

Whatever you find, my priority preference would definitely would be @ least 3:73 gear ratio (g 80) is the code I believe. The transmission button for o/d would not be of concern. Depending on the size/weight of RV, the equalizing bar type hitch will work fine with the factory 2 " receiver. This type of hitch helps level the tongue in relation to the tow vehicle and really helps on sway especially with crosswind. Good luck.
David g.........



PS, I would want my tow set-up just like the previous photo shows, keep it level for a great tow.

 

[corvette744]

That was supposed to say trucool lol. The brand is trucool trans cooler.

This video shows that that tru cool you installed is upside down??

 

[Rocket Man]

This video shows that that tru cool you installed is upside down??

TruCool's FAQ's:


"How should I mount the oil cooler fittings?

Fittings can be located up, down or sideways. Combine that flexibility with a compact design and it’s clear that Tru-Cool offers distinct advantages that enable quick, easy design."

So, do you listen to some guy who thinks he knows more than the manufacturer or do you listen to the people who design and build the thing? I mean, everything you hear on the internet has to be true, right? I'm sure @Bigbeardenali1992 followed the installation instructions. I hate people that make videos thinking they're smarter than the company that made the product.

 

[corvette744]

http://media.spicerparts.com/cfs/files/media/JuzYrhRsKxtwj9rTr/tru-bro-52014 2.pdf?store=original

TruCool's FAQ's:


"How should I mount the oil cooler fittings?

Fittings can be located up, down or sideways. Combine that flexibility with a compact design and it’s clear that Tru-Cool offers distinct advantages that enable quick, easy design."

So, do you listen to some guy who thinks he knows more than the manufacturer or do you listen to the people who design and build the thing? I mean, everything you hear on the internet has to be true, right? I'm sure @Bigbeardenali1992 followed the installation instructions. I hate people that make videos thinking they're smarter than the company that made the product.

Im going to call them monday i see were it states that the fittings can be mounted any position.They also state on their website about the cooler inlet and out are at the top so its just using 2 rows until it gets warm then it drains downward to the rest and cools off.Its a little confusing would like to get it right.I also dont see their cold weather bypass which i was told i need in cold climate,winters here are below 0 alot.

 

[Rocket Man]

http://media.spicerparts.com/cfs/files/media/JuzYrhRsKxtwj9rTr/tru-bro-52014 2.pdf?store=original
Im going to call them monday i see were it states that the fittings can be mounted any position.They also state on their website about the cooler inlet and out are at the top so its just using 2 rows until it gets warm then it drains downward to the rest and cools off.Its a little confusing would like to get it right.I also dont see their cold weather bypass which i was told i need in cold climate,winters here are below 0 alot.

Yeah I'd ask them. In their pictures all the fittings are at the bottom but then they say there's 2 rows at the top like you said and their diagram shows a single fitting at the top. Then in the FAQ's they say they can be mounted in any direction. Plus, the Max series has fittings on the side except for the largest one which has them on the top (or bottom). Mine has them on the side and the instructions don't specify if the inlet should be at the top or bottom. I chose to make the top the inlet because it made sense but if I was routing hoses and had to decide top or bottom for inlet and outlet both, it would be important to know if it made a difference.

 

[adventurenali92]

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up. I never noticed. I didn't do the install myself. I had my family friend do the install at the custom Jeep shop he works for because that was easier. I think I mine is upside down. Lol. I still see temps up around 180 when I sit in heavy stop and go LA traffic. Which isn't very often. Like once a month if that. But it still bothers me. Once I start moving it cools right back down and isn't an issue. Maybe the temps still get up there because my cooler is mounted upside down. should I go in and have him flip it?

 

[corvette744]

Yeah I'd ask them. In their pictures all the fittings are at the bottom but then they say there's 2 rows at the top like you said and their diagram shows a single fitting at the top. Then in the FAQ's they say they can be mounted in any direction. Plus, the Max series has fittings on the side except for the largest one which has them on the top (or bottom). Mine has them on the side and the instructions don't specify if the inlet should be at the top or bottom. I chose to make the top the inlet because it made sense but if I was routing hoses and had to decide top or bottom for inlet and outlet both, it would be important to know if it made a difference.

You read my mind exactly

 

[Rocket Man]

Interesting. Thanks for the heads up. I never noticed. I didn't do the install myself. I had my family friend do the install at the custom Jeep shop he works for because that was easier. I think I mine is upside down. Lol. I still see temps up around 180 when I sit in heavy stop and go LA traffic. Which isn't very often. Like once a month if that. But it still bothers me. Once I start moving it cools right back down and isn't an issue. Maybe the temps still get up there because my cooler is mounted upside down. should I go in and have him flip it?

I'd wait until someone hears from TruCool. I've checked and seen other people installing them with the fittings down on other forums, it seems some like the hoses going out the bottom so they're not visible through the grill. Seems about half are being installed that way.

 

[bldn10]

I bought my '02 solely as a work truck (construction) but when I got a trailer and started towing my car to tracks I shopped for a newer Tahoe/Yukon that was tow-ready. After subscribing to a VIN decode service I found that my truck had an excellent set of towing options:
G80 Positraction, LSD
Z82 Trailering Pkg
G69 Level control
KNP Tranny cooler
UY7 HD Trailer harness
VR4 Hitch
NW7 Traction Control
Z55 Autoride
L59 5.3

Indeed, I have shopped and shopped but not found a single truck as well equipped. What I did find is that many sellers, both individuals and even dealers, either do not know what the tow package is or lie about it. They see the Tow/Haul mode button and the hitch and assume it has the towing package. I believe that ALL Tahoes and Yukons have those items, and those do not a towing package make. So always check the RPO codes.

Mine does have just the 3:42 (GU6) rear end but so far that seems adequate, but the 3:73 is preferable. I'm only towing around 4500 lbs. and keep it in 3. I had to replace the rear air shocks and pump but otherwise it has been pretty flawless. Proud of my "work truck!"

 

[Rocket Man]

I checked out all the sites I could find on the TruCool Max 40k and it seems almost everybody is installing them with the fittings on the bottom. The only one that didn't was in that video posted earlier. Also, the OEM coolers have the fittings on the bottom and that's where the lines are on almost every other vehicle. I'm curious as to what TruCool says.

 

[mattt]

They pretty much all came ready to tow. I believe they all have the tranny cooler and tow/ haul mode. The towing package added a transmission temp gauge, although the sensor is there even without it, you just need to check the OBD stats to see the value......

Unfortunately not correct. The tow package did not add a trans temp gauge. The only vehicles that had trans temp are Escalade, Denali, SS, 2500 Sub/Yuk and HD version trucks. Yes the sensor is there, but simply adding a tow package in the build did not add a dash mounted trans temp gauge.

Get an aftermarket trans cooler, the factory ones are small. You can just replace the stock one with something bigger.

One thing I have wanted to look into, has anyone here already done so???.....does a non Allison-trans'd 2500HD /3500 truck say with the 6.0 gas engine have a larger factory trans cooler? I have wanted to explore this path to getting a larger "factory" trans cooler that will bolt right in and have the correct/same cooler fittings to make install a breeze.

 

[MSDENEEN]

Earlier 'Burbs had the designation 1500/2500. At some point, they stopped doing it. My '06 had no designation (that I knew of). What rating are the ' Burbs with no 1500/2500 designation??

 

[mattt]

Earlier 'Burbs had the designation 1500/2500. At some point, they stopped doing it. My '06 had no designation (that I knew of). What rating are the ' Burbs with no 1500/2500 designation??

How many lugs was your 06, 6 lug or 8 lug?

 

[MSDENEEN]

Yikes, How many lugs? I am totally unsure. It was a Quadrasteer, and for the life of my I don't know about the lugs. Seems like 8 would be very noticeable, but I just don't know.

 

[mattt]

8 lug = 3/4T

6 lug = 1/2T

I think all the quadrasteer trucks were 8 lug because the rear axle was semi-floating/floater type axle.

 

[Rocket Man]

I don't believe GM made a trans cooler that was worth a crap. I went with a TruCool Max. Install is easy but you need to hook up to the factory lines where they are rubber, or have custom lines made.

 

[corvette744]

I checked out all the sites I could find on the TruCool Max 40k and it seems almost everybody is installing them with the fittings on the bottom. The only one that didn't was in that video posted earlier. Also, the OEM coolers have the fittings on the bottom and that's where the lines are on almost every other vehicle. I'm curious as to what TruCool says.

I did try calling tru cool some 18 yr old kid answered,he seemed puzzled by my question.He said thats what they told him they could be mounted anywhere-i then directed him to his own webiste and asked him about why it says fittings on the top he was lost.They gave me a phone number to the engineer-i called and left a message got no return call seemed like someones cell phone.I then called back 6 hrs later and asked again they had no answer and seemed rude like i was bothering them.I will find a different cooler or a company with better customer service and tech questions.I dont beleive you would have a problem with mounting it that way-but again i live in extreme low temps so i would mount mine with the fittings up and have a cold weather bypass which they also had no answer for-really you sell it.

 

[Rocket Man]

I did try calling tru cool some 18 yr old kid answered,he seemed puzzled by my question.He said thats what they told him they could be mounted anywhere-i then directed him to his own webiste and asked him about why it says fittings on the top he was lost.They gave me a phone number to the engineer-i called and left a message got no return call seemed like someones cell phone.I then called back 6 hrs later and asked again they had no answer and seemed rude like i was bothering them.I will find a different cooler or a company with better customer service and tech questions.I dont beleive you would have a problem with mounting it that way-but again i live in extreme low temps so i would mount mine with the fittings up and have a cold weather bypass which they also had no answer for-really you sell it.

I ordered the bypass from Amazon. It's listed in the hardware section of TruCool's website if you need the part#.

 

[adventurenali92]

I live in cold weather for the winter up here in the mountains. I didn't add the cold weather bypass and I didn't have any issues without it. But then again my cold is not cold like some places. Lol.