Getting ready to plow/need some help

[Beast Of Burden]

I hate to say it but winter is right around the corner, so while the weather is still nice id like to get a few things done on my truck before I start plowing.

My major concern is my auto trans, I want to upgrade the cooler but cant see spending $350 for a 6.0 cooler, is there an aftermarket cooler thats better than the stock one on my truck? I plan on installing a trans temp gauge as well.

If the trans is getting too warm whats the best way to cool it off, stop plowing and let the truck idle? Turn the truck off?

Can I drive about an hour at highway speeds with the plow on the truck and not hurt anything? My girlfriend live about an hour away and she has a huge driveway, I'd like to plow it for her but I dont know if the drive will get things too hot.

If anyone has any other plowing tips or suggestions Id love to hear them, this will be my first winter plowing so im sure i'll need help. Thanks guys

[03_Turbo7.3]

Leave the plow on te truck you wont hurt it, its ment to take abuse, its ment to work itll be happy.

As for the trans dont let it go past 200-210 and youll be fine, extra cooler is smart if you dont get a 6.0 cooler look for any good aftermarket one, anything extra is going to help.

Ive found when needing to cooldown, idle or shut the beast off, driving will just hold it continuous at that number maybe drop a few degrees but idling or shutting her down works way better. id suggest for now just let the ole girl idle.

Also maybe look at upgrading your torque converter and valve body, will save your trans for years to come.

[Beast Of Burden]

Thanks bud, Do you know off hand how much a torque converter and valve body costs? Im pulling the motor in two weeks so it would be a good time to swap converters too.

Are you saying to run the factory cooler and an aftermarket one, or any aftermarket cooler is better than using the stock one?

[Beast Of Burden]

Oh yea one more thing, I have a Superchips 1805 tuner, should i return the truck to stock for plowing or will the Mileage tune be ok?

[03_Turbo7.3]

run both together..the more fins the atf can get thru the more it cools down before returning to the trans.

Torque converter - 9-1200$

Valve body - 500$ i think...

or a fully built trans for about 3500$-5000$

The tuner wont hurt it just use the tow tunes.

[Beast Of Burden]

I kinda figured run both trans coolers, just wasnt sure

I'll have to pass on the TC and valve body, It would be nice but I dont have the money right now.

Thanks for the info

[Evan_m]

I have a hydrolic cooler off of a combine, fits perfect behind the grill and works great. You can pick them up way cheaper then anything else. Just go down to your local ag dealer and they will most likely have a source for them. Just be sure you clean it out good.

[Beast Of Burden]

Thanks Evan, I picked up a Hayden trans cooler, its 15"x12"x 1.5" Havent installed it yet but hopefully this weekend

[Duanesz]

I put a cheap one from summit on mine dropped a easy 25-30 deg out of it towing in summer. Used to run 190 dropped to 160-165 for peak temps.