ckingwevl
New Member
I did a little research in the forum and found lots of great tranny info, but I don't know if the posts I found are the same issue I am experiencing. Here is my issue.
I've been pulling a 6x10 cargo trailer (full enclosed) weighted down (including trailer weight) anywhere between 1500 and 3000 pounds. I travel 610 miles from Dallas to Big Bend National Park on the interstate going up and down through some pretty long hills and mountains. Nothing with any serious grade though. When I come off the highway, stop at light and then accelerate going from 1st to 2nd there is load thud from the tranny. Occasionally I will also hear a thud between 2nd and 3rd as well. Rarely experience any thud between 3rd and 4th. The last couple of trips there and back I have attributed the issue to running my hoe at 70-80 mph with 3000 pds in trailer weight going through hilly to mountainous terrain was simply pushing the tranny to its max. Engine RPM at these speeds ranges between 2200 to 3200 depending on the hill.
BUT I have read here in the forums that the towing capacity for a 98 hoe is considerably more than 3000. I don't have any issues with a thud when not towing. Runs like a champ and I commute 150 round trip to work everyday on the interstate unhitched.
So my first thought is to first slow down. Keep my speed on the highway while towing at 60-70 mph. Second have a tranny cooler installed because I suspect the trans fluid is simply being worked hard and getting to hot. Rationale for this is coming off the highway to get gas or something where the truck is turned off resting for 30 minutes, the issue seems to go away.
When I first started experiencing the thud issue I took it to the dealer and had a tranny service done. They dropped the pan, changed the filter and fluid. They found no metal and other than the fluid being discolored everything looked fine. I bought the hoe at 68k (I'm 2nd owner), there was no dealer record that the trans service had ever been done, the service was done at 108k and I now have 114k and still have a thud like I described.
So my questions are...am I driving to fast expecting too much from hoe with that much weight an kind of terrain? Would a tranny cooler solve the problem before I burn something up? Is the thud issue a symptom of potential bigger issue (remember I only have the issue when towing)?
Thanks for your insight in advance!
I've been pulling a 6x10 cargo trailer (full enclosed) weighted down (including trailer weight) anywhere between 1500 and 3000 pounds. I travel 610 miles from Dallas to Big Bend National Park on the interstate going up and down through some pretty long hills and mountains. Nothing with any serious grade though. When I come off the highway, stop at light and then accelerate going from 1st to 2nd there is load thud from the tranny. Occasionally I will also hear a thud between 2nd and 3rd as well. Rarely experience any thud between 3rd and 4th. The last couple of trips there and back I have attributed the issue to running my hoe at 70-80 mph with 3000 pds in trailer weight going through hilly to mountainous terrain was simply pushing the tranny to its max. Engine RPM at these speeds ranges between 2200 to 3200 depending on the hill.
BUT I have read here in the forums that the towing capacity for a 98 hoe is considerably more than 3000. I don't have any issues with a thud when not towing. Runs like a champ and I commute 150 round trip to work everyday on the interstate unhitched.
So my first thought is to first slow down. Keep my speed on the highway while towing at 60-70 mph. Second have a tranny cooler installed because I suspect the trans fluid is simply being worked hard and getting to hot. Rationale for this is coming off the highway to get gas or something where the truck is turned off resting for 30 minutes, the issue seems to go away.
When I first started experiencing the thud issue I took it to the dealer and had a tranny service done. They dropped the pan, changed the filter and fluid. They found no metal and other than the fluid being discolored everything looked fine. I bought the hoe at 68k (I'm 2nd owner), there was no dealer record that the trans service had ever been done, the service was done at 108k and I now have 114k and still have a thud like I described.
So my questions are...am I driving to fast expecting too much from hoe with that much weight an kind of terrain? Would a tranny cooler solve the problem before I burn something up? Is the thud issue a symptom of potential bigger issue (remember I only have the issue when towing)?
Thanks for your insight in advance!
