Transmission Cooler

[jdkinzenbaw]

All,
Does anyone have experience with tranny coolers and heavy loads? I have a 2007 Tahoe that I use to do frequent light towing. I'm going to start using it for a lot heavier towing (5000 to 7000 pounds total) and realize I need to install a transmission cooler (it didn't come with one factory).
Someone told me I need to go with an OEM-style tranny cooler instead of the cheaper aluminum-fin-type coolers. I'm leaving at the end of the week for a trip to Colorado, towing to 10,000+ feet of altitude pulling a 5000 pound load, so I need to get something installed fast.
A local transmission franchise company called AAMCO Transmissions has universal kits they can install, but I'm feeling like I should steer clear of any thing like a "universal kit"...
Can anyone help, please?
Thanks!
Jon

[RoGuE]

Yeah, I would steer clear of those universal kits. They will most likely be a fin and tube design, which isn't bad, but there is better. The stacked plate design like a B&M is much better and are still cheap. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon.com.

[Water Boy]

The absolute best is the largest stacked plate style with it's own fan and built-in t'stat. It can be mounted near the transmission and not plumbed into the rad.

Next would be the largest stacked plate style with built-in t'stat and mounted in the main airflow ahead of the A/C unit and plumbed after the rad.

There is no such thing as too big when it comes to trans coolers if a t'stat is in the flow.

You DO have a trans temp gauge right?
Get a ScanGgauge.
Easy to use and economical.

Have a safe Summer.

All items are on the Internet and/or locally available.

[nailhead425]

As stated, the stacked plate style is the best.

However, unless the unit itself can keep the oil cool, it must run through the Radiator first.

In most cases the radiator will take most of the heat out, the cooler will do the rest.

Over 175*F and trans fluid starts to break-down.

[Triple-X08]

your truck has one from the factory, its just internal to the radiator.

but if you need to tow a house, then yeah a aftermarket trans cooler isnt too bad to install, i would mount it in front of the condensor, better air flow. or even remotely installed with an electric fan wouldnt be bad. get a 10-12 inch cooler, preferably from TCI or BCM. you can make your own lines and use AN fittings, or you can go with a stock style hard line, with a normal fitting. either way it wont be too bad, and even wiring in a fan isnt too bad.

[GeorgesBlazah]

B&M Supercooler on my Blazer, mounted in front of the condensor. Best money I ever spent. Most kits are going to be "Universal" anyway. The coolers usally go by weight.