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  #1  
Old 09-09-2005, 06:11 PM
deerefanatic's Avatar
Diesel & John Deere Nut
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Sturgis, MI area
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Trailer Questions

Hi, in addition to my car, my other mechanical obsession is my two John Deere Snowmobiles (77 & 78 440 Liquifires).

I have an old two-place snowmobile trailer that I put them in and was wondering if putting a hitch on my SD would be ok or a really bad idea? I am sure the engine won't have a problem as the furthest I would haul them would be 50 mi one way, at 55 mph (in winter no less... )

The suspension doesn't worry me either as my trailer is so well balanced that I can pick up the tongue with two fingers, even when it's fully loaded.

My main concern is the transmission. Will it hold up, or will this just be wearing it out unnecessarily? I already planned on running in "S" if I do it at all.

The manual does mention something about trailers. Also, as an fyi, the trailer is 1637 lbs emtpy, plus the two sleds at about 175-250 lbs a piece.

Thanks!

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Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

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  #2  
Old 09-09-2005, 07:02 PM
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I have a small trailer with 8" wheels, flatbed, I carried lot of building materials including stacks of 5/8" sheetrock , about 1200 pounds, while remodeling my house. The car, 240D manual. With SD I would be very concerned about transmissin, I had a 300SD 81, the constant transmission problems forced me to get rid of that car.
Also, I had U-Haul to install the trailer hitch, they butchered my electrical harness nearly starting a fire in the trunk, ended up replacing the entire harness. Spend a little more and have a mechanic do the job.

Vahe
240D 77/350K
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  #3  
Old 09-09-2005, 07:21 PM
deerefanatic's Avatar
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Location: Sturgis, MI area
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Tranny

Yah, that is kinda what I wondered. As far as hitch goes, I would install myself. My dad and I have installed hitches on both of the trucks we use.

SD's don't have tranny oil coolers do they? That would be the primary problem, lack of cooling to tranny. does anyone know how hard hooking up a tranny cooler kit would be?
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-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

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  #4  
Old 09-09-2005, 08:27 PM
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Your car has trans cooler in lower radiator tank.
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  #5  
Old 09-09-2005, 08:32 PM
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Location: Northeastern NY
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I have been towing my sleds with my 300d for over a year. I have put more then 20,000 miles on the car with the trailer and sleds in tow. The load ranges from 1700 to 2500 pounds. I haven't had any tranny problems. I range anywhere from 40 to 70 mph depending on the road. Except for when my turbo gave out a week or so agao power is not a problem. There is a trans cooler built into the radiator. I check the trans fluid often. I have never had any signs of burnt fluid. So far so good.
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  #6  
Old 09-09-2005, 08:41 PM
deerefanatic's Avatar
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Great!!

Glad to hear that, would putting one of those "strip" tranny coolers along the frame, in addition to the already present cooler help?
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-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
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Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

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  #7  
Old 09-09-2005, 11:09 PM
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Extra tranny cooling is a good idea, IMO.
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  #8  
Old 09-10-2005, 06:36 PM
Registered Diesel Burner
 
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Location: Northern Virginia
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Not too much of a problem if you are towing across level ground or moderate hills, but your trailer and load is a bit heavy for mountain climbing, for the car.

Also, I'm not sure there's all that much advantage to running in something other than the normal "D" on regular ground - these cars are geared on the low side. It's a 4-spd transmission, not a 3-spd with overdrive.

Ken300D
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  #9  
Old 09-10-2005, 06:58 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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Location: Lafayette Indiana
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look

in your manual but i think 1500 may be the number, 3000 with brakes... or perhaps that is the law. it seems unlikely that you will have a prob with that weight and speed unless your trailer is a large covered thing with a lot of frontal area.

when i was in europe in 73 i once say a vw beetle pulling a trailer that must have been 22' long!

tom w
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..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #10  
Old 09-10-2005, 06:59 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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that

was a full size travel trailer. btw.

tom w
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #11  
Old 09-10-2005, 07:04 PM
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Mercedes reccomends combined weight of no more than 1000 lbs.
for my 83sd

Last edited by rdanz; 09-10-2005 at 09:36 PM.
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  #12  
Old 09-10-2005, 07:49 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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for

what model?

tom w
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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.
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  #13  
Old 09-10-2005, 10:15 PM
Brandon314159
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I have towed a car over a distance of about 250miles total (two different cars).

One was a '67 Type III VW Squareback and the other was a '84 VW Rabbit Convertable (bad fuel pump).

Anywho, my 300SD towed them perfectly fine. (75+MPH) No trans slipping between shifts and the temps stayed nice and low (was a 75-80 degree day..moderate hills). Boy did those cars have some black soot on them when I was done with them

I wouldn't do it DAILY but as far as a quite heavy load hurting anything...it didn't happen.

Just remember to do good maintence on the tranny/engine so it will not let you down. Also might be worth changing the rear diff fluid if you haven't already.

I used the stock tow hook on the 300SD and believe it or not, that thing will take a MASSIVE shock without breaking. (broke a brand new 5000lb rated aircraft cargo strap). Teaching others how to be towed is another story

My opinion? No worries. Just make sure your hitch is good and solid, your brakes and tranny fluid are good and fresh, and roll.
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  #14  
Old 09-11-2005, 01:38 PM
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Here is what I was thinking.

this is the kind of transmission cooler that I was thinking of adding to the car if I tow with it, do you think it would work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/30-ALUMINUM-TRANSMISSION-COOLER-CHEVY-FORD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46095QQitemZ7997984455QQrdZ1

I was thinking you could run this unit lenghtwise along the frame on the car's underside. It would probably be beneficial to the tranny irregardless of whether I tow or not......
__________________
-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
-----------------
Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

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  #15  
Old 09-11-2005, 07:07 PM
Brandon314159
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Quote:
Originally Posted by deerefanatic
this is the kind of transmission cooler that I was thinking of adding to the car if I tow with it, do you think it would work?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/30-ALUMINUM-TRANSMISSION-COOLER-CHEVY-FORD_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ46095QQitemZ7997984455QQrdZ1

I was thinking you could run this unit lenghtwise along the frame on the car's underside. It would probably be beneficial to the tranny irregardless of whether I tow or not......
There was discussion elsewhere on the forum about how the radiator encompassed cooler actually puts the temp of the tranny fluid a bit higher than optimum (though it does keep it from shooting way past the temp of the water).

I am not sure how that unit would work. Usually it has always been my experience to place a large radiator looking cooler in front somewhere where it gets decent airflow. Those units are particualry cheap as well. The trick is just finding somewhere to mount it where it would do a lot of good.

I have never monitored trans temps so I don't really know to what degree the stock cooler does/doesn't work.

Additional cooling sounds like a step in the right direction regarldess though

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