You would think a large truck like a Dodge Ram or a Ford F250 would be just the ticket for towing. What we see is a fairly large failure rate of the automatic transmissions in these types of vehicles at relatively low mileage.
One of the reasons is the fact that the transmissions in the above vehicles are basically "car type" transmissions that have had basic factory modifications to make them stronger. This has strengthened the transmissions but only marginally. When you add the total weight of the truck and the extra weight of a van being towed, the load that the transmission is dealing with is huge.
Also owners often add performance chips to the engine which places even greater strain on the transmission.
What can be done?
We can carry out modifications and upgrades to ensure the transmission is capable of dealing with the extra strain that towing and 4wding puts on these vehicles. Improvements include hardware upgrades such as 6 pinion (4 is standard) gear sets, increases in clutch/band capacity using different materials and more surface area, increases in critical hydraulic control pressures and volume. A billet backed stronger convertor is also recommended for heavy towing. We can fit a large additional transmission cooler that has its own thermostatically controlled electric fan. Along with a regular service schedule this will ensure extra life of the transmission.
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