Transmission Cooler for 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Towing 3000-lb Trailer

Question:

I have a 2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 6cyl. 4.0 liter Limited with the factory tow package and a class III/IV hitch. Ill be towing a 3,000lb, trailer with a tongue weight of 320 lbs. Do you think I need a oil or a transmission cooler.

asked by: Tom D

Expert Reply:

A transmission cooler is a sensible addition to almost any vehicle that will be towing a trailer. This is true even if the trailer weight is less than the vehicle's towing capacity. The 2008 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0L has a 3500-lb maximum trailer weight capacity according to the online manual I reviewed so a supplementary transmission cooler is definitely a good idea. Transmission fluid cannot be over-cooled.

The recommended Derale cooler for your vehicle is item # D13503 which installs using Radiator Adapter Fitting # D13025. This is best installed in front of the AC condenser where it will get the most air flow. I linked an install video for this kit and two helpful articles on coolers that may interest you.

Another valuable enhancement to your towing setup that you might consider is a weight distribution system. When a trailer weighs more than half of the tow vehicle weight one of these systems is recommended to help deal with the rear-end sag that occurs from the trailer tongue weight pushing down on the hitch ball. This rear-end sag means your front axle can lose some traction and this can affect steering and braking performance. A weight distribution/sway control hitch (WD/SC) can correct for this and restore your vehicle's steering and braking performance and also reduce the effects of trailer sway from passing trucks and wind gusts. I linked an article and video on these systems to explain how they work.

The key to selecting the right one is knowing the loaded tongue weight (TW) of the trailer, with all your gear and supplies loaded and with full water and propane tanks, etc. The weight of any cargo in the Sport Trac that sits behind the rear axle also has to be factored in to the TW. Ideally your total TW will fall in the middle of the system's operating range.

For example, if your total loaded TW were to be 500-lbs the Reese Steadi-Flex # RP66558 would be perfect since it operates effectively over a TW range of 400 to 600-lbs. All you need to add to this system is a hitch ball like 2-inch ball # 63845.