Posted: Sep 25 2006 at 3:23pm | IP Logged

vq40de

If you're still looking for a travel trailer that tows well with a small/midsize tow vehicle (like our Frontiers) check out Casitas. Tha last time I checked, new they run about $16k for a fully loaded new one, and 2-5 yrs old are available used for around $10k. For RVs, they seem to hold their value well, and don't last long on resale. Here's the company's web site - (they do direct sales only - no dealers) and there is a "Casita Club" website, too, where you can find used ones for sale.  (Yeah, I have one and love it.)

Casita web site: http://www.casitatraveltrailers.com/home.html

Posted: Sep 25 2006 at 10:14pm | IP Logged

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Have a good one   and CUL.. Don S..

Posted: Jan 27 2007 at 10:47am | IP Logged

Lakota,

The standard tranny cooler on my 2005 is as large as or larger than most of the add-ons I can find, my mechanic said an additional cooler wasn't needed, just an aside about the forethought put into these trucks.

Posted: Jan 27 2007 at 1:57pm | IP Logged

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3gibby:

What your mechanic said may be true. And I hope he knows what he's talking about. 

... In my 50 plus year experience of owning and working on vehicles it seems the manufactures equip their vehicles to “get by” during the warrantee period but as they age they tend to create more heat. I ran my new '99 V-6 Frontier and the wifes new '99 V-8 Grand Cherokee over Imogene Pass (13.114 ft) and both did very well. The next year I ran them over the same trail and we could smell hot ATF fluid in both.

... The Frontier ’SE’ had the towing package if that means anything. The Grand Cherokee had the towing package with HD transmission cooler and a power steering cooler. Both 4x4s had less than 20.000 miles on them the second trip over the mountain.

... I will never own another truck with out an add on T-Cooler and I will not mount it in front of the radiator.

BTW… In the 1950s & 60’s I was a line mechanic and I now spend one afternoon a week at a friends 12 stall full service garage in Arlington Tx. He is looking to hire a mechanic next week if you know someone in the area.

Have a good one, and Carry on with the insanity.. Don S..

Posted: Jan 28 2007 at 2:44pm | IP Logged

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Frontyfan;

Good question...

The job of the add on cooler is to help dissipate heat but why put this additional heat in front of the radiator and in front of the air conditioning condenser?

Most modern vehicles are operating at temperatures over two hundred degrees and are being taxed to handle the added heat of transmissions under a heavy load. So in many cases the oil is going back into the transmission too hot. The life of the automatic transmission relies on the life of the oil and the additives in the oil and heat shortens the life of the oil and the additives in them.
... Add on coolers should be used as pre-coolers in series with the cooling core in the radiator.  An after-cooler would cool the transmission oil better but still put too much heat into the engine coolant as well as be too cool in the winter.

TIP: I have noticed many stock cooling lines need to be insulated from headers and pipes.... I shielded my cooling lines with a scrap piece of aluminum.

... First look for a mounting place away from the exhaust system. Look for mounting places under the bed. The cooler will dissipate a lot of heat even without much air flow because the oil will be VERY hot when the transmission is under a load. For HD towing a small 12 volt fan could be installed.

... On top of many front skid plates are good mounting spots. Mount the cooler in the hot out-put line between the transmission and radiator and it and it will be a pre-cooler. I used a clear piece of hose connected to the in and out cooling lines to find out which was which. After connecting the clear hose have someone start the engine while you watch to see which way the bubbles flow to tell which line is which.

The Pre Cooler will reduce the frequency of needed automatic transmission fluid changes.

... I mounted my pre-cooler to the top of the front skid shield (passenger side behind the radiator) on my wife's V-8 ‘99 Grand Cherokee. I noticed later there was a nice safe place under the body behind the drivers seat.

Have a good one, and Carry on with the insanity..  Don S..

Posted: Jan 30 2007 at 8:29pm | IP Logged

Looks like this is the thread to post this in, so hopefully I can get some help.  I'm new to the forum, so bear with me.

In June, I plan on going to a motorcycle rally in TN, and need to trailer both my motorcycle and a friends from here in VA.  2 of the exact same bike, approx.  800lbs combined.  I went to UHaul to get a quote on how much it would cost to fit my truck with a hitch and all that stuff (2005 Frontier KK 4x2, 4cyl, auto.)

They quoted me at $241.72

So I began looking around on the webbernet for other places that sold hitches, balls, tongues, etc.  I've never towed anything before with the truck, and have only carried the bike in the back once.  Since I'm taking 2 bikes, I need a trailer.  So...

-Has anyone done this before?  2 bikes on a trailer?

-Websites for buying stuff?  I looked at CourtesyNissan.com, but it's more expensive than UHaul.

-What to buy?  What will I need?  Wireing harnesses and such?

The trailer is a 5x9 open trailer from UHaul, if that helps.

Any info is appreciated.  Thanks in advance.