Lack of transmission cooler a concern?

New here. I'm thinking of buying a 2021 TRD Sport 4WD. The only concern I have is the lack of a transmission cooler. I do tow a ~8500lb TT on occasion. I am looking for feedback on this situation. How high do temps actually get? Thanks in advance.

 

There are numerous threads with thousands of replies on the subject.

 

Search Results for Query: cooler | Toyota Tundra Forum (tundras.com)

 

Easy to add the trans cooler. Will be harder to find a 2021 at a price you are willing to pay than install the trans cooler!

 

I understand that completely. But I happened to find the truck with options I am wanting locally. #2K off of MSRP. I do not know what the price reductions are normally but that's what they are offering.

 

If it is selling below sticker you should probably jump on it.

 

You have come to the right spot with this question. The good thing is everyone on this board agrees on the no transmission cooler issue so there’s now way this thread will end up going down a rabbit hole

 

OP excuse the sarcasm. We are not trying to be rude. This is hotly debated on this forum. You'll also see a lot of threads about safely towing a TT weighing what yours weighs from a payload standpoint.

 

A proper thread title will help get replies too.

 

Driving at around 80 with a light load I've hit 240F temporarily. In your situation I would probably get a cooler or more frequent trans oil changes.

 

That’s a bit much to tow with a Tundra.

 

^This. I think you’d be better off getting a 3/4 or 1 ton. Tundra payload stinks and with that size trailer, a bigger rig would be a better choice.

 

The Tundra is a great truck but it does suffer a bit, more than folks realize, on towing and payload rating. The Space Shuttle tow was a brilliant marketing strategy which in my opinion, to diverted scrutiny away from the towing and payload ratings. In fairness, at the time the Tundra was bad ass, yet as time has moved on and Toyota has stuck with this platform (since 2007), it has fallen way behind the competition.

Now, we will see what Toyota brings to the market in 2022 with its “Redesign.”

 

To think folks used to tow stuff with trucks with a 1/3 to almost half the torque we now consider necessary is interesting

 

Right?

In other parts of the world they ignore the door jamb sticker completely yet somehow the vehicles stay together.

 

Nope, drive it, tow with it, haul with it.

If its a concern add a external cooler, for me, not going to worry about it

 

Buy a vehicle for towing with a AT cooler

 

The old Ford 360 was put in dump trucks and worked good. Grandad had one in a F150 that he would put a camper on and travel everywhere. 2 barrel carb

 

Just add the cooler and forget about it. People spend more money on rims and tires.

 

Especially that the kit sold on this site is predominately made from OEM and other high quality parts.

 

My last trailer was 31’ long and about 8,500lbs loaded. Towed it with a 3/4 and 1-ton truck; Not sure I’d tow that much trailer with a half-ton. Too much risk of the tail wagging the dog.

But to each their own. As for your question, if you buy the Tundra I recommend getting a scanner that can read temps off the OBD2 port. I have a Scangauge II and love it, but there are many other solutions. Then you can watch the temps. If they get hot, buy a cooler.

FWIW, I see temps as high as 255 at the torque converter and 235 in the pan. You don’t have to be towing either, it gets warm with normal driving under the right conditions.