Weird towing question

[JohnFinx]

So here's a weird question we were throwing around about what towing capacity actually means:
Say your towing limit is 4500 lbs. You might have factory installed equipment like a transmission cooler, or larger brakes that came with a towing package. But isn't the transmission identical to another vehicle with a lower capacity without the "towing package" ?
So what is actually happening? Is a towing package just "slowing down" wear and tear, only helping it cope with the strain? Or is it made to handle it so well that towing something close to the limit will have no effect at all?
In other words, does towing within limits still shorten the life of the transmission, or is it built to take it?

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[MrJeep]

You are basically asking the same question engineers ask themselves when they design something. What is "enough"? What is preventing wear vs. doing something in an increased capacity. Yes, the transmissions are the same. Heat kills transmissions, towing makes more heat in the tranny, slap on a cooler to keep the heat down some more.
As for what will last how long and why: there are too many variables to answer your final question, but keeping it extra cool certainly helps.

 

[brianinca]

Heat kills, it's a major engineering effort to get all the waste heat out of a vehicle. The manufacturers spend a lot of $$$ putting a system together for towing, there has been an SAE standard for what, 15 years now?

Even for an SUV I never towed with (a Ford Explorer), the shopping list started with 'tow package' - just getting a transmission oil cooler on an automatic is a life extending option. The steeper gears and LSD also helped a LOT off-road.

I asked my transmission guy about putting a bigger trans cooler on the H2, he said there would be no benefit, as the factory heat exchanger did a great job. I still have a trans cooler sitting in my office, a buddy gave it to me NIB for the power steering on my YJ - it gets hot and sloppy on slow trails. Lazy bum that I am I haven't installed and plumbed it.

Heat kills.

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