Judoka

Hi everyone. I am looking to purchase an F-150 5.0 this week (fingers crossed) and have found few F150s on the local dealer's lot that may suit my needs.

One of the F150s I found (no frills option) is here:
http://www.allamericanfordofhackensa...archDepth=2:32

What concerns me is (no tow package) that it has no auxiliary transmission oil cooler. I do not plan to tow much (for now) but might in the future. How "safe" am I without the cooler? Can dealer install ATF cooler?

The above F-150 retails for $36k (they would knock off another $900). The one with FX4 and TOW package retails for about $43k. I am not in need of FX4 package but I am a bit hesitant to proceed without ATF cooler.

Any advice you can give me would be appreciated.

Thank you.

KYBuckeye

I think the F-150 is only rated to tow 5,000 lbs if it's not equipped with some kind of tow package from the factory. I may be wrong, and the Internet will correct me if I am. I would be more concerned about that than the transmission cooler. I don't believe it's a big deal to add a transmission cooler however.

Mlarv

You can install a AT cooler yourself if you are pretty good with tools. You can add it later if you feel you need it. For the price difference you just showed, and not knowing what you are going to tow I would go for the non FX4. If you already had a trailer or had a trailer in mind then I would get the truck that would pull it.

Feathermerchant

Lets see w/cooler 43K, without 35.1K
Yes I think you can have a cooler installed for less than 7.9K

The external trans cooler is not much. W/O tow package, the radiator maybe smaller (thinner).

Ifallsguy

Adding a transmission cooler is no big issue. I would suggest going with Ford parts since they designed to work with your engine/trans setup. The dealer should be able to price the cooler and needed lines.

jwmustang

Easy to install a trans cooler. Can also get bigger radiator or have 1 or 2 cores added to radiator. You can always talk to a trans shop about their opinion of the trans cooler.

Judoka

Thank you all. Some of the responses made me chuckle a bit (Feathermerchant's for example)

Can dealer install upgraded (larger) radiator as well (since you guys mentioned that standard one might be thinner)?

I really like this $36k F150 and the only thing that makes me hesitate is the "fear" that somehow without the tow package it will not be as durable/reliable (transmission wise and potentially transfer case wise?).

Or am I just being paranoid?

Billy_Jack

Probably a bit of paranoia but at least it's grounded in rational thought. What do you think you might tow? Smaller, lighter or big heavy loads? If not much, I wouldn't be too concerned with it.

TomB985

I haven't heard of a truck leaving the factory with insufficient transmission cooling since the '04 Super Duty. These transmissions all have thermostats to regulate temperature, and they settle out between 190-205* regardless of exterior temperature. It'll be that way with yours with the factory cooling system.

If you decide to pull more than 5,000 lbs add the transmission cooler. If not you're wasting your money.

And for the record, the spec sheet for the '15+ models shows the same radiator for all applications. Previous-gen trucks had differing sizes depending on engine and package. It's attached, see page 83.

Judoka

Honestly, the only thing I see myself towing (besides my fat *** ) is possibly a light trailer with a small lake boat. Not much more than that.