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Tow Vehicle
Nothing puts a damper on a fishing weekend like spending time on the shoulder of the road waiting for your overheated engine to cool down. Extreme driving conditions require extreme solutions, which come from companies like Flex-a-lite Consolidated.
Patented flow directors and
larger than original equipment tubing in the DynoMax muffler (above)
reduces back pressure. Adding air springs like Air Lift's Super Duty
(SD) system (at left) and on-board compression control works to level
and stabilize a tow vehicle. Below: B&M Performance Products
Supercooler's stacked plate design offers maximum transmission
cooling efficiency.
Flex-a-lite is one of the leaders in the development of high-powered electric engine temperature control. The thermostatic-controlled Black Magic models pull more air through your vehicle's radiator than any other 15-inch electrical fan on the market. They have been specifically designed for operating under extreme load or temperature conditions. For example, the M150, operating at 2200 rpm, consumes only 13.9 amps in operation while delivering 2800 cubic feet per minute of airflow. The units are fully temperature controlled and activate only when engine operating conditions demand extra cooling.
One of the great features of Flex-a-lite's fans is that they are easy to install. They mount to the radiator support frames with bracket mounting hardware provided in the kit.
Flex-a-lite also manufactures auxiliary engine oil coolers that cool the engine more efficiently and protect the oil from thermal breakdown.
There must be some axiom that the best fishing holes are the ones at the top of the steepest grades. Sportsmen who tow a boat or trailer can pay for each fish with lost years off their automatic transmission. Nothing kills the transmission quicker than a lethal dose of heat.
B&M Racing and Performance offers a range of products that reduce that level of heat. They make the process of winding up or down steep mountain roads less stressful on the precision components within high-tech automatic transmissions, and less stressful on the driver who's visualizing those components disintegrating.
First, the SuperCooler, an auxiliary transmission cooler, boasts the smallest size and lightest weight relative to cooling capacity on the market. The cooler's patented stacked plate design offers multiple flow paths for maximum cooling efficiency. The unit design features a low pressure drop that reduces the risk of lubrication system failure (in the transmission, the fluid works as both a coolant and lubricant). A controlled amount of automatic transmission fluid is allowed to pass the stacked plate core. As operating temperatures increase, more of the fluid is directed through the core.
"The result is improved protection against lube system failure with the required levels of heat transfer," explains Brian Applegate, B&M vice president of sales and marketing.
For firm, quick and controlled shifting try B&M's TransPak. The kit comes in three stages, one specifically designed for RVs and heavy towing requirements. Sportsmen know that the best towing control when gliding down winding roads comes when the transmission is shifted into a lower gear to let the engine assume a greater part of the braking. The TransPak allows the driver to shift into low at any speed and hold that gear no matter how much speed the vehicle picks up.
Two upgrades that increase horsepower and engine efficiency are a bolt-on exhaust system and a replacement performance chip on electronically controlled engines. Two of the best sources are DynoMax and Jones Electronic Technologies (JET).
A performance exhaust system (commonly referred to as a cat-back system, the exhaust system behind the catalytic converter) centers on the muffler. The role a performance muffler plays is simple: get the exhaust out of the system as quickly as possible, while keeping the noise level down. We all know the quickest way out of anything is a straight line. DynoMax's Super Turbo muffler has patented flow directors at each end of the muffler and larger than original equipment tubing that do just that -- straighten out the exhaust gases and reduce back pressure. The result is an increase in horsepower and, usually, in gas mileage as well.
JET's Performance Pack -- which includes a Performance Chip, selection of performance pulleys, thermostat and an air filter -- is the best defense against factory installed "average" performance parameters. There's nothing wrong with engines programmed for average driving conditions, as long as that's the kind of driving being done. But, pull a bass boat up a steep hill and you've gone past average.
The performance chip, according to JET's Bryant Seller, essentially re-programs the on-board computer from the "average" performance standards, optimizing the air/fuel ratio, ignition spark advance, transmission shift points, torque converter lock up and other parameters. The result is improved drivability, fuel economy and, most importantly, performance. The power increase comes in at low- to mid-range rpms, where the mobile sportsman really needs it.
The Power Pack's stainless steel thermostat produces a cooler running engine. A cooler engine allows more oxygen into the combustion chamber, providing a better air/fuel mixture burn and resulting in better performance. The two-stage foam Power Flo air filter keeps dirt out of the system much better than the standard paper filters. The JET filter increases air flow by as much as 35 percent, is serviceable and carries a lifetime warranty. The pulleys improve performance by reducing the power needed to drive auxiliary engine driven systems, like the alternator and water pump.
Both the DynoMax mufflers and the JET Power Pack are emissions legal and carry a California Air Resources Executive Order (CARB E O) number, which means they have been tested and meet current emissions standards.
Of course, we can't leave out the most basic ingredient to successful trailering: the hitch. There are as many hitch systems as there are vehicles that tow. For the sportsman who is a hitch-novice, the best bet is to go to a reputable dealer and make sure the vehicle, trailer and hitch are matched to specific driving and towing conditions.
Automatic adjustments within
the Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks direct fluid through the piston for
greater dampening and vehicle control under both normal and
high-demand driving conditions.
Draw-Tite, the world's largest manufacturer of trailer hitches, has a network of dealers equipped to handle anything sportsmen can throw at them, from fifth-wheel assemblies to electrical hook-ups and everything in between. Engineered for both appearance and safety, Draw-Tite products are tested under the most severe towing conditions which even the most adventuresome outdoorsman would be hard pressed to duplicate.
One of the scariest things a sportsman can see is his boat or camper threatening to pass his tow vehicle. This is not good. It takes nerves of steel to ride out and regain control of a boat trailer that is whipping around wildly. The cure is to slow the trailer while maintaining speed on the tow vehicle. That's where brake controllers come in.
Draw-Tite offers two electronic models, the Activator for two and four-brake units and the Activator II for two through eight-brake trailers. Either unit can be mounted at any angle in any location convenient to the driver. In case of an overload caused by a short or low power supply, the Activator II will display an overload warning. Both units provide manual control as well.
There are heavy-duty batteries on the market that may work well for the "urban" sportsman who is never far from help. But, that's not us. The mobile sportsman uses his vehicle to get to where he's going and to provide power when he gets there. With the conventional heavy-duty battery, you may not get back and the auto club may not be able to find you.
There are battery companies out there which understand the special demands sporting life puts on the vehicle energy source, like New Castle Battery Mfg. Co. Bill Glover, a New Castle regional sales manager, designed the battery back-up system for a tricked out Dodge Ram that had enough accessories to cause a brown-out from Seattle to San Diego. His system guarantees that the electrical system will keep on runnin' like the proverbial rabbit.
First, Glover mounted a pair of deep cycle marine, 220-amp batteries in the cargo box of the Ram, rigged in parallel (positive to positive for longer running time).Then he mounted a battery isolator switch under the hood to separate the truck battery from the auxiliaries. He wired the batteries to allow the alternator to charge all three batteries at the same time.
The final step was the precautionary measure of installing a rocker switch in the truck cab. The switch isolates the truck's primary battery from the auxiliaries. If the primary battery fails, you can turn the ignition switch on, hit the rocker switch wired into the back-up system and off you go.
Another advantage of Glover's system for the fisherman is that you can take one of the auxiliary batteries out of the bed for use as a fully charged deep-cycle battery for a boat's trolling motor.
For a true example of specialization, just walk into your local tire dealer. And that's probably the best bet for today's mobile sportsman -- a good, reputable dealer like Goodyear, who understands the product, the uses that product was designed for, and the best fit for your vehicle.
Take, for example, Goodyear's Wrangler series, designed for everything from highway to off-road applications. You know you need a bigger tire to handle the extra load, that's a given. From that point on, the choice depends on the surface between home and your destination.
Here's a run-down of Wrangler tires: The Wrangler Aquatred is a marriage of traction and handling abilities. The GS-A is a versatile, all-surface tire for multi-purpose light trucks and SUVs, with a patented Triple Tread Zone to accommodate a variety of driving conditions. If your travels are on good surfaces, try Wrangler's HT, RT/S or AP for a quiet ride. The Wrangler AT provides a more aggressive tread pattern for more aggressive sportsmen who spend as much time off road as on. For the sportsman who wouldn't be caught dead on a paved road, the MT is the best choice designed for maximum traction and positive steering response. Then there's the Workhorse, a heavy-duty on or off-highway traction radial.
What does Winston Cup stock car racing have in common with your towing/trailering truck? Plenty.
Several of our top 10 items have had their roots in motorsports, but in the case of brakes there's a direct relationship. A race car that's "all go and no whoa" usually ends up wrecked. The same thing applies to your tow vehicle. Brakes are, in reality, energy sponges. They must be capable of repeatedly absorbing the energy produced to decelerate your truck and trailer.
The aftermarket can handle the "whoa" as well as it does the "go." Companies like Performance Friction Corp. (PFC) have developed much better braking materials than you'll find at the new truck showroom. PFC's Carbon Metallic brake pad was born and proven on the NASCAR and Indy Car circuits. Today's trucks, in an effort to save weight, use lighter brake components; these components are asked to do as much as they ever have, or in the case of a towing vehicle, even more. Add on larger tires and greater stress is placed on the brakes. Bottom line: brakes on any tow vehicle work harder and hotter, leading to wear and brake fade.
Crisp throttle response, better
drivability and improved mileage are possible with the Performer
T.B.I. Total Power Package made by Edelbrock Corporation.
However, PFC's pads, designed to bring a 3500-pound Winston Cup car from 150 to 30 mph, perform under heat and repeated hard use. The Carbon Metallic pads offer superior stopping power, plus longer pad and rotor life. These features, coupled with a firm pedal feel with no fading at high operating temperatures, make them ideal for the towing market.
Part of the secret of the firm pedal feel is that the Carbon Metallic pads are non-compressible. Additionally, PFC's pads use an ionic fusion process to adhere the pad material to the backing plate, assuring that the pad will stay attached and lessening the friction loading on the rivets common in other bonding processes. The ionic fusion bonding process plates a thermal barrier between the backing plate and the brake caliper piston which inhibits overheating and boiling the brake fluid (which causes fading and loss of pedal).
There's danger in lists as everyone is an expert when it comes to stuff for their vehicles, and everyone has favorite products. We picked examples of some of the best known products in the business. It's not an endorsement, surely -- simply products from people we know and trust.
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The following manufacturers will provide full information on products designed to improve towing performance: Air Bags: Air Lift Co., Dept. WO, P.O. Box 80167, Lansing, MI 48908-0167; (800) 248-0892. Transmission Upgrades: B&M Racing & Performance Products, Dept. WO, 9142 Independence Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311; (818) 882-6422. Hitches and Hitch Accessories: Draw-Tite, Dept. WO, 40500 Van Born Road, Canton, MI 48188-2999; (800) 521-0510. Exhaust Systems: DynoMax Performance Exhaust, Dept. WO, 111 Pfingsten Road, Deerfield, IL 60015; (800) DYNOMAX. Engine and Oil Cooling Systems: Flex-a-lite Consolidated, Dept. WO, 4540 S. Adams, Tacoma, WA 98409; (800) 851-1510. Tires: Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Dept. WO, 1144 E. Market St., Akron, OH 44316; (330) 796-2121. Performance Chip: JET Performance Products, Dept. WO, 17491 Apex Circle, Huntington Beach, CA 92647: (800) 535-1161. Shock Absorbers: Monroe Auto Equipment, Dept. WO, 1 International Drive, Monroe, MI 48161; (800) STRUT-NOW. Auxililary Battery Systems: New Castle Battery Mfg. Co., Dept. WO, 3211 Middlebranch Ave. N.E., Canton, OH 44702; (800) 822-5888. Brake Pads: Performance Friction Corp., Dept. WO, P.O. Box 819, Slover, SC 29710-0819; (803) 222-2141. Total Power Package: Edelbrock Corporation, Dept. WO, 2700 California St., Torrance, CA 90503; (310) 781-2222. |
Author Dave Cole of Diamond Bar, California, is an authority on automotive products.
⌐ David Cole 1997. All rights reserved.
