[Jackpine]

You might be surprised regarding temperature, even if the ambient temp is pretty cold.

I monitor the TFT and CHT, because I want to know how hot the engine is getting as well as the transmission since everything is under load.

Because I have two batteries in my trailer and a refrigerator that's running off DC, I monitor the charging voltage.

Finally, I monitor Comm Gear, because I like to have a visual confirmation of how much the transmission is shifting and if the torque converter is unlocking.

I personally don't see the value of monitoring TSS and OSS. They're only equal in 3rd gear with the TC locked.

If I'm on level ground, the TFT stays pretty cool, around 155-165. The CHT stays around 200. If I'm hill climbing, like a 7+% grade for 8-10 miles at highway speeds, I've seen the TFT get up around 216. The CHT rises a bit too, to around 214-216.

As long as everything is OK, I'm used to seeing the charging voltage stay around 13.6-13.7. Once though, I noticed it was holding in the 13.8-14.0 range and sure enough, the trailer battery charging fuse had blown. So, monitoring voltage gives me early warning of possible trailer electrical failure.

I try to keep the transmission activity at a minimum, so if I see the TC unlocking a lot or the transmission doing a lot of shifting, I drop out of overdrive. On long hill climbs, I lock it in 2nd gear.

And, I'm going to move this into the towing section, since we have a forum for that subject.

Edit: I'll add to what Lars posted just before me - we were writing at the same time. Most trailer tires are speed rated to no more than 65MPH. I would not tow faster than that. Heat destroys them very quickly - they're built differently than vehicle tires.

- Jack