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4day · 04-14-2014, 12:05 PM

hello, I just purchased a new to me alpine coach with a cummins 350 with an allison 3000 6 speed transmission. my question is, I have a approx. 300 ft driveway at an approx. 7-8% grade. driveway is straight, and it would be easiest to back up the drive, and not have to back down when I leave. I am concerned that I might do damage to the transmission in backing up the drive, due to heat build up. years ago, I bought a ford excursion with the 7.3 L engine, and backed my boat up the driveway and lost the transmission, ford said due to inadequate cooling. lucky i was still under warranty. I am concerned doing the same to the allison transmission. which is not under warranty. I am unsure if the transmission cooler is adequate. hope the experts will chime in thanks Bob.

BFlinn181 · 04-14-2014, 12:22 PM

I think your transmission cooler can handle it. It's buried in with the radiator and inner cooler and the radiator fan cools all. If you don't have a transmission fluid temperature gauge, you might think about adding one to be sure. Also, don't hesitate or go too slow as you go up the driveway. Backing a boat trailer is probably why you had an issue. When I back in my driveway, I know the RV fits the driveway so I watch the left rear tire in the mirror at the edge of the driveway and go. Sort of 'He who hesitates is lost.' (or overheats)

4day · 04-14-2014, 12:40 PM

you are probably right, I ended up putting an extra cooler on my excursion, replacing a transmission in a MH a bit costly, I do have a temp. guage, unsure how good it is, just took delivery of MH, not home yet. easier to back up the drive, than to back into traffic.

Pepper2 · 04-14-2014, 12:52 PM

My concern would be the back end bottoming-out. JMHO, no practical experience.

wa8yxm · 04-14-2014, 01:09 PM

No problem backing up is about the easiest thing the tranny can do in most cases.. EXCEPTION is one model of Ford Transmission but you do not have that one.. I can assure you you do not have that one.

First: It's a stick shift, 2nd It fits Mustangs. 3rd 4 speed RAD (Reverse Always Dies?) Had one in my AMC hornet.. Design flaw.

I used to back a Pup up a much steeper grade with that car.. and at the top of the grade was a gate, perhaps a foot wider than the PUP if I'm lucky, and Id' back that down about another 70 feet of drive (Slight angle but flat) into the garage...

Now you know why I am good at backing into a site.

(Actually, that is not the most "Fun" I have had backing a trailer, Just the most "Fun" Backing a RECREATIONAL trailer. The most fun was a Farm Trailer.. Around an "S" curve and between two buildings where if you were perfectly centered you could not walk around the trailer, you had to walk around the barn, to get to the gate behind it.)

Learned it young, learned when I was little.. How to use REVERSE. (Take off on a line from a song you likely never heard) Want a line from a song you likely HAVE heard (16 tons)

I loaded 16 tons and what did I get, A fertilized field by a whole lot of **IT.

Now you know what kind of trailer that was.

gruelens · 04-14-2014, 01:36 PM

Older Ford automatics, when in reverse, would stop circulating fluid thru the radiator. If you were already up to temp, backing up a steep grade could cook them quickly. I don't believe Allison has this issue. A quick call to Allison would confirm.