Electric Fan Vs. Stock Fan

[DRanger]

The Fan clutch just went out on my 06 Dodge dually Diesel 3500 6 spd stndrd 4x4 quadcab . And for another fan clutch its $324. 00 plus labor at the Dodge dealership. Does anyone have any advice which way to go Electric or Oem ? Also I use my truck daily for heavy towing so I most likley need something with high effciency.

 

[Batphreak]

From everything I've heard on keeping these trucks cool (at least for the pre-02 ones, and I doubt it changes with the common rail engines) the OEM setup or other mechanical upgrade is the best way to go. I believe some of the hot rod guys (non-towing rigs) have gotten away with electric setups, but from all I've heard/read when you're towing the big mechanical fan is the way to keep it cool. $0. 02

 

[cerberusiam]

It pulls around 3300 cfm. As fans go, that is alot of air.

IIRC, the OE fan is around 8500 CFM full locked. The only thing that I have seen that approaches that is a dual setup at 6500 CFM for the Dmaxe's. Fitment is an issue and getting the air flow where it needs to go on a set of duals is also dicey.



General all around use an electric seems to work, towing heavy at slow speeds is going to be problematic. Add to that the extra load on the alternator and batteries, not sure you gain with electric. The 20 HP penalty and cost for the OE seems to be the best trade off available.

 

[DRanger]

i constantly tow a dump trailer rated at 4 tons empty , I spoke with dodge dealership and if they repair it they warranty it . So thanks for the advice and i'm gonna go with tyhe oem fan setup thanks.

 

[sconnors11]

I have the Flex-a-lite fan setup... I like it so far, but have been pulling largely unloaded. I just bought a 30 ft Gearbox 5th wheel that weighs 14k lbs fully loaded, 9k lbs empty. I took it out this weekend (earound 80 degrees, trailer empty, a/c on)to see what it'd do up a 6% grade at 65 mph. The temperature peaked at 225 with me flooring it from time to time deliberatly trying to heat it up. Temp dropped quickly when the load was off and I stopped messing around slowing to 55mph on the next hill. 6-gun PDA was on power level 4.



According to Flex-a-lite the fan is rated at 5500 CFM. We'll see how it does up the grapevine on 100 degree heat this summer. If it doesn't do well the stock fan is still in the Garage.



Sean

2005 4x4 G56

 

[Doubleclutch]

Haven't heard much about the Horton fan set up lately. Anybody still recommending it?
Greg

 

[mberry]

I think that when the time comes, I'm going to change mine out to an aluminum radiator and electric fan setup. However, as trouble free as my truck has been these past 6 years, it may be a long ways off.

 

[rscurtis]

You should already have the aluminum radiator.