Which tuner for towing and short drives?

[Lawrence]

I have a 2004, 6.0 with a Banks exhaust. I tow 5-6 times a year a 10,000 pound 5th wheel camper. Most of my other driving is 1.5 miles to my office every day.
I am not interested in burning rubber, but improving fuel mileage a bit would be nice, as well as improving horse-power.

I have found a good price for the Superchip as well as for Banks 6 gun w speed loader. One of my questions though is can you use the speed loader (the box says "off road use only") for the type of driving I do, ie very little "off-road"?
Is the #1 setting truly stock, or something just above stock?

If I get the Banks, what is the best setting to use for towing if I do not install the speed loader, and what setting if I do use the speed loader?

Thanks

[DKR]

A lot of people on here will recommend the SCT style programmers. You can get a custom towing tune. I use the Aggresive Tow and another member I know uses it also towing a 5'er.

They say "off road" use only cause the power increases are "not suitable for on road use"...its lawyer lingo to cover their a$$.

[Steve Canfield]

I have a 2007 6.0 Super ~Duty and just installed a Power pup Bully dog.It works great.I set mine at 30% transmission and engine.What a differerance in power.Like going from a old vw bug to a porsche.Don't know about miliage yet but they say 30-40% inprovement.Easy to install too.I paid $477.00 for it.

[DKR]

You can get a SCT XCal2 for 399 programmed (I believe that is w/ 3 tunes). I got approx 17 mpg at 70 mpgh towing a 24 ft enclosed trailer.

Can't get any easier..plug into the OBDII port and the SCT does the rest.

Of course with ANY mods especially towing, EGT gauge is a must have at minimum. Most people run EGT, Boost, and Tranny.

[720Deere]

I'm with Eric on the SCT. I just got mine a few weeks ago, but have logged some trailer time with the tow aggressive file. I pulled a 16,500 lb gooseneck trailer for about 100 miles in some very hilly terrain. Wow, what a difference! The EGT never got above 1069 even on a 2 mile pull up a 7% grade at 50 mph. The tune is only supposed to be about 65-70 hp extra but the torque feels like a huge gain. The tranny temp also never got above 183 with ambient temp at about 91 degrees.

Banks is good stuff, but their shifting won't compare to the SCT if you have an auto. I'd stay away from the Superchips if it was my truck.

I also have a 30' fifth wheel camper that only weighs about 8,000 lbs. I haven't towed it with the tuner yet, but in a few week will be towing it down I-95 about 400 miles to the NC meet. I'll report back after that. The biggest change I'm looking for there is fuel economy. It already tows like there's nothing back there!

[DKR]

Thanks for chiming in Matt...I knew you have some more experience towing the larger trailers than I.