2007 F350 powerstroke performance mods

[jstelmack]

Just purchased an '07 F350 6.0L powerstroke diesel. Looking for advice regarding performance mods. Have read that cold-air intake not really worth it untl HP >500 and that exhaust and tuner best investment to start. looking for recommendations re: exhaust system.

Am looking to purchase SCT X3 flash tuner very soon. Some sites indicate that unit comes with three pre-loaded tunes while other also offer unit with a custom tune. Which is better? Who is best ot deal with regarding a custom tune?

What do I need to be aware of with respect to performance mods? People state that a person should also install guages. What guages and why do I need them?

Truck still under warranty. I understand that it is possible to install say a tow tune (which is what I am really interested in because I will be towing a 30' travel trailer) but return to the stock tune prior to delivering the truck to a dealer for maintenance or waranty work. Ford states in their powerstroke maunal that Ford will be aware if any settings hvae been modified. Is this true? Should I wait until warranty is up before installing custom tunes or the pre-loaded tunes on the SCT X3?
Any help would be much appreciated.