HELP Cross Country Towing Mods???

[Montana250]

First off, I want to say this is an AWESOME forum. I just bought my first diesel a week ago and joined the forum (the addiction has begun) and have learned so much from reading your guy’s experiences, thank you. This also my first "thread" or post really, so I apologize if its in the wrong area...

Now for my question. Starting on Thanksgiving I will be driving from lower Alabama to western Montana (2200mi) towing a 24’ enclosed car hauler, with a car and all my household goods inside (total pull weight around 10k). I have about a $500 budget and 5 days to do any modifications to the truck. I know the budget is low but I know a lot of good ideas are free (or near) and just involve a little elbow grease. Driving from the south to the northwest I will probably experience basically every type of weather there is to be imagined, so my modifications must be able to handle cold climates as well as warm.

The truck: 2005 F250 6.0L CC/SB 115k miles. The truck appears to be bone stock with the exception that somebody has cut out the muffler and welded in a straight pipe. It has 325/65/18’s on the factory wheels and I’m going to leave those for the duration of the trip. No lift, no other modifications.

I am currently having a TBC fault and trying to resolve that (bought a new controller, currently in the mail) and the Tow/Haul function isn’t working (dealership ordered a new gearshift lever, they’re convinced that’s the problem…). I have been leaning toward a programmer to maximize my performance and fuel economy for the trip home. SCT has a great following and that would be my preference, however that would leave me without some important indications in the cab (EGT etc.). Any input at all would be great, THANKS!!!

MODS YOU CAN/WOULD/SHOULD DO WITH $500 IN 5 DAYS OR LESS BEFORE TOWING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

[1armbandit]

i would do an SCT tuner and a good set of gauges.

[puffinsmoke99]

where you headed to in montana ?

[Montana250]

Heading back to Bozeman... can't wait

[Ryan Rønning]

Bozeman is a nice town. Been through there a few times.

[Montana250]

I'm hoping I don't encounter any cold starting issues when get up there (or worse yet, on the trip home). I just got some Opti-Lube XPD and have read that it should assist as an anti-gel type additive... we'll see... Last I heard there was plenty of snow on the ground and more to come... Guess we'll see how the truck tows in snow...

[puffinsmoke99]

as of right now im in greatfalls and we have no snow on the ground so far its been pretty dry

[Montana250]

What do you do (if anything) to winterize your truck? Do you run 15-40 year round or do you drop down to 10-30 in the winter?

[puffinsmoke99]

nope run the same oil 15-40 just make sure to let it warm up a bit longer and plug it in when it gets real cold !!!

[Montana250]

Good to know... of all the possible mods I wanted to do before I embarked on my road-trip, the only thing I was actually able to get my hands on was a block heater cord... going in tomorrow.