Banks or Hog??

[DocDetonancour]

Talked to vendor today and he said he has installed both and favors the Banks. He further advised that the Hog must be re-engineered by the installer to make it work. He told of having to bend in the shop. $$$ were comparable at this shop. Opinions? Thanks, Doc

 

[fozzy]

I put a hog system on my truck and had no problems with the install. If you have a short box, four door you do have to cut one of the pipes shorter to make it work. I almost bought the Banks kit. I live in Salt Lake City and Hog has a dealership here and I saved close to $250 compared to the Banks. Used that money for a intake. Love the big tip and the sound of the Hog. Good luck.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

. . . or DPPI?

. . . or Rip Rook?

. . . or Aeroturbine from DPP?

. . . or MBRP?

 

[JThiessen]

I put in a Banks Monster over x-mas

I like the sound - just a little louder/deeper than stock at idle, and bit louder in the higher revs.

No REAL noticeable improvement in power. It may be a little more responsive - but its hard to tell.

No noticeable mpg improvements - maybe 1/2 mpg. If I had to put money on it, I'd claim no mpg improvement.



Installation was a breeze (had a heated shop with a lift). The huge tip looks sweet!

 

[Jeff Clark]

If I had to pick between the two, I would go Hog. I think Banks is overpriced (Just my opinion).

 

[StephenThomas]

I have the HOG stainless steel system with a 6" polished rolled tip. I had no problems with install whatsoever. All HOG's are sent/made for the LWB so if you have a short bed (like I do) then one cut must be made. I didn't have to make a single bend -- the fit was as close to perfect as could be expected. My deciding factor to get the HOG was the outstanding price -- $499 (was a special at the time) for a 4" stainless steel system is hard to beat. I have some pics in my gallery if you'd like to see it.



I've never had a Banks system so i can't compare the two. I have used the Bullydog system before and for the price I'd stick with HOG. (about $300 cheaper)

 

[Car_nut57]

The Banks systems do fit very well and the Banks Down Pipe replaces the cast elbow off the turbo with 4" pipe. This helps exhaust flow. Banks new muffler has an expansion chamber in the front of it which helps to eliminate drone and the quality is excellent in a stainless steel system.

 

[DocDetonancour]

? for Fozzy

Can you p. m. me the name of the HOG dealer in S. Lake? Thanks, Doc

 

[dtrevathan]

I see alot of people on this site rip banks. They say its too much money, just buy brand x, and with a little modification it works better.



Well, I want the best. thats why I went with Dodge/Cummins in the first place. I dont think banks is that more money than anybody elese, I've never herd that you have to modify a banks system to fit, and eveyone that has Banks is happy with it.



I'm going with Banks.

 

[Jeff Clark]

I have the MagnaFlow (which was considerably less than Banks) and I didn't have to modify it to fit. Took less than 20 minutes to install. My Dodge cost considerably less than my 01 F250. Which is a better truck? Cheaper price doesn't always mean inferior product.

 

[DocDetonancour]

Magnaflow?

Jeff is the Magnaflow a complete system or just a muffler replacement? thanks, Doc

 

[CLAYTON]

Is there a bigger drop in egts with a 5 inch system compaired to a 4 inch system.

 

[Jeff Clark]

Doc: The MagnaFlow is a 4" stainless system from the downpipe back. You retain the factory 3. 5" downpipe. For a stock engine it's fine. I will end up replacing the downpipe when I upgrade the turbo so having 4" all the way to the turbo didn't matter to me (the turbo still only has a 3. 5" outlet no matter how far up the line your 4" pipe goes). MagnaFlow sells two systems, a fully polished one with tip and a non-polished one without tip. The second one is half the price of the first one. I went with that one and added my own tip. You can do just the muffler if you want to. Problem is the factory muffler is 3. 5" in and 4" out. MagnaFlow (as well as most others) are 4" in/out and straight through. The new muffler would have to sit at an angle since the factory pipe is offset and you would have to weld up a gap between the 3. 5" pipe and the 4" inlet.



Clayton: Only when you reach higher horsepower numbers. With a stock engine or near-stock engine you may lose low end torque with a 5"

 

[CLAYTON]

Originally posted by Jeff Clark

Doc: The MagnaFlow is a 4" stainless system from the downpipe back. You retain the factory 3. 5" downpipe. For a stock engine it's fine. I will end up replacing the downpipe when I upgrade the turbo so having 4" all the way to the turbo didn't matter to me (the turbo still only has a 3. 5" outlet no matter how far up the line your 4" pipe goes). MagnaFlow sells two systems, a fully polished one with tip and a non-polished one without tip. The second one is half the price of the first one. I went with that one and added my own tip.



Clayton: Only when you reach higher horsepower numbers. With a stock engine or near-stock engine you may lose low end torque with a 5"

What would I need to have done to the truck to take advantage of a 5 inch system?

 

[RDietze]

Originally posted by Car_nut57

The Banks systems do fit very well and the Banks Down Pipe replaces the cast elbow off the turbo with 4" pipe. This helps exhaust flow. Banks new muffler has an expansion chamber in the front of it which helps to eliminate drone and the quality is excellent in a stainless steel system.

the above is what sets the banks apart from ALL other exhaust systems. trust me, i am NOT a banks hugger BUT, they make the best 4" ss exhaust... . hands down! claims of the banks being too high priced are bologna! i got mine shipped to my door step for 675, comparable to the HOG.

to add to the above quote, the banks system fit and finish were flawless.

 

[DLeno]

I think Banks opens themselves up to criticism by (1) claming superiority and (2) charging higher prices. Most on this forum I think are happy to pay more for higher quality if the value is there; but since Banks sets the expectations by their marketing approach, they risk a greater number of customers who's expectations may be set too high.



I would bash banks if I paid too much for a product that was over-sold, and/or priced too high. I would praise Banks for delivering a quality product at a reasonable price.



BTW, the monstor exhuast is one of those Banks products that enjoys few complaints (from my reading). its not for everyone, but all recognize that this is one product that meets the expectations Banks sets. fit and finish is second to none from my reading.



My complaint about the Banks exhaust is (again from reading; I don't have the product) that they appear to have a tendancy to cut cost corners yet still keep the purchase price elevated. T409 stainless is a lot cheeper than 304, yet their system costs more than many 304 systems out there. gotta hand it to them, though, for replacing the turbo elbow and creating a true 4". at least thats a market contribution.

 

[RDietze]

i'm not going to waste many breaths defending banks, however, i researched long and hard for an exhaust and the banks monster came out on top for ME. their system has a lifetime "limited" warranty (i'm sure the "limited" verbage is a loop hole of some sorts )

another selling point for me were the mandrel bends of the pipe - especially in the downpipe - their bends were the "smoothest" in the industry. when i got the system, the new monster muffler and double walled tip were impressive upgrades to the system.

at $675 shipped to my front door, i feel i got a great value



would i do it again? yes.



see, look at the breath you forced me to expend talking about banks

 

[DLeno]

hee hee. well I must admit I've been tempted with this system myself. Except I finally realized that once I put on the BD exhaust brake, that Banks signature disapearing elbow is a moot point because the e brake itself becomes the elbow.



but yea, fit and finish, bend quality and consistency (from one system to another) make it a true bolt in. and I'm giving a second look to their "no drone" muffler choices too... .



Where did you get yours for that price?

 

[RDietze]

dleno,



i pm'd you

 

[Car_nut57]

T-409 vs T-304

DLeno,



You are right Banks does use T-409 SS for its systems and that is a little less expensive than the T-304, but each material has its +'s. T-409 is easier to bend and shape than T-304. T-304 will stay shiney and bright looking longer than T-409. We have the Silverline made from polished T-304, it is beautiful stuff and stays that way, but you need to make sure the clamps are very tight as the T-304 is much harder than T-409. Both systems come with lifetime warranty. So in this case I would say Banks did use the correct materials for their product and it is a matter of preference between T-409 and T-304.