Banks or not to banks

[MStokke]

Ok guys if you were going to spend some money on your truck

1. Would you put on the BANKS SYSTEM ? WHY ?

2. Are you thinging of someother system ? Why ?

 

[Todd G]

From someone who has done the complete Banks stuff, I would look elsewhere. I could put the same (or better) things on my truck for about 30-40% less. Banks makes good stuff, but it's a little high priced.

 

[Powder Extreme]

I can give you first hand knowledge. I spent the money for the entire top level Banks power pack. I have since removed every part but the high ram. Their stuff is overpriced and doesn't work as well as advertised. I still have the electronic Banks gauges that hook directly to the Ottomind if anybody wants them. The one thing I did like was that the Ottomind would defuel before your EGT's would get excessively high. You could "floor it and leave it". But I have obtained more power for less money than I spent on the Banks, I wish I would have never bought the Banks setup.



Jerry

 

[C Schomer]

I just posted what I think of banks within the last week in another topic. The only thing I have left from their system is the 14 housing. They have morphed plates! I like to pay them back for the TERRIBLE TERRIBLE support I got from them when their system worked like I TRIED TO BY-PASS THE CUSSING FILTER! Craig

 

[Barry]

I bought 2 Banks Kits..... my first and last!!! What you spend all that $ for is to pay for their advertising. YOU are an informed TDR member! Get guages, 4" exhaust, EZ box and then build from there if you feel you need more... ..... Been there, done that, and I ain't goin back... ... ... .

 

[Dkevdog]

Well since this appears to be the Bag on Banks thread, somebody has to have a good experience... ...



I installed the Stinger Plus and then a few months later installed the Twin Ram. I have received good service from them and am very happy with the results, although I do admit the stuff is somehwat pricey. I would reccommend driving trucks that have both the Banks and find people who have gone other routes like DD and TST and then make a decision based on your own feelings. I had trouble finding apples to apples trucks to compare which made the decision difficult. I will say (without knowing if you have the 12 or 24 valve) that I do know of those who have been unhappy with the 24v kit. No matter what you do, if you have an auto transmission you will need to upgrade the TC and VB (next on my money tree list) or all that added power just goes up in black smoke .



Good luck!

Kev

 

[lhend50]

I also have a stinger plus kit on a 96 with Auto trans. I have had it for three yrs and I am very pleased. I also had excellent service from banks. I will not say it can not be done cheaper, but at the time with discounts from campers world it would have been close in price to doing piece by piece. I have not experienced any trans problems(auto) in about 35,000 miles of towing. I am sure it could be more efficient, but I will wait until I have to do something and then get a Bill K upgrade. I agree with the above post, it seems like the later models are the ones that are having the problems with Banks.

 

[illflem]

I've had Stinger Pluses on both my rigs since they were almost new, have had as much power as I've ever needed and my EGTs have never reached dangerous levels even with huge loads. The only problem was a pyro that starting reading 100° high after five years, Backs replaced it with no question. Banks kits work great on 12 valves and the price is right in there with buying the parts piece by piece elsewhere, plus they are engineered as one unit you don't need to fool around tring to match conponents. I would buy Banks again in a heart beat, but not for a 24 valve.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Since this thread is in the 12 valve forum, note that the classic, very effective, and inexpensive uprate for 12 valves is the TST Power Kit, see www.tstproducts.com

This Kit includes directions, a custom shaped torque plate, and a boost control to allow enough boost to burn the extra fuel. I have dyno tested a number of Rams with these Power Kits and all have done as well or better than the advertised power rating--and at the rear wheels, too!

 

[MikeR]

I have a 12v that is prime and ready for BOMBing,and while I sit here looking at my options,I just can't see the advantage in going with Banks. The bottom line is,their kit is the power eqiuvilance of a TST 230/605 rated power kit... that is a huge difference in price. To get to 230hp all you need is the plate and a set of gauges. 230hp is not a level where you need an exhaust housing or a 4" exhaust system. Just my opinion.



-Mike

 

[Evan A. Beck]

With Banks' stuff, you are paying for their R&D... Their shop is pretty impressive from what I hear... All kinds of cool test equipment.

 

[Dkevdog]

Originally posted by Evan A. Beck

With Banks' stuff, you are paying for their R&D... Their shop is pretty impressive from what I hear... All kinds of cool test equipment.

I had a portion of my kit installed there (I did it in phases and got the tour) and I can say that the Banks Campus is very impressive. They have about three blocks of buildings and their R&D lab is wild. And BTW- if you add all the components in the Banks kit up, they are still close to being in line with the rest. Like it or not, they do sell a ton of it. Spend a few hours at their campus and you'll see for yourself.



Kev

 

[HEMI®Dart]

Diesel Injection service is no longer going to carry Banks products. What they have left in stock is supposed to be priced to sell quick. No Twin-Ram 12 Valve intakes... ... I asked already.





"Randy in our service dept is handling the Banks inventory, what we have left in stock and pricing. You can reach him at 800-658-9355"



Brent Doughty



www.dieselpage.com



Diesel Injection Service

 

[Roxy]

Banks Power

I started with the Stinger Plus 2 years ago and my response was WOW!!! I had done some investigation and concluded that part for part, the kit was very similar in end pricing of doing it a part from here and a part from there. This year I upgraded to the Twin Ram and am still pleased. I haven't ever bought anything aftermarket for an auto of any kind that fit as nicely and worked as well as the Banks products did. I, too, used my Camping World discount and installed myself. My P/U is the 12V, which looks like, for the most part, could be the better engine for Banks products (vs 24V). Anyway, I am quite pleased.

 

[ADSmith]

I have the Powerpack in my 97 5sp and regret spending the $. I saw little improvement under 2100 rpm until I put in a TST AFC spring kit. The 14cm housing is nice though (but can be bought for considerably less elsewhere). I wish I had just put in a TST plate with the AFC kit and bigger housing because I would have saved over $1000. I will say that Banks exhaust fit very well with no modifications - their equipment appears to be designed very well.

 

[Roxy]

AD

All I can say is, that is exactly where I got my boost, below 2100. My regular, daily driving mpg went from 15 to 16. 5. Freeway at 65-70 went from 18-almost 20. Pulling my trailer went from 10. 5 to 11. 5-12. We live in Texas "hill country", where there are quite a few rolling hills and made a trip every other month or so to our son's - about 150 miles. About half this distance - pre-power pack - I could not pull our trailer in OD, due to the frequent hills. After the power pack, I was able to pull all the way in OD. When I first put it on, it really surprised me because it would actually "spin out" - burn a little rubber! I don't know exactly why, but maybe it doesn't work as well with manual transmissions. The main reason I decided on the banks was because of a install and review of a guy that writes for RV mags & sites. He had his installed at Banks and had the same results as I did. Course, his was a 98 12V and auto transmission, like mine.

 

[SummitRoofs]

I have bought 2 power pack kits and installed one on my truck. I give the Banks Power Pack a big thumbs up for the 12V. All the benefits of more power, torque and higher fuel mileage. In my opinion this a definately a well engineered kit that works great. I agree that it is priced somewhat high. I suppose part of the higher price is having twin ram that i believe is not available anywhere else. Your also buying a complete kit that has many parts and pieces. if you were to add up the costs of all the pieces you would probably agree that it is not too unreasonable. The instructions are good and the parts fit well. If you have not visited the Banks website, you can see all that is included. One thing I liked about this kit is there was not an increase of black smoke that some people talk about having.



I was fortunate to find a Banks Dealer going out of business and purchased 2 complete kits from him for reasonable $'s. I have one kit available that fits 94-97 12V (maybe 98 12V also). Check out the tdr classifieds if interested.