Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) HP for Safe Towing

[DSorrells]

I am trying to help a great buddy out. This guy turned me on to the wonderful world of Dodge and Cummins! I want to help him out. He has an 02 1ton 2wd service truck. It has an auto trans and he tows a lot with it. He installs septic systems so he might be towing a 4wd case back hoe, or two trenchers, or a 35hp new holland tractor, or 10Klbs worth of septic tank. We are putting in a new injector pump in the next week or so. I want to get him a mild chip just to be nice. I want something not complicated that he can just put on a tow setting and not worry about it. I also want him to be able to tow in overdrive. The trans is stock also. I noticed that superchips programmer has a 40HP 75lb setting. The Edge EZ has a 60HP 160lb setting. Is the edge too big to tow with? The Diablo Power Puck is 50HP and 150lb. I know that the smarty is probably the best on the market, but I think it would be wasted on this truck. There are no additional gages or trans mods on this truck, just looking for MPG and stronger towing. But I don't want to blow his trans!



Your wisdom and knowledge would be really appreciated.

 

[16919]

Needs a new upgraded lift pump of some kind and some gauges before you up the power and tow. As far as safe hp for towing that is a loaded question cause you can safely tow with 500 hp depending on how it is set up. Since he doesn't have gauges I would look at the juice w/attitude monitor or the quadzilla tow box and then get their monitor. Both have on the fly adjustability. After the other upgrades, 4 inch exhaust would help a lot also. Some companies have package deals for chip, exhaust, gauges etc. Could look at that as well.

 

[dwymore]

For just a little boost in power without adding a lot of other stuff, you can buy a Hypertech setup for around $275 and tow safely on the highest setting, which is 60 hp. There seems to be no limit to what you can add to these Cummins, but until you get to the 400 hp range, alot of the additions don't make great differences.

 

[GCULP]

realistically, if he is towing in the 10,000 lb range with a stock transmission, I would bet just upgrading the transmission would help the gas mileage and the seat of the pants power. You would be surprised how much energy is lost through the automatic.

 

[SnoKing]

1. Gauges

2. transmission

3. Edge EZ used -200-300 bucks

4. 4" Exhaust and BHAF

5. Mild Injectors

6. HX35 or PDR35 Turbo (Truck has small HY35 Turbo Stock)



SNOKING

 

[qzilla]

Quadzilla



The above link is an adjustable on the fly product that will do exactly what you want. Someone else mentioned gauges and I agree. We do offer gauge packages as well if you look around the sight. I would not recommend our Race box for his application as it would be wasted money.



The XZT+ even has a timing only mode for fuel economy and it makes power without even changing the fueling at all. This helps with EGT a lot as well.



You can also see our USB update sight and see that we have aggressive tuning and other tuning options he can download to suit his driving style if he wants. They are all free updates and you can use them any time you want.



It is also priced pretty darn well for what it does.

 

[SAndreasen]

i am towing over 30,000 lbs wich you will be close to with a full sized backhoe i would suggest a torque converter and valve body before towing that much at the very least the double deep pan from mag hytech and a temperature gauge . i like the hypertech chip because its cheap and you can read codes calibrate the speedometer and it good for maybe 60 hp i am currently running the bully dog power pup wich has way more power than the hypertech but its way expensive for about 60 hp after i had the transmission rebuilt full dtt billet shafts and everything it drove the same without the chip as it did before with the chip .

 

[DNewell]

I'd have to agree with the rest of the gang. Upgrade the transmission first as this is the weakest link in the system. Snoking is right with the list, but I'd reverse the transmission over the gauges. As for power upgrades, I've only put a Van Aaken box on, and I like it. it's not adjustable, but there's a little more grunt with this box. My EGT's are not out of control, and it doesn't smoke very heavily. There are better boxes out there, but their cost is kind of high as compared to some of the basic ones.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I think most of you guys have excellent points - but are sorta missing the point of what is being asked:

I am trying to help a great buddy out. This guy turned me on to the wonderful world of Dodge and Cummins! I want to help him out... ... He has an 02 1ton 2wd service truck. It has an auto trans and he tows a lot with it... ... ... . We are putting in a new injector pump in the next week or so. I want to get him a mild chip just to be nice. I want something not complicated that he can just put on a tow setting and not worry about it. just looking for MPG and stronger towing. But I don't want to blow his trans!

The guy just wants to give a buddy a nice, uncomplicated gift of appreciation - one that won't break the drivetrain - OR his bank account!



You know - the KISS principle! :-laf

 

[16919]

In that case I would probably say that new xzt + tow box from quadzilla..... you can add gauges to it later and it has in cab, on the fly adjustability... ... and you can upload different programs to the box... . and quad actually has the different programs; not just saying they do. They run around 300 or so brand new. Cant beat that!!!!!!!!

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

In that case I would probably say that new xzt + tow box from quadzilla..... you can add gauges to it later and it has in cab, on the fly adjustability... ... and you can upload different programs to the box... . and quad actually has the different programs; not just saying they do. They run around 300 or so brand new. Cant beat that!!!!!!!!

I'd second that suggestion - GREAT choice! Oo.

 

[DCreed]

for around ten bucks you could install a TC lock up switch too!

 

[aharman]

I've been running with the Superchips tuner since 2004. I've been towing a single car trailer (6000pounds) on the +40hp setting. Never had a problem, max EGT reached climbing grades in western NY was 1100F. The tuner does give a very noticeable increase in performance over stock on the +40 and +60 settings.



However, in the instruction manual, Superchips says that over 6000lbs towing, you should only load the +20hp setting. I have never tried the +20 setting, so I can't comment on how it feels.

 

[DSorrells]

Thanks a ton! These trucks are so powerful and so much fun it is really hard to think small on them in terms of upgrades. I have listened to what you all have said. I also did some other research as well. I have decided to go with the Diablo Sport power puck. It adds 50HP and 150lbs of torque. I can also get it for $180. 00. If this works well for him and he wants more we will probably put a trans go shift kit in the valve body or buy an HTS valve body. In a few months I will put an exhaust on for him.



I am like the rest of you guys I am ready for a bigger turbo for my CR and bigger injectors. Oo.



Thanks again for all the suggestions.

 

[Big A]

I'm now running the Diablo sport puck with the RV 275 injectors, the power is smooth, and no EGT issues. I pull in the Rocky Mountains. I'm not real sure if the quality of the Puck is inferior to the Edge EZ( replaced two EZ boxes because of failure), I've only had the Puck about 2 months. I will say the EGTs with the Puck, are more manageable.

Big A