Towing Help need more torque

[JChoate]

2005 3500DRW new 6speed 3. 73 rear 4x4 stock except for AFE stock relacement filter and AFE torque tube. I pull a40 foot toy hauler weighs about 17000 lbs. need more torque on the hills falls on its face pretty bad. I had a dr perfomance on my 2001 Ford power stroke was pleased with it,my dealer said they had lots of problems with dr performance on 2004. 5 and latter Dodges,they now sell Edge juice attitude and Bully Dog power pup which would be better for towing, also thinking about Banks big hoss bundle. Which one ? Tell me the good and the bad. :-{}

 

[LesStallings]

There are a lot of good boxes for producing max power, the problem is that some are not particularly good at towing. High EGTs are the problem and towing heavy means you will be under load for extended periods.



I made one 4,000 mile trip stock, pulling my 15,000# triple axle. On the next trip, I had installed the Edge EZ and it made a world of difference on the hills. I found that Level 3 produced the torque I needed and higher levels only caused the EGTs to go up dramatically and were unusable for towing.



Whatever you decide on, please monitor your EGTs. I found that on the steepest grades I would need to downshift to 5th. and watch my EGTs carefully. You will be surprised at how infrequently downshifting will be required, especially if you can stay in the 2,000 - 2,200 RPM sweet spot. Like you, I have 3. 73 gears and that means my sweet spot is 70+ MPH. With your 17,000 pounds, even with trying a lot of tow angles and weight distributions, keeping the the sweet spot may not be comfortable or safe cruising speeds. On long stretches out west, with limited traffic it may be Ok, otherwise better safe than sorry.



If you are going to do more towing than empty, 4. 10 would be better for your weight.

 

[Slow Six]

I have used the Edge EZ and got favorable results. Egts are manageable. I now have a Quadzilla Xzillaraider which gives better results, however Egts need to be really watched and I have to be real cautious about the clutch in 6th. gear on setting 3 and heavily loaded. The Quad box is a lot more responsive and brings the sleepy Cummins alive. There are a lot of choices out there, all of them with pros and cons. I have had excellent customer service from both of the boxes I've used.

 

[MGarland]

My wife's 04. 5 has a TST box and it is really nice because if the egt's start getting up a little high you can turn it down on the run. I pulled Gelico mountain in Tenn. in 5th gear at 70 mph. with a 12000 lbs. gooseneck on 2 and 2 and the pyro. never got above 1175.

MGarland

 

[lcaad1249]

I've been told (no personal experience) that if you're just wanting towing, that Van Aakens is a really good box. As with previously stated with the TST, the Edge Juice with Attitude can monitor the temp's and automatically back down when necesary for EGT's. The Edge also has a few other desirable backdown's such as transmission slip.

 

[Camp]

I was a beta tester for the Edge EZ and it worked great for towing. I have since upgraded to the HOT Juice with Attitude monitor and would not think about looking back. I tow a 40' race trailer (approx. 16K lbs) all over the west, since I live in Denver and frequently have to race to the west of me, and I have no problems. The EGT's are not a problem on my truck, as long as I am sensible. The only mods I have related to the engine are the Juice and an AFE drop in filter. I also have an exhuast brake but, that is a moot point. I tow my trailer on Low Boost Fueling Level 4 and alternate between level 3 and level 4 for the other setting. The truck does not get hot unless I am down in 5th gear and standing on it climbing one of the passes, basically turning high rpm. Anything above 2500 rpm is hot but, I have tons of power in top gear and rarely have to downshift.



For what it is worth, I dial the defueling up quite a bit on the Attitude but, watch both its gauges and the Westach Analog gauges I have in the truck. The hottest I have ever seen the EGT's when pulling was 1400 and that was only for a second when I was pulling against a buddy up a pass. I backed out of it once I saw it that hot. I was in 5th gear near redline at the time.

 

[DPKetchum]

4. 10 gears!!!

 

[macdaddy]

4. 10 gears!!!

I agree DP only he needs



4:10's in a FL60 at least. Or go back to a F-550 with 4:86's. My brother has one of those 40' condo's, he uses a F-550. Check out my readers rig's.



JC Read your owner's manual your way over loaded dude. Your truck is rated for only 15,400 trailer weight with a GCWR of 21K with 3. 73's.



Do a search for TDR member "driver no8" think twice before using Banks products and hauling overloaded.



RV sales people gota luv em :-{} "sure your truck will pull this baby"



Mac

 

[HOBrian]

G56 or NV5600?? No need for the 4:10 if you have the G56.

 

[DPKetchum]

You're right! Needs MORE TRUCK!

 

[mlewis73]

2005 3500DRW new 6speed 3. 73 rear 4x4 stock except for AFE stock relacement filter and AFE torque tube. I pull a40 foot toy hauler weighs about 17000 lbs. need more torque on the hills falls on its face pretty bad. I had a dr perfomance on my 2001 Ford power stroke was pleased with it,my dealer said they had lots of problems with dr performance on 2004. 5 and latter Dodges,they now sell Edge juice attitude and Bully Dog power pup which would be better for towing, also thinking about Banks big hoss bundle. Which one ? Tell me the good and the bad. :-{}

You're telling me a 7. 3 liter Ford Powerstroke outperforms your new Cummins?



Seems a little hard to believe, IMHO... Wow...

 

[jimnance]

I have the same truck except with an auto transmission. I pull a 37' Toy hauler. Depending on how much I load, I'm pulling as much as 15,000 lbs.



I installed the Edge Attitude and I've been extremely happy. Level 2 gives me all the grunt I need to pull the biggest hills as fast as the speed limit allows. The highest EGT's I've seen so far on level 2 was 1150F on a hard climb. It was a cool day at low altitude. On a hot day at high elevation you might get the EGT's up there, but with the automatic defuel feature it takes some of the worry away.



FWIW, one day a young gun pulled alongside me in his Honda Civic with loud exhaust system. I was empty, so I set low fueling and high power to max and left him in so much smoke I doubt he could see! Heh Heh!

 

[JChoate]

I was talking about the Dr. Performance chip not the 7. 3 powerstoke!