Towing vs Boxes

[bwfairchild]

Have a 2004. 5 3500 6 spd which will be pulling a 33' 10,000lb travel trailer. Anyone know which box would work well in that situation?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I would suggest the van Aaken pressure box, it fattens up the bottom end and is the easiest on the fuel system. Downside is it doesn't add as much peak power as some of the other pressure boxes.



Unless you have gauges, towing with a box is a no-no.



Vaughn

 

[Kmac]

Vaughn,



I haul autos with my 03 3500 drw & 53ft 5th, I don't need to tell you that I'm pullin heavy. I have been looking and reading about all of the choices out there in "boxes. " It seems to me, like you said above, that pulling heavy with even a mild box will get your foot off the pedal in a hurry fighting EGT limits. Seems anti poductive for my needs. I'm not looking to run any 1/4 miles etc. but would like to have a little help gettin over the hills maintaining momentum (speed). In your opinion what should I be looking for to accomplish this? Yours & all other opinions would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance



Kmac

 

[sangell]

Look in my sig for my setup. I run the EZ on lvl 4 and have know for about 15000 miles. When I got it the VA boxes were not out.

I tow a 34' gooseneck with two Jeeps on it (GCW right at 23k). I have yet to pull over the mountains with this load but even at 16k GCW I had EGT issues in the mountains. Here in the midwest I can run and maintain 70 to 75mph on all but the steepest and longest hills and stay under 1200* EGTs. If you are looking for just a little extra help as stated above I would go with the VA pressure box. I might get one to try it out myself.



Scott

 

[DPelletier]

To tow with a box (and not to have to lift the throttle up every hill due to egt issues), I would suggest a better filtration/intake system (AFE?) and higher flow muffler to keep EGT's in check, or in the case of my non-cat '03, a 4" turbo-back exhaust system. I've yet to change anything, so this is just my take on the issue after spending way too much time on this site! Any comments re: the effects of intake and exhaust on EGT's from those that have done them?



Dave



ps. Oh yeah, I wouldn't even think of towing with a box and no gauges. My DiPricols will be installed in the next couple of weeks and I'll run it totally stock for now to get some baseline data.

 

[Kmac]

Scott,



Thanks for the input! The VA box is one that I haven't read up on, as a matter of fact I haven't seen it on any of the retail sites that I've visited,(guess I need to get out more often... hehe) so I don't know much about it but have seen it referred to here in posts. I am familiar with most others available out there. Anyone have a link for VA boxes with good info? I guess I should be a little more specific with my info for previous post, sorry. Most of the time I'm running any where from 27K to 35K lbs GCVWR. Wondering if I should be looking more towards injectors, intake manifold, F. A. S. S, cold air intake, larger turbo, exhaust etc. My main concern is to stay within the drive trains limits or close & be able to utilize the potential of added enhancements without easily going above EGT limits. Even thinking of mild box ie: Edge ez or the like inconjunction with aux transmission. Maybe splitting the ratios will realize add-on potentials while keeping EGT's in check. So many paths to take. Thoughts anyone? Not asking much am I! TNX



Kmac

 

[Kmac]

BWfairchild,



Please forgive me for going a little over board with my questions on YOUR post. Didn't mean to be so self centered. Viewed your post because I have many questions too that pertain to your question. Saw Vaughn's reply and off the deep end I went. I hope we will both benefit from replies from others. Maybe I should have started a new post? Didn't mean to step on any toes. let me know.....



Kmac

 

[GSatler]

DR. P CHEAPEST BOX WORKS WELL.

adds about 90hp. at rear wheels and about 100lbs t

stays cool towing with freeer air flow in and out

 

[GWoody]

I've got the va duration, works great towing so far, just had it a couple of months, I ussually tow with it on 50% with the cruise set, egts are not a problem unless you turn it up to 100%. The only time I tow with it on 100% is when I see a duracrap or powerjoke that needs passed on a hill & I have to watch the gauge or it will get too hot real quick. It can get too hot on 50% on a real long or steep hill so gauges area must. EEngle, another guy on this site is currently testing a VA pressure box stacked with a VA duration box on a 600. The hope is that a little pressure with the duration will help with the egt issues, I think the best thing that would help the egt would be if VA would ever get the timing portion of their box figured out, they are working on it but we've all heard that numerous times from several of the companies. There's a place in NY called Precision diesel, they have a website but it's pretty poor, you can get there phone number from it, ask for Danny. He helped me when I was looking. I am very satisfied with the power the box makes but the egt issue has me thinking and researching a possible turbo upgrade. I just hate to give up the quick spool that this little turbo delivers.

 

[DocDetonancour]

G Satler. . I only seen the Dr. P box for $500 +? Do you have a better source? Thanks, kkDoc

Originally posted by GSatler

DR. P CHEAPEST BOX WORKS WELL.

adds about 90hp. at rear wheels and about 100lbs t

stays cool towing with freeer air flow in and out

 

[Matt400]

I have a VA pressure box and like it. I tow 6000 lbs in the mountains. Its nice having the 3 way switch to dial in what I want on the fly.



For me 100% works well on the level and small hills then I click it back to 50% on the more steep stuff to keep EGT's down.



I put a SPA Trans Temp/EGT digital gauge in an STR-10 A pillar and just love it. I set the warning lamp to go off at 1275 to get my attention.



My next mod will be exhaust.