Towing with Superchips?

MrStevie · 08-05-2009, 11:58 AM

just wondering if it'd be ok to tow a 5500lbs boat & trailer with the superchips 87 or 91 octane tune? it says that it's not recommended for towing, but i don't know if that really means anything and i like the extra power from those tunes. don't see how better performance would do anything but help, besides for killing the gas mileage, or should i just use the actual tow tune?

jasonwabc · 08-05-2009, 04:30 PM

I have the mileage tune truck from my flashpaq. I think it holds overdrive on hills better than stock and feels like the transmission is shifting better than it did without a tune. I know it says the mileage tune is not for towing...but for a 3000-4000 lb trailer...I would just avoid overdrive and see how it works.

**loufish** · 08-05-2009, 05:34 PM

I have a 91 oct tow tune...Have you updated your unit?

BTW..I've only gotten one tow on that tune, it was a car on a trailer, total weight only about 4500 lbs...Towed the south 101 down the coast from Pismo area. Pulled the Camarillo hill in 3rd gear at about 60 mph with out hardly any throttle...flew right up....

Oh yeah, that was before my 3.73 gear install....

MrStevie · 08-05-2009, 07:24 PM

thanks guys, i'll just give it a shot and see how it does. I haven't updated the unit since i bought it, but that was probably only a few monthes ago. I'll have to try and update it when i get back from vacation. loufish, how much worse was your gas mileage towing with the 91 tune? i get about 220 til the light comes on without towing anything on that tune.

**loufish** · 08-05-2009, 07:47 PM

Quote:

loufish, how much worse was your gas mileage towing with the 91 tune?

My milage is not good...with my present 91 tow tune I'm about 240 miles before the light pops on...

The only tow I had was kind of funny...I got about 11 mpg on the way up the coast with an empty trailer, about 65 mph and loaded up on the way down we dropped down to about 60-63 mph(I was in a small group of vehs towing trailered vehicles) and I got just under 13 mpg...go figure...

kornegk · 08-06-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loufish

My milage is not good...with my present 91 tow tune I'm about 240 miles before the light pops on...

The only tow I had was kind of funny...I got about 11 mpg on the way up the coast with an empty trailer, about 65 mph and loaded up on the way down we dropped down to about 60-63 mph(I was in a small group of vehs towing trailered vehicles) and I got just under 13 mpg...go figure...

I believe that Shaily on MT uses the 91 Octane Tow Tune most of the time and documented it made good power. I assume the "Tow Tune" uses higher octane, a bit less aggressive timing and a bit safer A/F ratio to minimize detonation. That is probably the one reason I have not purchased a hand held for my 08 SE 2wd KC. I would like to keep running on 87 octane. A tank of gas lasts me 2 - 3 weeks and I do not always know in advance when I will tow something heavy (usually 6500# enclosed race trailer or 5000# boat). So even if I decided to tow, the tank might be 3/4 full of 87 and I really don't want to have to download the new tune, and in this case I couldn't add sufficient high octane even if I used 93. The easiest option would be to always run the Tow Tune and 91 Octane but I had a Superchip in my last F150 and got tired of using 93 octane all the time (I did tow the same weights with it).
So if the tune was safe with 87 Octane, towing on flat land up to 6500# I might go for it, otherwise (i drive like an old granny because I don't trust the reliability of the truck if i get on it hard, and I like to maintain good mpg.
What about Bullydog, do they say anything in their literature regarding what tunes and Octane requirements they recommend for towing?

**loufish** · 08-06-2009, 06:03 PM

[q]So if the tune was safe with 87 Octane, towing on flat land up to 6500# I might go for it, [/q]

I've never ran any tune except for the tow & non-tow 91 oct....I usually fuel up at Cosco down the street, so paying about the same street price for 91....

I did put my truck back to stock for some exhaust manifold warranty work, and you CAN tell the difference!

Nissanloyalist · 08-10-2009, 08:59 PM

I have had great success with the 91 tow tune. Get the same crappy mileage w/ my 8000# 5er (8.9) but go up hills faster at lower RPMs than before

. There is a 7% grade outside tillamook and I used to pull it at 52 mph and now I can easily hit 62. Great low end torque with a lot more control. The tow tune also doesn't allow WOT restriction removal. I have been very happy with my cortex. I usually just run the tow tune all the time. I am a little freaked out about "flashing" my ECU to many times. It's a personal choice.

**loufish** · 08-10-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

I am a little freaked out about "flashing" my ECU to many times. It's a personal choice.

Me too.....I just leave it with the 91 oct tow tune, is still hauls a$$ and i can tow at any given moment...

Still waiting to get a chance to tow with my new gears

DLMAXX · 10-02-2009, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loufish

My milage is not good...with my present 91 tow tune I'm about 240 miles before the light pops on...

The only tow I had was kind of funny...I got about 11 mpg on the way up the coast with an empty trailer, about 65 mph and loaded up on the way down we dropped down to about 60-63 mph(I was in a small group of vehs towing trailered vehicles) and I got just under 13 mpg...go figure...

Your kicking some tail I am getting 6-8 mpg. Pulling a 27' with my Lotus in it total 5500 lbs. 70-80 mph.

LOUFish, I am thinking about getting some mods, any advice?
Here is what I was thinking...
1. Superchip (Cortex, flashpaq or XS Mileage) not sure what's the diffrence I will need to read up abit.
2. CAI but which one? I am Thinking "VOLANT"
3. Exhaust which one ? NO CLUE...
4. Airaid Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer.

My goal is better gas mileage around town and when towing to track.

Your thoughts "anyone".. thanks in advance.

**loufish** · 10-04-2009, 11:53 AM

Quote:

The tow tune also doesn't allow WOT restriction removal.

Uh....that's not the case with mine, I have the WOT restriction removed AND run the 91 oct Tow Tune...

Quote:

Your kicking some tail I am getting 6-8 mpg. Pulling a 27' with my Lotus in it total 5500 lbs. 70-80 mph.

For my truck I've found the speed makes a huge difference...instead of towing 70-80, try for just once towing at say 63-65....I'll bet you pick up 2 mpg...

LOUFish, I am thinking about getting some mods, any advice?
Here is what I was thinking...
1. Superchip (Cortex, flashpaq or XS Mileage) not sure what's the diffrence I will need to read up abit.
2. CAI but which one? I am Thinking "VOLANT"
3. Exhaust which one ? NO CLUE...
4. Airaid Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer.

1) I think the difference between the Cortex and FlashPaq is the Cortex won't ding your trucks warranty...

2-4)...I don't have any of that, I'm bone stock except for the Cortex...BUT I will share this...For the price of my Cortex, I got more power then an exhaust or/and intake, and I mean great throttle response.

My Cortex ran about $320, and a high end intake system will run about $250-295... so for not much more I picked up more power, great low end torque and the ability to read OBD II trouble codes. I can also read a limited number of basic engine data parameters....

My next item will be an exhaust system but most of that's for sound. not power...and my system is 5 yrs old and getting rusty...

Yahooligan · 10-04-2009, 01:34 PM

Hmmm, this may be turning my choice from a GT to a Cortex. I dug the GT for the display, but the Cortex with tow tunes sounds more useful since the main reason for getting the programmer is to help with towing.

I'm interested in knowing the difference between the 91 perf and tow tunes, but I don't know if that info is out there.

**loufish** · 10-04-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

I'm interested in knowing the difference between the 91 perf and tow tunes, but I don't know if that info is out there.

Although I've run both(I kept the 91 oct Tow Tune so whever I need to tow, I'm good to go...) I can't tell you much more then they feel pretty much the same...My truck haul a$$ with the tow tune...

titanridinghigh · 10-04-2009, 06:54 PM

I have the Bully Dog GT an am towing a boat to laughlin this weekend... Is it cool to tow with the 91 power pup tune??
Also is there anyone who knows if the cortex might be better for towing?

**loufish** · 10-04-2009, 07:45 PM

If i had the BD. I'd make a call to their customer service line and ask that question...