,

Yeah 3.55s are a true biatch, but i didnt know any better when i bought the truck wish i could go back in time. That is my next mod if i can find a shop that will do it, i went to dodge and they are good for **** all they told me it would void my warranty even if they did it. So screw them ill get them done somewhere else and dodge wont even know the difference unless they open her up.

 

I am taking a trip next week, towing my 5,000 pound travel trailer 1,000 miles round-trip, with the stock tune. There is no sense in using 91 octane if I am not getting any more power over stock.

I brought my trailer home a couple of days ago from storage. I live in the mountains and I have to go up a 6% grade for 8 miles. I usually have the Tow Tune programmed and 91 octane in the tank. Yesterday, I had 89 octane and stock tune. I crested the top of the last hill in second gear, manually held in second gear the whole way up the hill, and the accelerator pedal to the floor. This is exactly the same scenario as when I am on the flashpaq Tow Tune. I topped out at the same speed as I do on the Tow Tune. The only difference I noticed is that the truck maintained second gear all the way to the end. With the Tow Tune, on the last 500 yards to the crest of the hill, the transmission will many times downshift into first gear, wanting to build up r.p.m.s and speed I suppose.

 

Well, just because the tow tune doesn't make more peak power or torque than stock doesn't mean it isn't offering improvements. They're probably changing the torque curve or something to put the power to the road more effectively when towing. It may also result in better transmission behavior or better MPG. I'm not saying it does, but these are possible benefits. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't make a special performance profile that is 100% identical to stock with no benefits.

As for towing your 5000 lb. trailer, that seems like an odd scenario. I towed a trailer that was over 8000 through major mountain grades last summer and I never had a situation where I had to hold it to the floor or where I didn't have more power to spare. Are you talking about using a 4th gen Ram or one of the other vehicles listed in your signature?

Rob

 

May I suggest that you go back on this thread and re-read my posts.

SUPERCHIPS TOW TUNE has absolutely nothing to do with the tranny.

CHRYSLER/DODGE "TOW/HAUL" mode overrides any SUPERCHIPS custom tranny schedule (but not the TUNE) and is always available no matter what SUPERCHIPS tune is installed.

 

thank you case closed

 

I am talking about my 3rd generation (2005) Ram. I have 345 horsepower and 375 lb.-ft. of torque as opposed to your 380 horsepower and 404 lb.-ft. of torque. The above scenario takes only into account I am driving up a 6% grade on a curvy mountain road where 50 m.p.h. or more will cause a lot of tire squealing, on the curves, with a standard pickup or sport utility vehicle without a load. On the open highway, I can cruise up a 6-7% grade (in 2nd gear) at about 3/4 throttle (60-70 m.p.h.) with still more pedal, and power to spare, to shoot up to 75-80 m.p.h. if I wanted.

 

What he said. ^^^

 

I just returned from my trip, 1,000 miles round-trip, pulling a 5,000 pound travel trailer. I have always used the Superchips flashpaq Tow Tune in the past but on this trip I was stock.

My observation:

I got the same fuel mileage. Around 8.0 to 8.3 m.p.g. (according to the overhead computer).
I saved money. Purchasing the factory 89 octane versus the Superchips recommendation for 91 octane with the Tow Tune.
The best part...I had better control of the transmission gearing. I was able to modulate the accelerator pedal to maintain 3rd gear (2005 without Electronic Range Select) for longer periods before the transmission kicked down to 2nd gear. Even after a downshift to 2nd I was able to get it back up to 3rd again and hold it for a while.

With the Superchips flashpaq I was not able to hold 3rd gear for very long. The slightest application of the accelerator would always force a 2nd gear downshift. I would end up pulling the whole grade, from the bottom, in 2nd gear. Manually shifted into second to prevent back and forth shifting between 2nd and 3rd. Without the flashpaq Tow Tune I was able to get 1/4 to halfway up a grade in 3rd before the transmission would downshift into 2nd.

From now on I will only use my flashpaq (#3815) for the 91 Performance and 87 Octane tunes. I really like how it performs. The MileageXS tune hurts my mileage and the Tow Tune is too aggressive with wanting to downshift the transmission and requires 91 octane.

 

Wow great post thanks for the info, I was kind of afraid that's what would happen with the tow tune.

I think if i get my superchips ill try and create my own shift patterns, maybe try and mimick the stock tow tune but slightly make it shift a lil later so it holds the gear longer like you said.

 

You are welcome. I am always happy to share my experiences, whether they be good or bad, to help somebody out.