joedekock
West Michigan
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Does anyone have any experience using a Bullydog or Hypertech performance system with a Suburban? I am curious if you notice the performance increases for towing a TT.
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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What year, engine? I hear good things about Blackbear tuning for late models.
Tuners seem to be good at improving shifting and power at WOT at higher engine speeds. They can provide a significant change in drivability at light loads in the city. You'll often read about them "waking their truck up". I don't hear much about improving towing performance, though.
A & A parents of DD 2005, DS1 2007, DS2 2009
2011 Suburban 2500 6.0L 3.73 pulling 2011 Heartland North Trail 28BRS
2012 VW Passat TDI
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ib516
Up here!
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Joined: 04/18/2003
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I've had really good luck with my Hypertech, but I drive a diesel.
2010 Cougar 322QBS 5er
2007 Dodge 3500 SRW Megacab, 4x4, 5.9L Cummins, 3.73, 48RE auto
HYPERTECH MAX ENERGY or DIABLO PREDATOR tuning
MBRP 4" Turbo back
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Torklift Stable Loads
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transferred
CA
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Joined: 10/12/2010
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Won't make much difference.
08 F450 Lariat CC 4x4, 4.30s
prev: F350 6.0 4x4, Chevy 3500 6.6 4x4, Dodge 3500 5.9 4x4
next truck: back to a srw one ton
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Crazyfoe
USA
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Joined: 04/13/2004
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Save your money they really don't improve much of anything. The torque management can be improved but the rest just doesn't measure up. There many other things I'd consider before that.
04' Chevy Silverado 2500HD 496 cu in - Allison
'06 Keystone Cougar 304BH
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Drawtight Activator
Huskey Weight Distribution System
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skipnchar
Topeka or somewhere else
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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Gassers don't see much improvement with tuners except at the extreme high end of the tach and nobody likes down at high RPM. Usually the only differences that are really worth mentioning are if you tune and use premium fuel and while that MAY give you a little more kick it's a costly kick. Probably get more bang for the buck by changing gearing.
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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BenK
SF BayArea
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Joined: 04/18/2002
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What year Suburban?
GMT400's had a diesel option along with the 5.7L & 7.4L gasser
GMT800's had no diesel option and a variety of small blocks to the 8.1L big block
GMT900's (current offering) has no diesel option and a variety of small blocks
and NO big block
As noted, tuners work best or has the biggest increase with diesels. Gassers
will have to go to 91 octane and lower temp thermostat as the general rule.
What are you trying to fix?
-Ben Picture of my rig
1996 GMC SLT Suburban 3/4 ton K3500/7.4L/4:1/+150Kmiles orig owner...
1980 Chevy Silverado C10/long bed/"BUILT" 5.7L/3:73/1 ton helper springs/+329Kmiles, bought it from dad...
1998 Mazda B2500 (1/2 ton) pickup, 2nd owner...
Praise Dyno Brake equiped and all have "nose bleed" braking!
Previous trucks/offroaders: 40's Jeep restored in mid 60's / 69 DuneBuggy (approx +1K lb: VW pan/200hpCorvair: eng, cam, dual carb'w velocity stacks'n 18" runners, 4spd transaxle) made myself from ground up / 1970 Toyota FJ40 / 1973 K5 Blazer (2dr Tahoe, 1 ton axles front/rear, +255K miles when sold it)...
Sold the boat (looking for another): Trophy with twin 150's...
51 cylinders in household, what's yours?...
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joedekock
West Michigan
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Thanks for the replies. I was curious if it the extra 14-20 lb. of torque would help at all with hauling a TT.
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ordually
Castle Rock, Colorado
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joedekock wrote:Thanks for the replies. I was curious if it the extra 14-20 lb. of torque would help at all with hauling a TT.
I think my butt-dynometer would have a hard time feeling 20 ft-lb, towing or empty. A lot of tuners map a more aggressive throttle tip-in so it feels quicker when you accelerate (since, at a given pedal position, the engine in fueling more) but in the end don't dramatically improve.
Many Ford V10 owners have reported great experiences with the product and service from 5 Star Tuning. The owner, Mike, has a page up saying "coming soon" for GM gassers. You might give him a call, folks say he's great to deal with. I've not gone the tuner route so can't weigh in personally.
2005 F350 SRW V10 4.10 CC LB 4x4; BW Turnover ball; LineX
2011 Sequoia 5.7L 4.30; Tundra Towing Mirrors; LT 275/65R18 C Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs on 2nd set of wheels
2005 Nash 22H TT
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APT
SE Michigan
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Joined: 06/09/2010
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ordually wrote:
I think my butt-dynometer would have a hard time feeling 20 ft-lb, towing or empty. A lot of tuners map a more aggressive throttle tip-in so it feels quicker when you accelerate (since, at a given pedal position, the engine in fueling more) but in the end don't dramatically improve.
I completely agree. Tuning the accelerator so that OEM 50% is now 25% really changes how a driver feels the power. But towing you spend a lot more time using the 50-100%, and the engine only has so much to give. Save the $500. 15-20 ft-lb is like 5%, not noticeable. And I doubt they can get that much from any naturally aspirated engine on the same octane.
Do you want more towing power? Gear swap is best for that. Again, year and engine would be helpful, and current axle ratio.
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