I posted this in the tuner section and have had 1 reply.

So I have been trying to fine people that have been towing heavy loads with custom SCT Tunes. I am towing 17,000 lbs in AZ on 7% grades and would like more power. I do want to be safe but when you mention towing to these costume tuners they say not to go over a 50-60 hp tune. Banks tuning works like the EDGE. They change the data that the ECM see's. So they claim in the case of Bank's that they are safe at 170 FT LBs of Torque. I have a friend with an 06 F350 pulling an 6 horse trailer using a 6 gun and exhaust no studs. Mind you in 06 Ford put better studs in the truck stock. He can do 55 loaded up steep grades. I am not sure why I couldn't do a 150 -170 ft lb of torque in a custom tune and be safe, if I am monitoring EGT, EOT, ECT which I do now with the canned 65 hp tune that comes with the SCT.

Is there anyone out there that has been running a stronger tune for a few years safely? If so, whose tune are you running.

I do have studs, exhaust, Bullet Proof EGR Cooler and external oil cooler, Garret Power Max Stage 1, Blue spring and looking at putting in a Banks intercooler.

Thanks


Update: I have installed a Banks Techni Cooler and I am changing my gearing to 4:30's

Thanks

 

Pulling grade towing heavy I'm watching EGT and boost. They are my limiting factors running an 8k tow tune by Gearheads. Usually I'm at about 23k GCVW. Regardless of the tune if I'm hitting 1300° I'm backing off to maintain until the crest. Running a hotter tune is only going to get you to that temp quicker, not necessarily over the hill faster.
The gears will help but maybe you're asking to much of the truck.

 

For towing, gearing beats out extra HP. I've learned from my race tuning days to leave a tow truck stock for long term reliability. 130K miles on a bone stock 6.0 and only $4 in repairs thus far (fuel o-ring). Tows near the GCVWR without issues. Jme

 

High HP, you are one lucky tow-er !!! My bone stock 05 6.0 blew its oil cooler after only38,000 miles of towing my 30' fifth wheel. I was lucky as it was still under warranty! My Ford dealer asked if I wanted to stud it while they had it apart. Danged right I said yes. Now over 60,000 miles and it hasn't whimpered once. Yes, after it got studs I bought an SCTX3 and use Innovative tunes in it.

 

Have you done anything to the truck?

 

I am putting 4:30 gears in next week. I have the factory 20's so 4:30's should be like 4:11's. I thing this will help.

Also looked at Banks water injection for extra EGT cooling. I may do this also. It's only another 4-500 dollars. At this point a drop in the bucket!

 

Just the normal updates along with the SCT tuner & Gearhead tunes, 4" exhaust no cat. Stock heads and bolts. 170k miles on it. Like I said I drive by the gauges which to me is key to not popping gaskets.

My truck does have 4.10 gears where I assume yours has 3.73. Swapping gears you'll definitely see a difference.

 

I will say the Techni Cooler helped a lot. I have run the SCT 65 hp tow tune around town most of the time so I am very used to the power increase over stock. I liked it better than their hottest canned tune that comes preloaded. Since the install of the larger intercooler larger turbo the 65 hp tow tune really pulls hard. You can hear the tire breaking loose on acceleration and on shifting. It is a very noticeable increase. I did the entire kit w/tubes and high rise elbow. I am looking forward to my first trip pulling the trailer. I hope the intercooler helps on the egt's. I pulled last year with the same tune, so this year will be a good test with the larger turbo and larger intercooler.

 

Can you tell me the Factory tire size on your truck? It should be on the driver side door tag.

Thanks

 

LT 245 / 75r17 is factory & current for mine.

 

Just for your info the '06 has the same headbolts as an '03. Ford never changed the headbolts on any 6.0, just the dowel pins from 18MM to 20MM, so studs are the only way to increase the strength of the head hold down hardware.

 

20 inch wheels have nothing to do with gearing. If you install 4.30s, they will be just like 4.30s. Now if you start changing tire size, that will affect your gearing.

 

Low gearing is the best solution. You won't find any tuning that can assist with towing without melting pistons.

 

One other thing that always brought my temps down when towing up grades was to manually drop the gears to 3rd. Temps. would drop in short order. That gear shift lever is there for a purpose.

 

FWIW, since you are an SRW, I'll tell you mine: 275/70/18 2005+ were 17" or larger due to increase brake size...