Blak92

OK, Ive had my truck now for just about a year. Its a 2006, quad cab, auto 4x4 that I put a dual MBRP exhaust and AFE intake on. Love it, but I need to get a lot better MPG out of it. I get anywhere between 15-17 depending on how much in town and hwy it sees UNLOADED. That is the main goal, but I will also be getting a toy hauler in the next year, probably a 30 footer, and will be loading it down pretty good. I dont care about making crazy HP numbers with this truck, thats what my SCed 92 dakota is for. I want to be able to tow the camper at 65-70 up and through the hills of WV, PA, and wherever the GF and I go with our 4wheelers and have no problem doing it while taking at easy on the wallet... divources are exspensive (she left me, she turned into a drunk). And of course keep the dealer in the dark if I have to take it in for anything warrenty!!!!!

Im not against upgrading the turbo later on, and of course the tranny, but need a good place to start, and not have to double back and buy a different programmer or box later. I am totally confused on all this stacking stuff, and how one effects the other, what boxes do pressure, what ones do timing etc etc.... One thing that I have noticed is that I would like the TC to lock up A LOT earlier and stay locked longer down to say 35-40 or so... and lock initially at 45 maybe, unloaded of course. Then there is this BOOST FOOLER bit I dont get either. Also, how does timing, amount of fuel and amount of boost all work together to affect EGTs? Ive read this site for so long now b4 opening my mouth, tried to search things first, but btween so much seemingly going on with these trucks, and MY STUPID DIAL UP connection, Im getting frustrated. Oh, and what is the TQ mannagement on these trucks????

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS!!! Im dying to buy something for this truck, just gottta get it right the first time!!! I love this site, the flaming seems to stay at a minimum here, so much better than the cobra forums I was on b4 the wife totalled it (dont drink and drive when operating a 600HP car, or at all).

95ram

Get guages, a Smarty and do a search on TQ converter lock up switch.

Blak92

I dont think Im going to gauges for a little while yet, the only thing I'll be pulling for the next year is about 2000#s of atvs and trailor... and wont be going to the track at all with the truck... or any drag racing on the street.... now the dakota is a different story, AF meter, boost gauge, fuel pressure and trans temp... If the 48RE has hyd controlled 1-3 shifts, and electric OD and TC lock, how come we cant just alter the programming for that yet?

jgiachino

I second the guages (or commander), a smarty and add transmission work with a controller to allow 2nd gear lockup and the setting of lockup speed (i believe both the dtt and ats offer this functionality)....an alternative to the smarty would be the Bully Dog or the Juice / Hot Juice.....there is no right answer, only you can decide....dont think you can go wrong with any of the three...

FYI, guages are required with any power adder, towing or not....a stock truck get's to 1400+ on hills, unloaded, if you're wfo....add a touch more fuel, and you're at risk.

runamuk

First of all check your air filter! They are easy to plug and get no mileage. Preferably replace with aftermarket.

Secondly check and replace your fuel filter, I'll bet it is black. These commonrails are really finiky about fuel pressure and clean fuel!

Thirdly check your tire pressure. It is the time of year that tires are low naturally.

Fourth get guages before you get any type of programmer/chip. the claims of better mileage from them are highly inflated and usually Bogus!

Hope this helps you.

Rick

annabelle

Gauages , Tranny, Smarty.

wreedCTD

how do you like the sound of the MBRP?

Blak92

I really like the MBRP, might be a little loud or droney for some at 70 with or w/o load, but Im still young and like the noise. Very nice fit though, and look.

As far as loaders go, how is the predator? I was kinda leaning towards one of them, seems most have nothing bad to say about them, again, I want the best possible box or loader for towing, and dont care much about making big numbers.

MOJO1

Blak92 If you dont care about gauges get the OUT-LOOK mount it on the apiller SRT10 post looks great. You should just get the BDTD-OUTLOOK best bang for the buck.You can turn the power up&down right there on the outlook.

04ctd

have a DIY cranksensor and a boost fooler on mine

drilled holes in air box, picked few MPG - really depends on driving habits & traffic (i think traffic is more deciding factor)

varies 15~18 in town. 18 hiway if easy.

to answer one question:
you have downloaders - which download new software to the ECM (usually detected by a dealer)

and you have interceptors - they plug in between the engine sensors and the ECM, and report "false data" to the ECM to run the engine close to the limits.

a boost fooler is an example of this:
it has an algorhitm (sp) that says:
at 0 boost - report 0
at 5 lbs - report 3
at 20 lbs - report 7
at 30 lbs - report 25.

all it does is make the engine do different things, that the ECM does not know about.

so you stack the two:
download the ECM with different "limits"
and intercept the signals with a Quad/Edge/whatever, and the ECM the signals are lower than they really are.

and you get amazing results.

hth?

deerefarm06

Ive got the predator and I tow heavy alot...I absolutely love this box, it has great power throughout the whole RPM range and is very streetable. I tow heavy on the tow setting, if im light, I leave it on perf. if I want to play, i go to extreme, if I wanna melt the tires to the rims, i go to extreme rkl.

I used to get anywhere from 7-9 mpg towing, im gettting between 11-14 now depending on how im loaded and the terrain. IMHO, this box is the best bang for your buck!

Oh yeah, and I highly recommend checking your air filter and fuel filter.