I'm new to the diesel scene but have been reading about them for the last couple of years. I have a small camper, 6000lb, and it was working my Tundra to death not to mention 7-9mpg. I bought an 03, 5.9l and so far I love it, I couldn't be happerier. I'm looking to get a programmer but don't know what to do, there's so much hype and so many different ones, but I think I know what I want. The extra power added by programmers is nice but I may pull a load 5% of the time. The most important thing to me is the almighty MPG, which I'm already pleased with, but looking to improve. I'm finding out about monitoring EGTs, boost, and other parameters. I'm not looking to stack chips or find extreme power sooo. Why would I not want to go with a Banks six gun with PDA. I really like the fact that it's controlled with a PDA and can monitor with what seems to be an easy to read format. Any help would be appreciated.

 

dont get banks, get anything BUT Banks

get a Smarty or TST, please

 

banks is way overrated and overpriced for what you get. the edge juice with attitude can moniter all kinds of stuff and kicks the crap out of banks, well everybodys stuff does that.

 

The Banks is the safest box to use because it does the least amount of useable power increase. For a lot of people this is a good thing. If you have little self control, little interest in monitoring what is really going on with your engine, and lots of money....banks is probably for you. The PDA thing sounds good but it is just an awkward way to do something simple that a dedicated monitor is better at.

I'm a huge TST fan because they have a product that is the most adjustable, offers non intrusive engine protection (boost and EGT control), proactive engine protection (cool down timer), tunability (rail pressure monitoring and adjustment ability, timing adjustability and 81 power and torque settings. It has a very readable dedicated monitor that tells you everything you need to know. Add a fuel pressure gauge, a real oil pressure gauge, and a tranny temperature gauge and you have the world by the tail. ks

 

anything but banks ...sooo over rated !!! smarty , quad , edge ,tst.. so many good boxes to choose from... please don't go with bank... just full of empty promises .......JMHO..


Gary ,,,

 

I have been running the banks six gun pda for over a year and I would say it makes decent power for my SO I just have the edge ez to compare it to. The difference in power was not worth the difference in price. The monitor is pretty sweet and the code reader/clearer is handy. I pull about 10% of the time moving and selling cattle. I do agree it is over priced but it has been trouble free. What I am saying here is I am ok with it but would probably go with the edge juice if I had to do it over.

 

Do you have a stick or auto - it makes a difference. You can only go about 80hp with an auto. I already had gauges (pyro&boost) so I went with a bare bones programmer - no safeties or monitoring. I probably would have anyway cuz I'd rather not have everything all-in-one in case I want to change one part of it. So, gauges for sure! I think I'd just use a timing & duration "towing" box for a stock auto - Diablo Puck, Quad XZT etc. I'd definately buy another Diablo Predator for a stick! Several programs and all the power a stock clutch can hold and the price and power quality is unbeatable! Do plenty of homework! Craig

 

save you money and dont buy banks as previously mentioned over and over. what to get depends on your goals for the truck...look into smarty if you think youll want to add more power later on...hard to grow out of it. quad makes some good products, like the xzt which is pretty mild and a good towing box

brett

 

get a smarty, diablosport or tst. I wouldnt put banks power stuff on a moped. the bully dog triple dog wont work very good on your 03. you can get way more power for your money with something else. banks is well known but not the best out there.

 

banks is hated here and there is bad stuff to say about all of them! i have had banks for over a year and loved it. if you look at the most of the sig of the people who are saying not to use banks they all have twins, stacked chips, bigger turbos, modded cp3's (injector pump), built auto tranny, dd clutches or other mods. if you not looking to spend thousends on all that i think is a good product! im not a sled puller or anything but it has plenty of power for me. its all in what you want!

 

If you are going to get guages and really educate yourself on how to use them, don't get a Banks. Look, I have one on my '04 and it has worked well. No problems with it. If you were not interested already in the guage thing I would suggest the banks WITHOUT the PDA. The PDA is just unneeded expense Banks markets to folks who think it looks cool. The module itself is good in that it will protect your truck from "too much foot". No other product can back off when it needs too the way it needs to like banks can. Having said all that, there are products (like quadzilla) that will give you better MPG. Most of the better products will give you more or better power. Others like Smarty offer code indentify and clear options as well as terrific power and MPG gains. Do some research and figure out what is best for you and try not to be swayed by slick ads. I would ONLY get Banks if you don't mind spending the extra and excess money and want the safest product.

 

X2 I was thinking xzt and commander combo...

BUT I WON"T LET HIM HAVE MY SMARTY!

 

well my juice with attitude has safety features built into it too and if programmed properly is a very safe box .. i think the tst does too .. not sure if quads commander does or not .. how can banks be any safer ?? all boxes have a potential to be dangerous to your truck if not used properly ...

 

I agree. Banks is only "safe" because you don't get much power for the TONS of dollars you spend. If they charged about 1/4 to 1/3 of what they do for their bs programming it would be worth it. But they like to bend over the people who don't know anyting about these trucks attracting them with their big full page ads claming "banks outperforms 'em all" when it couldn't get any farther from the truth. If it's what you ultimately want, fine but I would suggest something like the quad, or edge, etc.

 

You know, I've seen alot of problems out of alot of programmers, but the banks i ran was a decent program. It adds about the same power as smarty sw#5 but without smoke, a quality many people enjoy.(not me) I've towed with it and abused it and never threw a single code. Yeah, anybody that sells something expensive is hated because its never good enough for their taste. Many people are NEVER satisfied. The banks 6-gun IS a good program to run for many miles, especially with towing. If you want safe power and you can find it for a good price, its worth it. Point blank.