The Bully Dog Downloader has been out for a while now, and I've read numerous posts on SOTP power increases and even some dyno numbers, but what I haven't seen a lot of is real-world use feedback. Is anyone out there doing much towing with one of these installed? Any comparisons to something like an Edge box as far as towing in concerned? I like what I have heard about the BDDL coming on way down low, making it sound like pulling a hill in 6th with my 315's would be more of a reality than with something like the Edge, which pours it on above 2k RPM. Any input?

 

Good question! Anyone have any input?

 

i will let you know on friday...altho i dont have guages yet i will be pulling my 6k boat around a bit and let you know what its like to have a small load on

 

Wow, two "chips" and propane?! Probably not much that slows you down

Anyone with experience with just the BDDL (and maybe exhaust/intake)? I'm not going to go too far right away, just looking for more pulling power in the low RPM range...

 

Sooooo, the only people that buy these things are stoplight racers?!

 

And what's wrong with that? Probably just a time of year coincidence as I bet most campers are winterized and packed away for the season by now. My truck won't see another hitch until May 2005 ......and even then its not enough weight to really work it.

I have too many mods for my personal results to be of any help to you, but for what it's worth, I have seen posts where folks have said on the "tow" program, it runs cooler than stock. "Performance" program runs slightly hotter than stock. "Extreme" program needs airflow improvements. That is all empty driving of course. Hope that helps.

 

I pulled my 3500 lb popup camper about 1400 miles last week. Had the BDPP set on performance and EGTs were no problem. Just kept an eye on the pyrometer and accelerated reasonably. Engine temps did start to rise sitting in traffic on I-95 in Miami and Jacksonville but came right back down when we started moving.

 

I pulled my 35' toy box about 45 miles with the downloader set on kill. I had a code for the tranny come on after pulling a hill from a dead stop. To give you more information, the tranny had been acting funny since my 30k service and I did not abuse the thing. I pulled slower than when it was stock. The dealer said it was a bad valve body. Since, I pulled a 24' Seaswirl Striper cuddycabin 200+ miles to SanDiego and back. several decent hills and it did not go below 68 mph and never shifted out of 4th. I picked up 3-4 mpg from my average tow down to the fishy's. I won't be taking my toybox out for a while now. That's the true test. A 13k bumper pull trailer and my first hill is Cajon Pass in Souther Kalifornia. In stock form, the truck gets pulled down to 2nd and 48 mph.
Also keep in mind I'm starting with a Kalifornia SO from '03.

 

zzsdad,
Is that MPG imptovement while towing by the overhead or hand calc?

Thanks
Allen

 

I pulled about 9K on the weekend. Set on kill. EGT's were ok although the Outlook did defuel it while passing a semi going from 60 - 100 MPH. Air temps are only 30*F right now here. Works better than the EZ I used to use for towing with 315's if that help you. It did not go out of OD locked up any hill.

 

Direct feedback on towing with the Edge vs. the BDDL is exactly what I'm after, thanks a ton Cold Diesel!!

And I hope no-one misundestands me, I'm not trying to put down "stoplight racers" or anything like that, or trying to say that the only people buying performance parts are that crowd. All I'm after is information from folks who use their trucks the same way I do that have already added the parts I'm looking into.

Thanks for the replies, and keep them coming!

 

You towed 9k lbs 100mph passing a semi? Sounds super safe

Good info though. What was your max egt preturbo? Do you have a SO? Some people seem to report high egts EMPTY on extreme mode, so your results are a bit surprising.

 

I too am looking at a BDDL and an outlook monitor, for towing and improved economy, How simple is the Outlook to hook up? Is it all plug and play or do you have to drill and tap?Thanks This Site is awesome