What do YOU use to tow your track car?
08-19-2017, 09:02 PM
#922
Mine is an LB7, the model with the iffy injectors. I've seen them in running condition for $9-10K at 150-200K miles, especially for standard/extended cabs rather than the crew cab. Savington's LLY is worth a bit more because it doesn't have the injector service time bomb floating around, and the LBZs (2006-first half 2007) are worth high teens.
As for tunes, after I had my injectors replaced at the dealer, the truck seemed to be making less power than I remembered it doing before even though it's running better. I think perhaps one of the previous owners put a tune on it, and the dealer may have reflashed the ECU when they were working on it, so I looked around at the tunes that are out there for them. The reputable companies were all recommending a very, very conservative tune for heavy towing use in order to preserve the transmission, limited to about a 20-30 hp gain on a 300 hp motor. The tunes are switchable on the fly and offer a lot more in non-towing modes, but I basically only ever use my truck for towing so a 10% gain didn't really seem worth the effort.
I use cruise all the time when towing with my Chevy, no problems at all.
--Ian
As for tunes, after I had my injectors replaced at the dealer, the truck seemed to be making less power than I remembered it doing before even though it's running better. I think perhaps one of the previous owners put a tune on it, and the dealer may have reflashed the ECU when they were working on it, so I looked around at the tunes that are out there for them. The reputable companies were all recommending a very, very conservative tune for heavy towing use in order to preserve the transmission, limited to about a 20-30 hp gain on a 300 hp motor. The tunes are switchable on the fly and offer a lot more in non-towing modes, but I basically only ever use my truck for towing so a 10% gain didn't really seem worth the effort.
I use cruise all the time when towing with my Chevy, no problems at all.
--Ian
I tried a +20HP "Super Heavy Tow" tune on my 7.3l Powerstroke F350 and the difference was massive. My truck is modded so, maybe a little different but still. Intake/4" Turbo Back Exhaust/Intercooler/Big Turbo. I put it back to stock tune though because I was trying to use an old SCT Xcal3 OBD type programmer I had laying around with a 40 dollar email "custom" tune, and when it was loaded my Edge CTS monitor could not read any PID's or info from the OBD2 port. I'm going to be getting a chip instead (PHP Hydra) that plugs into the ECU and allows on the fly switching of tunes, and I can also use it to shut the exhaust back pressure valve on the outlet of the turbine housing so I don't need to buy an exhaust brake either.
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08-20-2017, 03:00 PM
#923
Nice setup! I like the tarp laid down too. This is a total sidetrack, but why lift the hood at the rear and have the vents that far back in those high pressure zones? I have nearly identical hood vents but blocked the louvers torwards the windscreen due to flow reversion. Where the hood is at the windshield is even higher pressure. They would allow turbo heat out of the hood better at a standstill but would be do poorly at speed unless you are doing something specific with the flow reversion.
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09-21-2017, 08:17 PM
#924
Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Alexandria, VA
Posts: 57
Total Cats: 12
Adequate truck tows adequately. 2009 Nissan Frontier LE 4x2 crew cab, with the V6 and long 6ft bed. Only mod is a Tekonsha P3 brake controller. Trailer is a 15ft Econotrailer, open deck, about 1450lbs. Added a Kobalt truck box, gas cans, and spare tire mount to the tongue. Tows pretty well on the small hills around here, around 12-14 mpg fully loaded.
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11-25-2017, 07:14 PM
#925
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
New tow rig for me. I loved my 260k mile '05 LLY Duramax but it was getting a little tired. Standard diesel pickup issues, the truck starting to wilter around the perfectly running powertrain. Found this 87k mile 2011 LML around Halloween and it finally arrived this week. One-owner, dealer serviced, optioned pretty much exactly like I would want to option a brand new one. Crew cab, long bed, SRW, power cloth seats with full console (very uncommon), remote start, auto climate, and rear parking sensors, but no leather.
In CA this is a $37k truck and I would have waited forever to find it, so I searched nationwide which allowed me to be both option-picky and price-conscious. Paid $33.7k delivered for this from PA. Going to add 3M tint, camper shell, 60gal Titan under-cab fuel tank, and the OEM rear backup camera (only thing it was missing). It will need tires shortly, I may swap to the factory 8-spoke 18s (on 17s now) before I do that.
In CA this is a $37k truck and I would have waited forever to find it, so I searched nationwide which allowed me to be both option-picky and price-conscious. Paid $33.7k delivered for this from PA. Going to add 3M tint, camper shell, 60gal Titan under-cab fuel tank, and the OEM rear backup camera (only thing it was missing). It will need tires shortly, I may swap to the factory 8-spoke 18s (on 17s now) before I do that.
Last edited by Savington; 11-25-2017 at 07:25 PM.
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11-26-2017, 09:46 PM
#930
Former Vendor
iTrader: (31)
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 15,442
Total Cats: 2,099
The 60gal Titan tank replaces the factory 36gal. Even the 36 is a big upgrade over the stupid 26gal tank in my LLY, but the 60gal would let me run a solid 700+ miles on a single fill.
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11-27-2017, 12:21 AM
#935
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Albuquerque, NM
Posts: 74
Total Cats: 4
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11-27-2017, 09:44 AM
#937
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 579
Total Cats: 111
I'd think something like that would be available through Chevy's National Service History? Save yourself some time and just call a local dealer, provide them the VIN and see if they'll print it out for you?
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I forgot that Toyota did that. We're Toyota also but I try to stick to the murican junk.
