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Recently had a 6 inch Pro comp lift and new 35 12 20 tires put on my 08 f150 4x4.. Looks good and drives decent in the city. My problem is when im on the highway going up steeper hills i can def tell my engine is working harder and it sometimes takes a few to shift ...i also tow a boat on the weekends and it makes my RPMs Scream... i need major advice because im worried in time its going to put a serious strain on my transmission and engine. ive read and heard a lot about swapping to 4.56 gears ...but also hear a lot about purchasing a superchips programmer... My question is... since most of my worry is on the highway up hills either pulling or not pulling....whats my best option ?? i want better gas..easier towing with less strain... and a little more hop.. ANy suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

I would do the gears first if you can, and then do the programmer.

When I lifted my truck I already had the programmer, I saved my money and did the gears when I finally had enough.

 

I'd say the programmers are a waste of $$$. Maybe they're ok for speedo correction, but the dealer could re-flash for you for less money. Go with the 4.56 r&p. With tires that size, its the only correct way to go. Any off-road enthusiast will tell you that. If you ask that same person what he/she thinks of some power "programmer" vs. getting the right gearing, they'll fall down laughing.

 

really? have you ever even had a tuner? my truck does not move w/ out my tuner.

OP, IMO superchips are not impressive ill show you why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTubg...eature=channel

thats a 5.4 w/ superchips and 35's, i have the 4.6 w/ VMP tuning and 35's and yes he is racing. me and him race usually atleast once when were out doing something.

i have not done gears, so i cant say much but it just depends if you wanting to spend $1500 + or $400. i love my tuner, but i know gears would help alot so at the worst you spend $400 on a gryphon, or xcal 2 or 3 decide you dont like it and spend $1500 on gears.

i personally like VMP more than PHP gryphon, dad has the gryphon and im just not impressed to much w/ it, but i will say it pulls hard i pull 2 lengths by 50 mph on the exact same truck w/ a intake but no tuner all my dads has is the gryphon.

 

Gears then custom tune or get them both together.

 

I say get the programmer first. The gryphon really woke my truck up. and the throttle response and tranny shifting is far superior to that of a stock truck. Getting a reflash for just tires is pretty silly I think. For a few hundred bucks you could have a programmer to do all of that, and recalibrate for when you get gears if they are deemed necessary, and watch 4 different truck parameters at a time with a choice of about 20 or so. I love being able to see what gear my truck is in, and if the TC is locked, tranny temp, etc. Those two are essential for towing IMO.

 

Go gears first for sure. Your tranny will thank you

 

I had some people tell me that a superchips flashpaq would solve my probs... But im hearing maybe gears are my best option. big diff in funds ha...! Hell i just want it to ride like it was stock.or better and not strain like it is.

 

I tow a boat also, and i live in Southern Oregon where every lake is a hill climb away. But anyways I went with a programer. I wouldnt say that Im disappointed with it, but its not the improvement i had hoped. I dont like that i now have to run premium. Also i feel like the tow setting on the tuner actually hinders my shifting. I would like to switch out the gears next. It sounds like it make a big difference.

 

i wouldn't get superchips, if your gonna drop that money on a tuner, go custom tuning, its 10x's better. i had an edge and hated it, so i got a vmp tuned xcal2 which made my truck drive really good, my low end is still hurting but its not bad eventually ill be looking into gears but a tuner will make your truck about back to stock if you have 35's but will make it shift better and drive 10x's better. w/ my 4.6 and 35's i can keep a truck length on a 99 4.6 ext cab so my truck is around stock

its all up to you what you want and what kind of money you have to spend, either would be a good choice tho

 

very much appreciated... thanks for the info. if you had a choice and the funds.... what would you go with? if i got gears eventually...im still going to need to tune my speedo, and shift points right? Am i correct in going with 4.56... or are 4.11 ok?

 

if i had money i would get gears now that i have a tuner, but i dont tow to often so gears are a neccessity at the moment, eventually ill need gears once i finish my trail rig.

for gears, if you gonna spend the money go to atleast 4.56's, 4.11's i have heard you will not feel a difference and its not worth the $1500 for them. if you tow often 4.88's might be a better option to give you a little more oomph from the get go. but usually 4.56's people use w/ 35's. also if you go 4.88's later down the road if you decide you want 37's, you just bump your lift to 8" and slap 37's on and not worry about gears.

 

Get the gears otherwise you will be getting a tranny soon!

 

4.56's and nothing less when running 35's. Yeah a programmer will do some good but the difference between new gears and a programmer is like night and day. When your ready for a tune go custom that will give you the best results

 

Sounds like gears it is... that is when i can save a few bucks... thanks everyone