I have a question about installing a superchip in my 5.4L engine. What will the superchip do for my towing abilitys (Good or Bad)? It is rated at 8,400 already (I BELIEVE).

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2001 F-150 5.4L trition,
Regular cab with 8' bed
XLT with Black Clearcoat
4x4 3.55 limited slip
factory cab steps
class III tow package

 

I can tell you that the Superchip makes towing, even with my truck, easier. I'm not really sure with the gasser engines. But it stands to reason that if you're getting more hp that you'd be able to tow better. Still that does NOT mean for you to go over the tow ratings of your truck.

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2k F250 CC SWB 6 speed 4x2 Diesel XLT Super Duty, Woodland Green
Power Mirrors, 3.73 LS, Captains Chairs, ARE tonneau top, rear privacy glass
TT Pkg, Class IV hitch, sliding rear window, running boards, mud flaps
265/75/16 AS OWL tires, am/fm/cassette/cd, rechargable MagLite
Clarion APA 5240 amp, Memphis speakers:Components front, 5x7 rear, 10"sub
SuperChip, Stepshields, Ventshields on windows, rubber bed mat
rugged liner bedliner on tailgate, quick disconnect jumper cables
unaFORDable (decal on tailgate) Western Diesel Turbo Brake (whoa boy)
Finally gauges!!: Pyrometer & Boost on the A-Pillar mount

 

No bads; only goods for me. More HP, torque, and pep.

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2000 F-150 XL, RC, LB, 5.4L, 4R70W, 3.55LS,
Class III tow, Payload #3, & Convenience pkgs.,
4-wheel disc/ABS, Chestnut/Parchment 40/60,
Ford bedliner w/Paintsaver & gas/wheel/spare locks,
K&N F.I.P.K. w/Outwears pre-filter, Superchip,
Dynomax ultra-flow welded 3" cat-back w/ 3" Y-pipe,
Hellwig front & rear anti-sway bars, Rancho RS 9000s,
Mobil 1, K&N oil filter.

 

Dave,

It will not increase the towing capacity. That is a function of the powertrain / cab configuration of your truck. The chip will increase your engine power making it easier to tow.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Yep, It helps.

I pull a 30' 5th wheel that weighs 8,100 lbs. The truck pulls hills and stays in overdrive way way better. So much so that even my wife commented on how much easier the truck seemed to be pulling.

Now I'm trying to decide if headers are worth the money.

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1999 F-250 LD 4x4 Lariat Supercab, 5.4 w/3.73LS , Wedgewood Blue & Silver.
K&N FIPK
Flowmaster
with duel stainless
tips in front of the
rear tire
Superchip
Line-x
Mobil One

 

Hi DaveH,

Good question!

And as others have answered, the Superhcip will not actually increase your vehicle's rated towing capacity, as that is a function of much more than just engine power, but also one of cooling system capacity, the vehicle's frame capacity, braking system capacity, and on and on. It's true that some people do use the Superchip to tow more weight, due to it's increased power, but it doesn't actually increase the vehicles "official" rated towing capacity.

What the Superchip will do is to give you more power with which to tow, so it makes it a bit easier to pull that weight, is perhaps the best way to express it's effects. The key to improving towing performance is to increase torque at lower rpms on part-throtle specifically, in addition to increased power everywhere else too. It's primarily the increased torque on part-throttle that helps with towing, and the Superchip does do that.

If you'd like to go over this in more detail, please feel free to give us a shout, our contact info is below.

Congratulations on your new 2001 F-150, by the way!

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

I think the owners manuel says "do not tow in OD". I don.t pull a 1000 lb utility trailer in OD even though the truck will do it.

 

Redlariat,

Your mis-informed. This may have been true of the older trucks and Chevys.

I don't have my owners manual with me but I believe it says something to the effect of no using overdrive if it starts "hunting".
If you install a temp gauge on your transmission you will also notice that the temp is higher when NOT using overdrive as long as the trans is not shifting back and forth. The temp drops when USING overdrive. And of course, we know what hi temps do to transmissions.
And finally, if you check with the guys over at the ford diesel site, you will see that they ALL use overdrive with no problems and they have the same trans that my truck has. The only weak link is frequent shifting and heat.

 

Actually, Ford *did* years ago tell their owners not to tow anything while in Overdrive in their early AODE automatics, but that has all changed in the late-model vehicles. Even so, there are many, many owners of Ford trucks from the period that just ended a few years ago of being told they are not able to tow in Overdrive, so it can be confusing, as Ford has changed this in recent years.

Nowadays, as Conocoan said in his post, you're better off using Overdrive for towing in these late-model trucks as long as the automatic transmission doesn't "hunt" in and out of Overdrive. If it starts hunting, turn off the Overdrive.

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Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com
Performance Products F150Online Superchip ordering system: F150Online Superchip Ordering System
First National F-150 Online Rally Event Organizer

 

Not sure if I really need a chip because my truck has alot of ***** now. I also thought about what will a chip do to my engine over the years. I mean will I still be able to get over 200,000 miles on my engine with the chip which I know i will reach without the chip? Just something I wanted to through up in the air but the chip does seem great. I mean the numbers are great 28+hp and 46+ torque. Anoher question is what does the chip do to my rpm numbers. Will my hp and torque be at higher rpms rather than the lower ones now like 260hp at 4500 and 350 lbs feet at 2,500. What will the number be at what rpms is what im trying to ask? Thanks Mike

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2001 F-150 5.4L trition,
Regular cab with 8' bed
XLT with Black Clearcoat
4x4 3.55 limited slip
factory cab steps
class III tow package
Factory ordered: 12/5
recieved: 2/22