First let me preface this with the following:

1) I am a newbie to aftermarket stuff:

2) I know that this question is best directed to Bill and Corey, but their offices are closed and I am bitten by the bug and want to get an indication that I am heading in the right direction. (Hopefully Corey will see this....I plan on emailing thim this question, and hopefully I can order and get delivery of a Gryphon before 10 May which is when I plan on picking up my trailer).

3) I plan on pulling a trailer right at the limits of my GVWR for my truck and CGWR for the whole rig.

4) I have been inspired by all of you that said a 5.4 2006 3.55 screw 4x4 sb 18 inch wheels can tow 7-7.5k lightweight 31 ft trailer (plan on getting an equalizer and ordered a Prodigy.


Now.....trying to eek out that extra bit of power when weekend warrior towing, I am planning on getting the Gryphon and want a good CIA and catback to pair with it. I am thinking 77 series K&N and a magnaflow side exit exhaust. If I need to, I will regear to 3.73 later, but want to get good fuel economy as long as possible and will only re-gear if I need to. I know some will say "Get a bigger truck", but I don't want to and since we are all f150 enthusiasts, I will get more varied responses here than I would at a general towing forum that is generally dominated by the SD guys/gals.

Want to get 87 octane tow, 87 octane economy, 87 performance tunes if that is possible. Now, will I get enough extra umph to make the $1500 in expense (Not counting gearing obviously) worthwhile while towing, and will I see any increase (really) in fuel economy if I keep my foot from stomping the gas after the novelty wears out?

Is this a good and workable combo for the Gryphon? (i.e. K&N and Magnaflow)

Are the magna flows quiet enough that they won't drive my family crazy after 6 hours on a long haul?

Can I order the gryphon now, run the canned stuff, then add/upload) the tunes after I get the truck modified next month? I have heard about a "voucher". Does this mean that I can order custom tunes in some reasonable time in the future after I have finalized selection of the CIA and pipes?

If I understand the website, PHP offers 3 custom tunes included in purchase.

Corey, if you read this, can you send me an email through here so I can order if you have the time? Thanks.

 

I don't see why you cant just run the modified tunes. It's not like you are changing anything major.


3:73's will help with your city MPG, if you do a whole lot of highway driving I wouldn't go over 3:73's

 

If towing is your goal, I would definitely change out the 3.55's. I had two trucks with 3.73's, and they both pulled a fueled-up Sea Ray with no problem, @ 5000 lbs. 7K lbs + seams a little iffy to me.

I have 4.10's (Crappiest mileage ever, but the truck does pull 8k lbs decently.)

I have drooled at the idea of http://www.gearvendors.com/
, but that takes a lot of mod cash.

You better get the physical durability right before messing with tuning-if the trans pops, its because you went for too much, too fast

 

Do get an equalizing, load leveling, anti-sway hitch for your rig. This is the web site for the one I got: www.equalizerhitch.com

When I first got our trailer, I had a Nissan Frontier (max towing weight was 5000#) The trailer was 3600#. Except for the "dead weight" of the trailer, I hardly knew it was there. It was just too much of a strain to tow over 11,000 ft passes in Colorado though, so I bought our f150 (and kept the hitch). It was very simple to adjust to the new truck.

So, I recommend it.

I have the Prodigy brake controller and it's easy to set up. With it, I feel like the stopping distance is about the same as it is without the trailer. I took the trailer to a big, vacant parking lot one weekend with Janet outside watching the trailer wheels for slippage to "dial it in".

These are the two things I can comment on. My truck has the 3.73 gears, and a factory tow package, so I'm well under the weight limit. You are going to feel the "weight" of your trailer, but, where do you tow it? If I had wanted to stay on fairly level ground at lower altitudes, I would not have gotten rid of the Nissan. It was fine on "hills" and in highway traffic.

- Jack

 

I have a 2004 Screw 4X4 with the tow package, 18 inch Rims, prodigy, equalizer, antisway etc. and 3:73 rear end. AFE stage 2 CAI and a Gibson single exhaust. I tow a 4000 pound travel trailer and I have no problem pulling the rig fully loaded all over the western states, up and over the Sierras and beyond. On level ground I get 12 - 13 mpg at a steady 65mph sometimes a little more never less than 10.
The only Sound we hear in the cab is the Cai when climbing or pushing hard to pass, and you hear it. We could not take a loud exhaust or rumble for a long time under load so thats why we went with Gibsen.
I am thinking of gettin a tuner but I really wonder if it will help all that much when towing. It seems to be just fine now but I would say the biggest asset is having the 3:73 rear end. I think you really need the 3:73 rear end when towing 7000 pounds dry no matter what the trailer towing charts say. My next truck will be Diesel because my trailer will be about 7500 pounds dry and I like having a nice safe cushion of power to call on.

Good luck, just my 2 cents

 

HHMM, I'll say this. I have 4.10 gears and I'm willing to bet I have one of the quietest exhausts out there (custom 2.5" piping with the biggest Magnflow muffler you can get & Imco resonator) and when towing with overdrive off the noise still can get to you after awhile cruising on the highway at 3,000k +.

Now my exhaust is going straight out the back so a side exit is most likely quieter.

Just food for thought.

 

Thanks for the response. Already bought the prodigy and equalizer. I am going to regear probably. some say might as well go to 4.10 but with gas the way it is, I might not be able to handle the gas bill.....so going from 3.55 to 3.73 is it worth the cost?