SuperChip used for towing...
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 297
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From: Triangle Area, NC
SuperChip used for towing...
I just bought a newsed 1999 F150 Lariat Supercab with the 5.4L V8 and tow group. I am planning on buying an RV travel trailer in the next year or two. I figure I'll be towing about 6000lbs. I'm curious about the transmission shifting characteristics the superchip "modifies". I know that the shifts are supposed to be "crisper", which is fine for day to day travels. But, after I mount 6000Lbs on the rear, are the shifts going to feel more like "bucking" than a smooth shift? I'm concerned the shifting will become harsh with the weight. I'm on the fence about buying a chip, since I find the 5.4L seems to have enough power for me on the commutes. And, the thought of only premium fuel adds to my apprehension. Anyone tow heavy loads with the chip? Thanks!
Ed
Ed
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi LineTest,
Welcome to F-150 Online, & congratulations on your F-150 purchase!
Good question!
You don't have to worry about having harsh shift characteristics with the Superchip, as we're not trying to turn a 2-3 ton truck into a tire-chirping Camaro, we keep our modifications in line with the original character of the vehicle and it's core design purpose. What we're doing to the transmission calibratio can basically be best described as a towing type of calibration, where our primary goal is to reduce the slippage that is induced by Ford's soft-shift strategies and provide a more realistic shift characteristic for this vehicle.
With the Superchip installed, your truck will still shift nice and smooth when it's being driven conservatively, and as you give it more and more throttle opening, the shifts will get progressively firmer in response, just as they should. Even at WOT (wide-open throttle), they're not harsh, they're just noticeably quicker and have a bit more authority; it's not an inappropriately stiff or hard upshift. It is not something that would ever upset passengers or even livestock being towed.
If you are concerned with using premium fuel all the time, you might want to think about doing what a number of others here who do heavy towing have done, and that is to use our 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, which we set up with an 87 & 92 octane combination of programs. The power gain on the 87 octane program will be small, 3-5 horsepower, but you'll still have all the other benefits, improved shifting, removal of delays & retards, etc., so the vehicle will be more responsive than stock, while allowing you to use 87 octane. And then when you want maximum power, for example when towing, just fill it up with premium and flip the attached switch to change programs. A very elegant solution that gives you the best of both worlds and ultimate flexibility.
There are a number of people here who do towing with the Superchip, and if you do a search here using the search features of this message board, you can find a ton of great information and reviews by those who have used the Superchip for towing, and just about anything else you can imagine.
If you'd like to go over any of this in more detail, please feel free to give us a shout by phone or email.
Best of luck with your new truck, and we hope you'll hang out with us here on F-150 Online in your spare time, it's a great place to learn about these vehicles & meet some new friends!
Welcome to F-150 Online, & congratulations on your F-150 purchase!
Good question!
You don't have to worry about having harsh shift characteristics with the Superchip, as we're not trying to turn a 2-3 ton truck into a tire-chirping Camaro, we keep our modifications in line with the original character of the vehicle and it's core design purpose. What we're doing to the transmission calibratio can basically be best described as a towing type of calibration, where our primary goal is to reduce the slippage that is induced by Ford's soft-shift strategies and provide a more realistic shift characteristic for this vehicle.
With the Superchip installed, your truck will still shift nice and smooth when it's being driven conservatively, and as you give it more and more throttle opening, the shifts will get progressively firmer in response, just as they should. Even at WOT (wide-open throttle), they're not harsh, they're just noticeably quicker and have a bit more authority; it's not an inappropriately stiff or hard upshift. It is not something that would ever upset passengers or even livestock being towed.
If you are concerned with using premium fuel all the time, you might want to think about doing what a number of others here who do heavy towing have done, and that is to use our 2-program Superchip Flip Chip, which we set up with an 87 & 92 octane combination of programs. The power gain on the 87 octane program will be small, 3-5 horsepower, but you'll still have all the other benefits, improved shifting, removal of delays & retards, etc., so the vehicle will be more responsive than stock, while allowing you to use 87 octane. And then when you want maximum power, for example when towing, just fill it up with premium and flip the attached switch to change programs. A very elegant solution that gives you the best of both worlds and ultimate flexibility.
There are a number of people here who do towing with the Superchip, and if you do a search here using the search features of this message board, you can find a ton of great information and reviews by those who have used the Superchip for towing, and just about anything else you can imagine.
If you'd like to go over any of this in more detail, please feel free to give us a shout by phone or email.
Best of luck with your new truck, and we hope you'll hang out with us here on F-150 Online in your spare time, it's a great place to learn about these vehicles & meet some new friends!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Spring Hill, TN
Linetest you will like what the superchip does for your truck while towing. The shifts aren't harsh just crisp & quick. We haul a 4000 lb. camper and its nice having the extra power while towing. Just make sure you use a good quality gas . I usually get about 14 to 15 mpg while towing the camper. I had stopped at a Amerigas on the why home from the races down in Dover DE. and my mileage dropped to under 10 mpg on that tank of gas.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: new orleans area
CHIPS FOR TOWING
Presently have a 2000 5.4 lariat with flowmasters, k&n fuel injection kit and superchip bought from Mike. I tow a '29 Holiday Rambler Alumlite trailer (about 8300#'s loaded) with no problems. I run 65mph and on flat highway it pulls in o.d. Talked to Mike and he figures with the mods I went from 260 hp to between 305 and 315. just ordered a chip for my new crown vic with the sports apperance pkg which the hp upgrade. Anxious to see what happens. Hope this helps.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Mar 1998
Posts: 13,385
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Hi T.K. Devitt,
It was great talking you again today, it's been awhile!
Nice to see you here on the boards, too! I hope you'll hang out here with us when you can.
I have to say that I was just a little surprised at you being able to pull that 8300 lbs. and still stay locked up in Overdrive @ 65 mph, that is an excellent result. Normally most people can do that with up to about oh, say roughly 6000-6500 lbs. being towed or so at your level of modifications, and of course there is some variance in that too, based on the exact weight of the truck itself. But it was still very nice to hear with those few mods that you are able to stay in Overdrive with 8300 lbs. out back, that is *quite* an accomoplishment in that state of tune. And of course we do have to keep in mind that we 're estimating maximum peak power at sea level altitude, of couse. It would be very interesting to see just what kind of torque numbers are being put to the ground at those rpms, meaning when you're @ 65 mph in Overdrive, and at that approximate throttle position, that would be very interesting indeed. Of course we'll never know, but it sure would be a neat piece of data to have, as that's what's doing the job to keep it in Overdrive under that load, not the potential maximum peak power output.
It would be interesting to see what that thing would do unloaded at the strip, or with a G-Tech, etc. If you ever do happen to get any 0-60 or 1/4 mile times on that truck, we'd be curious to hear them.
Congratulations on that beautiful new 2001 Crown Vic with the Sport & Handling package, that is a great package that has very nice wider wheels & tires, better suspension, true dual exhausts, and on and on, very nice package for that kind of sedan.
Have fun,
It was great talking you again today, it's been awhile!
Nice to see you here on the boards, too! I hope you'll hang out here with us when you can.
I have to say that I was just a little surprised at you being able to pull that 8300 lbs. and still stay locked up in Overdrive @ 65 mph, that is an excellent result. Normally most people can do that with up to about oh, say roughly 6000-6500 lbs. being towed or so at your level of modifications, and of course there is some variance in that too, based on the exact weight of the truck itself. But it was still very nice to hear with those few mods that you are able to stay in Overdrive with 8300 lbs. out back, that is *quite* an accomoplishment in that state of tune. And of course we do have to keep in mind that we 're estimating maximum peak power at sea level altitude, of couse. It would be very interesting to see just what kind of torque numbers are being put to the ground at those rpms, meaning when you're @ 65 mph in Overdrive, and at that approximate throttle position, that would be very interesting indeed. Of course we'll never know, but it sure would be a neat piece of data to have, as that's what's doing the job to keep it in Overdrive under that load, not the potential maximum peak power output.
It would be interesting to see what that thing would do unloaded at the strip, or with a G-Tech, etc. If you ever do happen to get any 0-60 or 1/4 mile times on that truck, we'd be curious to hear them.
Congratulations on that beautiful new 2001 Crown Vic with the Sport & Handling package, that is a great package that has very nice wider wheels & tires, better suspension, true dual exhausts, and on and on, very nice package for that kind of sedan.
Have fun,
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: new orleans area
Morning Mike, yea ya rite, suprised me too, but guess it's a combo of the mods (including the SUPERCHIP, of course) plus the 3:55 gears and Mobil 1 5wx30w. Truck bottoms speedo on little peg and still hasn't kicked out of 3rd gear, so don't really know what the big end figures are. Anxious to get new chip for crown vic. Will let you know what those figures are.
Thanks for your continous help.
T.K.
Thanks for your continous help.
T.K.