So I've been away from this forum for a while,and am not up to date on the latest and greatest info. I have an 04 FX4 Screw with 5.4 and 3.73's. Mostly stock, just a magnaflow muffler dumped.

I am planning to pick up a 60's Mustang project car within the next month and may have to tow it from about 200 miles away from my house. Thinking I should invest in a tuner prior to the trip. Timeframe means I will stick with canned tune for now. Is Gryphon my best bet for towing on a canned tune? I've got 84k miles on my truck if that matters. Anything I should be concerned about, or just take the plung? Trailer plus car will likely be in the 6k lbs range.

Thanks,
greg

 

The stock tune is also great for towing - for occassional use. And ~$400 will buy a LOT of gas (or beers) ....

MGD

 

Don't know about best, but it is certainly a good one. Plus, the Gryphon will provide gauges to keep an eye on tranny temp, voltage and various other statistics. When I had my 05, the gauges were very important to me.

 

I'm not so much concerned about gas, as I am about the tranny. Keeping an eye on things and firming up the shifts sounds like a good idea to me.

 

Bill's tweeked canned tunes for the gryphon are definately better than the edge canned tunes......I've towed alot with that canned tune and when my custom 87 towthe tune was done i enjoyed using that one even more......

 

I understand that - and I'm not trying to deter you from spending yer own money.

It's just that many thousands of folks are towing - and towing heavy - with stock F150's as we speak with no issues.

If I understood you correctly, this is a one-time or very occasional situation - and for that type of usage, the stock tune will be more than sufficient for that weight. Just keep the speed reasonable. Perhaps invest in an active tranny cooler.

Certainly - service the tranny fully if it already hasn't been done recently (or at all) - a tuner won't help a neglected trans. Oh yeah - new fuel filter too.

All I'm sayin' - just my opinion.

MGD

 

Appreciate the input MGD. It will be more than a one time tow. The 60's car will be a project that will likely get towed around for several years until its done. Depending on what path I go, it may always be getting towed to tracks and such. I'd like to be able to tow it reliably for a 500 mile trip if needed.

My tranny is bone stock and as far as I know (owned for 5 years since ~40k miles) it has never been serviced. I remember alot of talk in the past regarding flushes versus drain and fill. Whats the recommendation in todays world?

 

Exchange, not flush. That's using a machine in the passive mode, letting the tranny pump do the work, not the machine.

 

All I can say is I have an edge programmer ( custom gryphon tune ordered should have it anyday now ) so I'm able to see my trans temp at all times. I recently put changed my trany fluid to AMSOIL synthetic Trans fluid and the highest temp I have ever seen is 165 F and usually runs around 140 F . So if your tranny your worried about make sure your fluid and filter and changed and many people are happy with the AMSOIL ATF.