I have a 2010 F150 5.4 SCREW with 3.55 gears. It tows our travel trailer well, but looking for some better performance going up the mountains of VA and PA. I was looking at 4.10 gears, which looks like it is going to run about $2K. How much improvement do you think I would see with a superchip? Should I do both? New to all of this, so any advice/guidance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

I wouldn't put a superchip in my truck if you gave it to me.

Hold out for SCT (with custom tunes) or Gryphon (Edge with custom tunes). Lots of satisfied owners and great technical support.

I'm curious what you mean by 'better performance'. How much does your trailer weigh? Are you using T/H? More details please.

 

I installed a Superchips program in my 02 5.4 and I am extremely pleased with the results. Power is dramatically increased. Just what my truck needed. Gas mileage is improved. Love it! Can't speak to the 2010 models.

 

Don't know whether the OP meant an actual "chip" or a "tuner" but I really like my SuperChips Flash Paque 1865 Tuner in my '07 FX4 with 5.4. Really firmed up the shifting and helped my mileage on the 87 Perf tune which lets you tow up to 4,ooo as well. There's a 91 Perf tune and a 91 octane only heavy tow tune.

The Mileage XS tune didn't wiork out for me.

I agree though, I wouldn't use a "chip" either.

 

If you can afford it I would do both

 

I was looking at the Superchip Cortex programmer. The trailer weighs about 6,500 and it just dogs going up big hills. From what I've read the 3.73 gears would have been a better option, but the SCREWs with those gears were scarce around here when I purchased.

 

My suggestions.
First regear it.
Then take it to the dealer and have them reflash the pcm for the new gear.
Drive it for awhile and see of its better.
If it not any better then go the tuning route and get a programmer with custom tunes.

 

A program is way cheaper than gears. So, I recommend the program first and see if that is enough to save the $2,000 it will probably take to change the gears. Of course gears would be great for towing.

 

I would invest in a custom tuned programmer instead of a Super Chip programmer with some generic tunes.

 

Go for tuning first, much cheaper and if you went for the regear, after spending mucho $$$ ..... you'll still end up getting a tuner.



And that's your choice, but canned tunes are by no means "generic".

In this day of electronics technology and precision manufacturing, there is very little if any difference in one stock Ford F-150 with 5.4 of a given year ... and the next.

What the SC FP 1865 tuner with canned tunes does for my 2007 F-150 and a 1999 Mustang GT or a 2004 F150 4.6 is not the same at all, even though it'll work on either. When I load the 87 perf tune in my truck, I am not loading the same tune as I would in that Mustang, I can't even access it with my vin no. The canned tunes are not one tune fits all, they are a set of tunes that are designed to work with the included apps.

Sure, you could choose to purchase custom tunes, wait until they are ready, try them to see how they work, maybe get a couple extra hp (or maybe not) over canned tunes that are known to work.

I dare say some of those "custom" tunes written for otherwise stock or near stock vehicles are pretty generic themselves. After all, if you write a great tune for Harry's yellow 2009 F-150 Scab with 3.55s and no other mods, how much different will it be from the one you write for Joe's blue 2009 F-150 Scab with 3.55s and no other mods?

I can see the sometimes long waits and sometimes frustrating returns for rewrites when a retune is needed for modern computer controled vehicles which have many mods ...
... but for near stock vehicles?

Not.