Like the title says, whats my best option? I have an 05 XLT supercab 4x4 auto tranny 5.4 and 3:73's. So far the only upgrade I have done is add an AEM dryflow air intake.
This is what I tow most the time.

The jeep weighs 4200 lbs and trailer is 1200 lbs, total 5,400 lbs.
Also I do not have the tow/haul switch on my shift column just O/D off ,on.

 

Tow with the O/D off. Best non expensive upgrades will be an XCal2 (make sure you get the performance tow tune), electric fans, and an exhaust. If that's not enough, then supercharge it. If you still want more, there's always a 100 shot of nitrous ...

 

Not the cheap way.......shoehorn...7.3 Power Stroke....too many mods to list to make it work.

A less expensive alternative is a SuperDuty F-250 or F-350

On a serious note...I probably add an auxillery Trans cooler w/ fan too.

 

i tow 5000# with a stock 99 5.4. all i really need is a trans temp gauge to monitor my trans.

i think one would be a good idea for you also.

 

Trust me Colorado Osprey I wish I had diesel........but I don't and I don't see one in the near future either. Plus driving my buddys new 06 F 250 6.0 didn't help. But like lees99f150 said a tranny temp gauge would also be nice.
What do you think of the edge evolution? Is it worth it? The fact that you can read your tranny temp is pretty cool plus the torque curve on towing looks nice compared to stock. Has anyone used it while towing 5000lbs or more, what do you think of it?

 

What are you looking to accomplish with only a #5000 load?? I tow a #5000 travel trailer with a 1997 stock 5.4 and it does fine?? I have to contend with the additional wind resistance as well.

I've got 3.55 gears and 31" tall tires and it does fine.... Sure, I slow down on the hills and usually have to be in second gear, but that's normal for this kind of load. I also run in third gear most of the time and pull some 2500 rpms doing it, but it'll do it all day long.. I've also got 159,000 miles on the truck!

Now, if you are looking to haul up the hills at 70 mph and be in OD, then you have the wrong 'tool' to begin with...

I'd say get some 4.10 or even some 4.56 gears if you want to have that stump pull'n feel.....

Mitch

 

I'm just looking to get an extra push here & there when I'm towing up hill, I know it's an F-150 not a 350.
Well thanks to that niffty search feature looks like I'm going to install the Troyer Performance Dual 16" electric fan kit, but still undecided on which tuner to go with.
I do appreciate all your help and info though, thanks guys.

 

Well, at the moment I have a Superchips 1715 and I'm not very happy with it. I've heard good things about the Troyer Tuned XCal2, but you said that you wanted to get a tranny temp gague, so you might as well go with the Edge Evolution.

 

BRW619,

That's cool.....

IMO, that won't net you any 'night and day' differences, but won't hurt anything either.

Until you swap out the gears, your hill climbing ability will still be limited to an extent.... For example, if you had Lance Armstrong peddling a bike up a hill on a standard 10 speed bike and was in say, 7th gear, and he could not change gears, he'll struggle a little.... If you took the same bike up the same hill and was able to change gears, you would have an easier time with the same hill... Probably not the best analogy, but the best I can do at the moment! ha, ha!!

Good luck!!

Mitch

 

True, but if he isn't towing most of the time, he might not want to have such high gears for normal driving.

 

Yep, that's true too Zaairman.... But if you wanna play, you gotta pay! There will always be some 'give and take' deal with mods like this....



Mitch

 

Yeah I know...that supercharger I've been wanting is going to "take" a lot out of my wallet.

 

Nice Tj BRW619. I pull my 1956 CJ-5 with my 97 Expy, 5.4. My total trailer weight is 5,600 lbs but then I carry about 400-500 lbs of extra parts and tools in the Expy. A tranny cooler is mandatory IMO. I have a Troyer 5-position chip but it feels like it tows and drives better in the stock setting. I have a 91-performance and a 91-tow setting but the stock one seems better. I've got slightly larger tires on the Expy so my gear ratio went from 3.73 to 3.54. My '97 has less HP than yours also.
The aftermarket airbags ($80.00) were excellent for adding stability. My trans temp runs about 180-190 degrees towing in the summer depending on how hot it is outside. I have a Banks Trans-Command which firms up the shifts depending on the load on the engine. Around town driving it is barely noticeable unless you hammer the gas. Then the tranny pressure is raised to a max of 33% more and the shifts are real crisp. It may help keep my tranny temp down. It pulls really well. The only "power" mods I have are an Amsoil air filter and the Superchip which I don't use. My brother pulls a '67 CJ-5 with his 1-ton Chev, 454, 4dr pickup. When he follows me to the trails he has mentioned that I have pulled away from him on the hills while towing.

 

I tow a 5500 lb trailer with a fully loaded 2002 screw (wife and kids).
Stock except for a B&M deep tranny pan and a tranny temp gauge.
Keep it within weight ratings (weigh it if needed), turn off the OD and
drive easy. The only time I wished for a tranny cooler fan was when I
was still learning how to back the trailer up my STEEP driveway.

 

Gears or a supercharger