Has anyone had the Banks system installed on their tow vehicle? We have a 2003 Ford F-550 and are considering it. We tow a 40ft 5th wheel toyhauler and need the extra boost. Thanks,
Postal Pair
Judy said
03:24 PM Apr 11, 2007
If you are referring to the "Banks Bullet" it gives you 60 hp more. That would maybe be enough to get your 40 footer down the road. We have a "super chip" that gives me 50 hp in my 2001 Ford F550. Our fiver is 15K # and it works well. Our only problem is the 4:88 rear end. It seems that 62 mph is a happy traveling speed. southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs
Postalpair said
09:43 PM Apr 26, 2007
Just wanted to let everyone know that we went ahead and had the Banks System installed on the truck. We had the "Bank's Power Pack System" put on. It is supposed to increase our hp by 100 and torque by 175 foot pounds. All I can say is our truck takes off like a scalded dog now. Towing has never been a problem for us, but getting up to speed was. Now it is no problem. If anyone is thinking about Banks, I am here to say that it is wonderful. Not to mention that the installers ( All Master Diesel out of Jacksonville, FL ) were wonderful, and equally amazed at the difference in our truck.
Harold said
12:29 PM Apr 27, 2007
It's a great mod but be sure your transmission is beefed up to take that extra Hp and torque or we may see you by the side of the road.
hogans1947 said
03:35 PM Apr 28, 2007
What great timing for this post. We have just committed to have one put in our Rexhall RoseAir in a couple weeks. We will be going to the plant in Azuza, Ca. Any other ideas, please let us know. Thank you.
Luvglass said
09:58 PM Apr 28, 2007
I'm confused with the whole add on chip business. I can't believe the manufacturers aren't designing the engines to produce the maximum torque, horsepower and miles per gallon to begin with. The all know that these are the things that the customers are interested in.
Are they dumb?, lazy? What would explain it?
I'm also wondering why there seems to be so little documented comparisons available. There was a long discussion on another forum and all the "proof" seemed to be anecdotal.
Personally I seemed to have lucked out. My truck has handled everything we've been through so far without any problem and I've never had the need or desire to look into and engine modifications.
Suspension however, is another question.
Fred
mikeway said
12:47 AM Apr 29, 2007
Fred and all,
The whole process goes back to the garage racer approach. Unless you were buying a BMW or Porsche, I would never assume all that can be done to an engine has been done.
The most simple improvement has always been in the exhaust system; better breathing means more power and efficiency. A new pipe, or a bigger pipe, or a pipe with fewer bends can make a relatively big difference. 10 or so years ago, the Ford diesel in pickups had an exhaust down pipe that was fairly constricted. Replacing that pipe with a larger and less sharply bent pipe added noticeable horse power. I think it was a turbo and it allowed the turbo to spin up more freely, producing more power.
My 1st pickup, a '91 GMC - 350 was pretty lame. The addition of a tuner chip changed the electrical spark timing and injector pulse slightly. Nothing major but a seat of the pants change on acceleration. Just enough to make a difference even the dealer could feel when I traded it in. It was fun even though only about a 1/2 mpg. In those days and now, even a little bit helped.
Back yard racers have always gotten just a little more from what's available.
Problem is, as you move closer to the edge, you move farther away from the design and reliabilty parameters from Ford and International, or GM and Izuzu. Even the big CAT diesels and be modified via chip changes and hotter injectors; you just need to watch the temps a little closer.
Mike
hogans1947 said
09:00 AM Apr 29, 2007
This is the other half of the Hogans1947 team . . . We are running a 2002 Cummins 350 ISC. When I had the 50K mile service done last month at a Cummins Coach Care facility, I asked the Cummins guy about the Banks System. He said that the benefit to my particular engine would be "dramatic" (his word not mine). I could expect a 20% increase in gas mileage, considerable increase in horsepower and broader torque curve. He said I would be "delighted" with the performance improvement. I figured that was pretty reliable input from someone who knows the engine and has nothing to gain one way or the other. He also said that the benefit to 2004 & newer engines would be less dramatic since the factory began installing some EPA requiired mods that do some of what the Banks System does.
If we assume the mileage improvement to even be 75% of what is claimed, it will take about 40 fill-ups of our 150 fuel tank to pay for the system. I'm not sure how to quantify the joy of driving in hilly terrain with more HP & torque but I figure as "pilot in command" my happiness and wellbeing are paramount and worth a few extra bucks . . . assuming I can convince my crew chief to write the necessary check.
Postalpair said
10:27 AM Apr 30, 2007
I love all of the input about the Banks system. Since we had the system installed, we are monitioring our turbo boost and exhaust temps. The transmission was taken care of also. We are not out to beat any speed records, just to be able to get up to highway speed before the end of that ramp.....now we have no problems. I actually drove this weekend....my DH is usually the driver but he wanted me to see how well it handles. What a difference. While excelerating it did not make the transmission shift any harder and the transmission operated as smoothly as ever. We had the pillar guages installed and they are right at eye level, so it is easy to keep an eye on things. As far as the shifting.....the tuner feels like it does exactly as Banks said it would and it "power drops syncronized with transmission shifts". So far we just love it and it has made a big difference in the performance in our truck. Have not seen a big difference in diesel, but will keep you updated on that. I highly recommend Banks, I know I have read that you can do the same thing cheaper by piecing it together thru other companies. I liked the fact that this is one company, that came very highly recommended, and they stand behind their work. Hogans1947, here's hoping that you enjoy your Bank's system as much as we have......let us know how things go!!!
Thanks,
Postal Pair
Our fiver is 15K # and it works well. Our only problem is the 4:88 rear end. It seems that 62 mph is a happy traveling speed.
southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs
If anyone is thinking about Banks, I am here to say that it is wonderful. Not to mention that the installers ( All Master Diesel out of Jacksonville, FL ) were wonderful, and equally amazed at the difference in our truck.
Are they dumb?, lazy? What would explain it?
I'm also wondering why there seems to be so little documented comparisons available. There was a long discussion on another forum and all the "proof" seemed to be anecdotal.
Personally I seemed to have lucked out. My truck has handled everything we've been through so far without any problem and I've never had the need or desire to look into and engine modifications.
Suspension however, is another question.
Fred
The whole process goes back to the garage racer approach. Unless you were buying a BMW or Porsche, I would never assume all that can be done to an engine has been done.
The most simple improvement has always been in the exhaust system; better breathing means more power and efficiency. A new pipe, or a bigger pipe, or a pipe with fewer bends can make a relatively big difference. 10 or so years ago, the Ford diesel in pickups had an exhaust down pipe that was fairly constricted. Replacing that pipe with a larger and less sharply bent pipe added noticeable horse power. I think it was a turbo and it allowed the turbo to spin up more freely, producing more power.
My 1st pickup, a '91 GMC - 350 was pretty lame. The addition of a tuner chip changed the electrical spark timing and injector pulse slightly. Nothing major but a seat of the pants change on acceleration. Just enough to make a difference even the dealer could feel when I traded it in. It was fun even though only about a 1/2 mpg. In those days and now, even a little bit helped.
Back yard racers have always gotten just a little more from what's available.
Problem is, as you move closer to the edge, you move farther away from the design and reliabilty parameters from Ford and International, or GM and Izuzu.
Even the big CAT diesels and be modified via chip changes and hotter injectors; you just need to watch the temps a little closer.
Mike
This is the other half of the Hogans1947 team . . . We are running a 2002 Cummins 350 ISC. When I had the 50K mile service done last month at a Cummins Coach Care facility, I asked the Cummins guy about the Banks System. He said that the benefit to my particular engine would be "dramatic" (his word not mine). I could expect a 20% increase in gas mileage, considerable increase in horsepower and broader torque curve. He said I would be "delighted" with the performance improvement. I figured that was pretty reliable input from someone who knows the engine and has nothing to gain one way or the other. He also said that the benefit to 2004 & newer engines would be less dramatic since the factory began installing some EPA requiired mods that do some of what the Banks System does.
If we assume the mileage improvement to even be 75% of what is claimed, it will take about 40 fill-ups of our 150 fuel tank to pay for the system. I'm not sure how to quantify the joy of driving in hilly terrain with more HP & torque but I figure as "pilot in command" my happiness and wellbeing are paramount and worth a few extra bucks . . . assuming I can convince my crew chief to write the necessary check.
I highly recommend Banks, I know I have read that you can do the same thing cheaper by piecing it together thru other companies. I liked the fact that this is one company, that came very highly recommended, and they stand behind their work.
Hogans1947, here's hoping that you enjoy your Bank's system as much as we have......let us know how things go!!!