More power from a 3rd gen?

**Panhandler** · 10-05-2018

Hi all,

I have a 2003 2500 2wd. I love the truck but it struggles up hills at highway speeds when towing my 10,000lb boat or even my wife's car. I've never tuned or modified a vehicle before but am competent with electrical and basic mechanical. Is there anything I could do to increase power without spending a fortune or significantly increasing the chances of failure? Or is this just a fact of life when towing above 55mph?

Thanks

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**Polaraco** · 10-05-2018

Originally Posted by Panhandler

Hi all,

I have a 2003 2500 2wd. I love the truck but it struggles up hills at highway speeds when towing my 10,000lb boat or even my wife's car. I've never tuned or modified a vehicle before but am competent with electrical and basic mechanical. Is there anything I could do to increase power without spending a fortune or significantly increasing the chances of failure? Or is this just a fact of life when towing above 55mph?

Thanks

As an 03 2wd owner, I can help.

Tell me more about the truck. Mileage, tires, automatic? no modifications at all? How old is the exhaust?

Here's the better question. How much can you spend? There's not too many tricks we can pull out of the hat.

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**Panhandler** · 10-06-2018

Thanks, Polaraco. The truck is automatic, completely stock with 162,000 miles and original exhaust and transmission. Tires are just standard load range E highway tires, OEM recommended size, 1 year old. I'd have trouble justifying putting more than $1,000 into a 15 year old truck.

I read a thread about your tuner testing and was intrigued!

Thanks

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**Panhandler** · 10-06-2018

I should probably add that the truck is my daily driver and I don't care how it looks or sounds.

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**03 unicorn** · 10-08-2018

As a fellow 03 owner also I am also curious as my truck is all stock with 106500sh miles but I have a 6 speed

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**Polaraco** · 10-09-2018

Originally Posted by Panhandler

Thanks, Polaraco. The truck is automatic, completely stock with 162,000 miles and original exhaust and transmission. Tires are just standard load range E highway tires, OEM recommended size, 1 year old. I'd have trouble justifying putting more than $1,000 into a 15 year old truck.

I read a thread about your tuner testing and was intrigued!

Thanks

I had to run outside and make sure my truck was still out there! LOL Well not really, I've got allot more in mine. At that mileage, it's still a virgin. Just keep an eye on the rust. Now tell me it's green

There's not much you can do short of a tuner. There's plenty of options available once you have one.

What do you do with the truck? Daily?
@Dude's Diesel Performance might have something for you

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**Panhandler** · 10-09-2018

Originally Posted by Polaraco

I had to run outside and make sure my truck was still out there! LOL Well not really, I've got allot more in mine. At that mileage, it's still a virgin. Just keep an eye on the rust. Now tell me it's green

There's not much you can do short of a tuner. There's plenty of options available once you have one.

What do you do with the truck? Daily?
@Dude's Diesel Performance might have something for you

Ha! It's white, which I like to think helps with the Florida heat.

I was thinking along the lines of a tuner as well. Do I need to upgrade any parts before putting in a tuner?

I drive about 10 miles a day normally. I often pull a 10,000lb boat a mile or two to the ramp and back. Once a year my wife and I go to Maine and we tow her car filled with stuff there and back. A few times a year I haul loads of rock or compost in the bed or with a trailer. Just normal truck life....

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**wy4x4** · 11-13-2018

For around $1000 you can do a Smarty Jr tuner (used eBay), 4" Diamond eye stainless turbo back exhaust, and an S&B intake (get the dry paper filter). That will be the most bang for your buck.

https://www.sbfilters.com/cold-air-i...variant_id=168

http://www.diamondeyeperformance.com...roducts_id=128

https://www.ebay.com/itm/MADS-SMARTY...5JBR:rk:2:pf:0

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**TH-64** · 11-13-2018

If the bids go too high, I have one I'd let go for $325. It looks like brand new.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

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**AnOldBiker** · 11-13-2018

Heck, I have a Smarty SO6 PoD that should work for your truck, and I'd take 450 shipped. But if you're going with a tuner, don't crank it too high or your trans will let go. The smarty sw5 setting will bring it up another 105 hp and more then that will be too much for the trans.

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