Since so many of us use diesel trucks and SUVs to tow trailers these days, we decided to put together a two-fer: a combination of accessories designed to enhance diesel performance and reliability, along with items that make it safer, easier, and more convenient to tow.
| Keep Tabs on TempsHypertech's add-on temperature module for its HyperPAC performance automotive computer can monitor and record temperatures ranging from minus 300 to 2400 degrees F. It comes with an external temperature sensor that can be programmed to track EGT at a touch of the computer's menu option. Add more sensors, and the module can track as many as 16 different temperatures. Hypertech; 901/382-8888.www.hypertech.com
| Riding on AirIf you tow a heavy trailer, such as a fifth-wheel RV or a large horse trailer, you can convert your -or one-ton Ford, GM, or Dodge pickup's rear suspension to a setup much like those used on big rigs. Air Lift's Road Tamer kit replaces the factory steel leaf springs with air springs and includes the SmartAir automatic leveling system. The setup provides a smoother ride (empty or loaded), better roll control, cushioned road shock, and less stress on your vehicle, passengers, and cargo. Air Lift Company; 800/248-0892.www.roadtamer.com
| Getting the AssistHell-Ya's Hitch Helper slides into a two-inch receiver hitch and stops the truck from squatting when it's towing or hauling a heavy load. By keeping the truck level, stability and braking improve. The Hitch Helper includes a load-rated tire and a coil spring to smooth out the ride and reduce hopping and weaving. It's height adjustable and is also available for dualies. Hell-Ya Productions; 877/851-0096.www.hell-ya.com
| Clean FuelDiesel-Pure from Tough Country will remove water, silt, sand, and other contaminants from diesel fuel. It works through the force of the engine's fuel pump. The unit also will decontaminate gasoline, transmission fluid, motor oil, and even JP8 jet fuel. Tough Country; 979/543-9204.www.toughcountry.com
| Protect Your InvestmentWhether you tow a boat, a show car on an open trailer, or an RV, you certainly don't want rocks and road debris to hit it. The Towtector Shield provides more protection than mud flaps, especially at highway speed, thanks to full-width coverage and a support bar in front of the brush strips that prevents blowback. The shield comes in sizes that accommodate different vehicle heights. Towtector; 888/735-3553.www.towtector.com
| Safe and SecureThe Bully CouplerLock increases towing safety and trailer security. This locking model replaces the coupler latch pin and secures the coupler to the trailer hitch ball. When not towing, the lock also acts as a trailer theft deterrent. To use it, push in to lock, use the key to unlock. The CouplerLock fits 17/8 - and two-inch couplers. Bully Truck Accessories; 800/237-7560.www.couplerlock.com
| Up, Down, and AroundEver walk behind your truck and smack your shin on the hitch ball? Then you'll appreciate B&W's Tow & Stow Receiver Hitch. It adjusts up and down in one-inch increments and flips around, moving the hitch balls out of sight and out of the way in tight parking lots. It's available in double- and triple-ball combos and has a Class-IV rating for 1000 pounds vertical tow weight and 10,000 pounds GVW. B&W Trailer Hitches; 800/248-6564.www.turnoverball.com
| One's Good, Two's BetterATS offers a twin-turbo upgrade kit for Cummins 5.9-liter diesels. The smaller turbo allows for quick spool-up, while the large turbo delivers high power and low EGT. Both turbos are designed to reduce high-milage fatigue. The system also includes an ATS multipiece exhaust manifold; its pulse exhaust-flow design helps spool the turbos up sooner with less backpressure and increased fuel efficiency. ATS Diesel Performance; 800/949-6002.www.atsdiesel.com
| Better DistributionValley Industries' Power Pull Xtreme weight-distributing hitch evenly distributes weight over the entire length of your truck and trailer, creating a more level ride for better control, stability, and braking. It also puts less strain on your truck, increases towing capacity, and reduces sway. The all-steel hitch fits 2-inch receivers and allows for eight inches of height adjustment. It's rated for up to 1700 pounds of tongue weight and 15,000 pounds gross trailer weight. Lighter-duty units also are available. Valley Industries; 800/344-3112.www.valleyindustries.com
| Cool and Cool-LookingFastcore's CFM+ intake manifold for 5.9-liter Cummins engines flows 40 percent more air than stock. The manifold is made from a high-temperature composite material that transfers heat 900 times slower than the cast aluminum used in other intakes, keeping the air cooler. Fastcore; 760/598-6761.www.cfmplus.com
| Clean and CrispSome Duramax diesels suffer from air in the fuel lines and low fuel pressure. Their high-pressure fuel systems also are particularly sensitive to dirty diesel. Kennedy Diesel's new lift pump/fuel filter combination solves all three problems and provides the extra fuel supply necessary for performance enhancements. Kennedy Diesel; 715/255-9433.www.kennedydiesel.com
| Double VisionBoth surfaces on CIPA's new Dual-View Clip-on towing mirror are fully adjustable, so you can customize the viewing area to match your truck and trailer. The large flat mirror shows what's behind you, while the smaller convex mirror helps with blind spots. The aerodynamic design reduces wind vibration and helps the quick-installing mirrors stay put at freeway speed. CIPA USA; 800/872-2472.www.cipausa.com
| Cool ItTowing can overheat a truck's engine or transmission. Earl's Temp-A-Cure oil cooler will help drop the temperature of either component and increase reliability and service life. The oil cooler is made in the USA from aircraft aluminum alloy and is designed for the fastest possible heat transfer with minimal pressure drop. Choose from three widths and a range of seven to 34 cooling rows. Earl's Performance Products; 310/609-1602.www.earlsplumbing.com
| Soiled Oil?If dirty oil gets past the filter, it causes increased engine wear and emissions, along with a drop in power and fuel economy. Pure Power's extremely high-flow Lifetime Drop-in Oil Filter provides one-pass filtering of the oil and is 90 percent more efficient than a factory filter at removing debris that's 30 microns and smaller. The 6061 T6 billet aluminum canister houses the world's only cleanable and reusable oil filter element. The result: You can extend your oil change intervals and better protect your engine. Pure Power, 714/894-2994.www.gopurepower.com
| We Triple-Dog Dare YouBully Dog's Triple Dog Downloader for 2006 Dodge, Ford, and GM diesel trucks has been designed to increase power, performance, fuel economy, and safety. The wide variety of power settings, adjustable on the fly, range from Tow Mode to Crazy Larry (in case you plan to go drag racing). You also can use the Triple Dog to eke out an additional four mpg as well as to read diagnostic trouble codes. Bully Dog; 866/285-5936.www.bullydog.com
| Easy ExhaleThe driver-side exhaust manifold on 2001-2006 Duramax trucks is pinched, causing 20 percent less flow than in the passenger-side manifold. BD's Full Bore exhaust manifold restores flow balance between the two engine banks for more power and reduced EGT. The manifold is made from high-silican cast-iron and comes drilled and tapped for use with the most common EGT probes. BD Diesel Performance; 800/887-5030.www.dieselperformance.com
| Solo HookupsWith C&G Products' Swinger Hitch, you can hook a trailer up by yourself. Swing the hitch open past the driver's side of the truck, where it's easy to see, then back up until the hitch ball's under the trailer coupler. After lowering the trailer, either pull ahead a couple feet and then back up to close the Swinger Hitch or use the optional winch to close it automatically. C&G Products; 888/462-1212.www.swingerhitch.com
| The Whole ShebangThe Banks Big Hoss Bundle, shown here for Dodges, provides gains of up to 126 horsepower and 290 pound-feet at the rear wheels, with dramatic improvements throughout the engine's rpm range. The bundle includes Banks' Six-Gun diesel tuner, PowerPDA vehicle command center, Techni-cooler intercooler, four-inch stainless Monster exhaust (or Diesel Duals Monster exhaust), Ram-Air filter assembly, and BigHead wastegate actuator. Banks Power; 800/601-8072.www.bankspower.com
| Driveability and PerformanceThe bolt-on Duramax Cool Air Dam Intake System features a 1600 cfm Airaid Premium SynthaFlow filter, which is isolated from engine and turbo heat by a computer-designed cool-air dam. The 4.5-inch intake tube is constructed from cross-linked polyethylene for improved airflow and heat resistance as well as proper mass air sensor location. Airaid; 800/498-6951.www.airaid.com
| Guaranteed ResultsGranatelli guarantees your Cummins, Duramax, or Power Stroke diesel will gain three mpg, 50 horsepower, and 150 pound-feet of torque with its Big G Mileage Miser or your money back. The Big G is designed for towing, with smooth power delivery and low EGT. Granatelli Motor Sports; 805/486-6644.www.granatellimotorsports.com
| HandHeld TunerSuperchips' Flashpaq handheld tuner lets you choose from three different power settings for a 6.0-liter Power Stroke: Performance, for a gain of 94 horsepower and 147 pound-feet; Tow, for 89 horsepower and 129 pound-feet; and 87 Octane, for 46 horsepower and 86 pound-feet. The Flashpaq also will adjust your speedometer if you install taller tires and will log 0-to-60 times and quarter-mile speeds. Superchips; 407/585-7000.www.superchips.com
| Eco-Friendly FlowThe Workhorse HD air-intake systems for Cummins, Duramax, and Power Stroke diesels feature a Dryflow filter element that flows up to 33 percent more than factory filters. The increased airflow improves power and efficiency, reducing exhaust smoke. The filter is cleanable and reusable and never needs oil. AEM; 310/484-2322.www.aempower.com
| Now You See It...PopUp's remotely controlled gooseneck hitch ball keeps you from having to crawl into the pickup bed to raise or lower the hitch ball, just push a lever that's mounted in your truck's rear wheelwell. The Pop-Up needs a three-inch hole, less than other goosenecks, and it bolts on. The hitch is rated at 7500 pounds of tongue weight and 30,000 pounds trailer weight. Pop-Up Industries; 877/339-5704.www.popuphitch.com
| Deeper and CoolerTCI's premium cast pans for Power Stroke, Cummins, and Duramax transmissions help reduce temperatures and extend transmission life. The deep pans hold a larger fluid supply; combined with added cooling fins, internal transmission temperatures are reduced 20 to 30 degrees. The pans come with a black powdercoat finish, stainless-steel hardware, an 0-ring gasket to prevent leaks, and a magnetic drain plug that helps keep loose metal from being circulated. TCI; 662/224-8972.www.tciauto.com
| Stop SlippingIf your automatic transmission is slipping under heavy loads, odds are the torque converter is being overtaxed. B&M's Task Master torque converters for Duramax, Cummins, and Power Stroke trucks can help, since they're capable of handling loads in excess of 20,000 pounds GVW. The Task Master includes a multidisk lock-up clutch with three times the clutch surface area of a stock converter for improved towing, reliability, and overall performance. B&M Racing and Performance Products; 818/882-6422.www.bmracing.com
| Locked and LocatedA height-adjustable hitch ball makes it easier to align any truck and trailer. This high-strenght aluminum design from C.R. Brophy fits standard two-inch receivers and comes in six- and eight-inch drops. It features a polished, rustproof finish and dual pick-resistant locks with dust covers. It's rated at 10,000 pounds and includes easy-change, reversible two-and 25/16-inch balls. C.R. Brophy; 800/637-8258.www.crbrophy.com
| Cop an AttitudeEdge Products' Juice engine controllers are now available for the 6.0-liter Power Stroke and the 5.9-liter Cummins ISBE. They're good for as much as 125 extra horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque. The Juice includes five power levels, increases fuel economy, and helps eliminate downshifting while towing. Combined with the Attitude in-cab controller, you can switch power levels on the fly as well as monitor EGT, boost, engine temperature, engine load, and more. Edge Products; 888/360-EDGE.www.edgeproducts.com
| Open UpBy replacing the entire factory air path, including the filter, K&N's Air-Charger intake for GM 6.6-liter Duramax diesels virtually eliminates restrictions. It's good for an increase of about 15 horsepower and improved efficiency. The rotationally molded tubes reduce noise and provide a cooler air charge than systems with metallic tubes. K&N Engineering; 800/858-3333.www.knfilters.com
| Desktop TuningSniper's Special Forces software for tuning 1999-2006 Power Stroke trucks enables you to tow serious loads while running the 100-horsepower version of the program. It also lets you make adjustments from your PC. The program includes three power settings (for 50-, 75-, and 100-horse gains), plus you can change transmission-shift firmness, lock up the converter, and adjust for mods like exhaust changes, aftermarket injectors, nitrous, or propane. Sniper; 407/321-5725.www.snipertuning.com
| Fifth-Wheel SuspensionFirestone's newest Ride-Rite suspension system was designed for one-ton Ford pickups equipped with fifth-wheel or gooseneck hitches. The setup doesn't interfere with the hitch, and it's a no-drill installation that uses the factory holes. The air-helper spring system increases ride comfort and improves handling, whether or not you're towing. It also increases load-carrying abilities. Firestone Industrial Products; 800/888-0650.www.riderite.com
