I have been reading up a lot again recently about diesel tuners etc from a all different manufacturers on different forums and magazines etc and i am really getting cheesed off about all the crap that is floating about

Every one seems to write off banks equipment just because it's more expensive that other equipment. Research takes time, Time takes money,

while I was researching purchasing my 2006 chevy silverado and deciding to buy the Banks BOSS HOSS KIT, I spent quite a few hours reading there website and other site and came to this conclusion. They put the money up, they do the research and they make a great products that work and do what the say they will do. What's the point of making 1000 ft lb torque on a daily driver if it's gonna be in the shop more time than your on the road.


I would like to see for the first time a side by side comparison on not only what the tuners can do or produce, I want to see the back ground on the companys to compare side by side. How long they have been in the business etc. I would also like owners sides of the view too Not one line wonders saying " brillant best thing since sliced bread" i want more depth so it's a balanced job.

This is where people are going to send me emails saying Ya talking out ya ass

Why would you care what anyone else says?

There is a product for everyone and not everyone wants the same thing. Edge, Banks, PPE, Diablosport, ATS, BD, EFI, HP Tuners etc all make great products. Some people have good others have bad experiences with all of these companies. It just boils down to what you want to get out of it.

Do your research, buy what you want, and be happy.:)

It sounds like you need to do some first hand research yourself and call/stop by the different business. You have a good theory about Banks, now all you have to do is prove it.

Just a heads up, PPE is going to come up alot, PPE in my opinion is one of the best, the people at PPE spend alot of time on all of thier products,and even more time with the Duramax and the good thing about it is if they overlook something on their programmers (software wise) it's completely internet updatable, so in my opinion PPE all the way:ro), they have some of the best customer service also!

Just a heads up, PPE is going to come up alot, PPE in my opinion is one of the best, the people at PPE spend alot of time on all of thier products,and even more time with the Duramax and the good thing about it is if they overlook something on their programmers (software wise) it's completely internet updatable, so in my opinion PPE all the way:ro), they have some of the best customer service also!




X2

I understand why you want to know all of this info but honestly it seems to me that you have already made your mind up that Banks is what would work best for your particular application. I personally have no problems with Banks, I think they have a good setup for the Duramax, it was just too expensive of an option for me to purchase plus I had already had my Edge Evo for 3 or 4 months by the time that the Banks 6-Gun came out.

Is the Evo the best tuner out there, I don't know. I like it and for right now it has all of the power that I need (more really since I have yet to use the highest setting in over a year). Several swear by the Perdator, including a couple of multi-duramax owners on this site. It is probably one of the best buys for our trucks and it is updatable(I think). The PPE has probably the largest following on this site, with good reason, for a simple tuner it makes tons of power with several different models and price ranges available. If I every decide or am forced to build my transmission I will probably change over to a PPE.

Just continue to do your homework on this site and try not to believe all of the negative or positive things that are put out there. Decide what are the most important features for you and which tuner is right for you and not what is right for everyone else.

I got banks and cant complain. It can also be updated through the internet. Reading or research on the net is one thing that I did. I wished I got in the front seats of a couple before I made my purchase. I still would have gone with Banks, since Ive been in a couple other trucks now with Quad, Super Chip, and Predator. Watched a truck with PPE and it was just off the wall quick.
Now if you go with a tranny upgrade, PPE all the way. If you have more of a software hard on, then go with EFI live....
If I personally get my tranny upgraded, ill go with efi and then buy a tune.

It's your $$$$, do the research and buy what your comfy with..what's the problem..?

Your always gonna get people that so & so is the best, but it's your choice in the end. :D

I have been reading up a lot again recently about diesel tuners etc from a all different manufacturers on different forums and magazines etc and i am really getting cheesed off about all the crap that is floating about

Every one seems to write off banks equipment just because it's more expensive that other equipment. Research takes time, Time takes money,

while I was researching purchasing my 2006 chevy silverado and deciding to buy the Banks BOSS HOSS KIT, I spent quite a few hours reading there website and other site and came to this conclusion. They put the money up, they do the research and they make a great products that work and do what the say they will do. What's the point of making 1000 ft lb torque on a daily driver if it's gonna be in the shop more time than your on the road.


I would like to see for the first time a side by side comparison on not only what the tuners can do or produce, I want to see the back ground on the companys to compare side by side. How long they have been in the business etc. I would also like owners sides of the view too Not one line wonders saying " brillant best thing since sliced bread" i want more depth so it's a balanced job.

This is where people are going to send me emails saying Ya talking out ya ass

If you want to really learn about a product, talk to the users of that product... I read the mfgr's web sites before purchasing too, but you've got to remember, what a mfgr writes about their own product is propaganda. Not saying Banks or anybody is going to lie about theirs, but they will make it sound like the 2nd coming...

The best way to get somwhat unbiased feedback is from the users. Do a search on this site for "PPE". Then do "Stealth 2". Then do "EFILive"

You will find many real world experiences with those products from literally hundreds of people on this site. Those are probably the 3 most popular here.

Why don't more people buy Banks that frequesnt this site? Maybe it's cause their pricing is above the market for what their product does...

I read very early on when I started visiting this site someone wrote that Banks' biggest focus is on marketing, not the product itself. I personally would rather spend money on product than on gloss. And they definitely have the glossiest web site, which costs $$ to put together. They run those fancy diesel funny cars, etc. Who do you think pays for all that stuff? The people who buy their product.

Just my take...

Sounds like you are leaning towards Banks. For 99% of the consumers Banks is a good setup. I personally don't think you need the innercooler at that power level, but thats just my openion. There are allot of Banks bashers on this site, part of the reason for that is Banks advertises the fastest setup out there when it has been proven that a 6-gun equipped truck cant even come close to the performance of a PPE equipped truck. I personally like Banks products, I've used them in the past and was very satisfied, there products just don't meet my needs now. If you plan to stay at a tranny safe power level I don't think you will find anything better than Banks, although there are some other good products out there it all boils down to what your looking for in a programer or tuner.

Ask the manufacturer for advise of specifications and applications, ask users for feedback on the product. Customers don't have a vested interested in ensuring additional people purchase the product.

Cheers
Cindy

I almost bought the Banks but I put them through my customer service AFTER the BUY test first. I did this same test with Diablo Sport and my EFI Live dealer. Those are the only 3 programmer/tool companies I was interested in. I won't say how I tested them in case I want to do it elsewhere in the future, but it's easy. Banks hung up on me multiple times and refused to listen to me. My wife listened in and was shocked. She then divuldged to me that she needed to cancel her order with the local performance shop because she had ordered Banks for me for Christmas. Fortunately she was able to connect with Trippen (So Cal Diesel without me knowing ;)) and Santa delivered EFI Live. This was a blessing in disguise. EFI Rocks! Some days I want a tune with an exhaust brake programmed in and in 45 seconds I got it. Other days I want some smoke...bingo. I may want to go Mustang GT hunting...got a tune for that as well lol. I used Nick's library at DuramaxTuner.com to get me started and haven't looked back. EFI Live and their vendors take care of their customers. They ranked #1 on my "after the buy test."

I liked the Predator tuner as well but being the control freak that I am I was locked into 4 tunes. Customer service was good tho'.

In my opinion, they all make a good product but it's who stands behind their product AFTER the sale that you will remember.

i have the ats e-power workin wonders for me. highly recommend.

Customer service is number one for sure !!:)

Sounds like you are leaning towards Banks. For 99% of the consumers Banks is a good setup. I personally don't think you need the innercooler at that power level, but thats just my openion. There are allot of Banks bashers on this site, part of the reason for that is Banks advertises the fastest setup out there when it has been proven that a 6-gun equipped truck cant even come close to the performance of a PPE equipped truck. I personally like Banks products, I've used them in the past and was very satisfied, there products just don't meet my needs now. If you plan to stay at a tranny safe power level I don't think you will find anything better than Banks, although there are some other good products out there it all boils down to what your looking for in a programer or tuner.


I would just like to point out that Banks can be competitive with stock trans and stock fuel set-up. There a few people that ran 13.5-13.7 w/ppe but that was them just getting ready to upgrade the trans and slap on a lift pump.

With just a ppe tuner, intake and exhaust most people can only pull off very low 14s and very high 13s in Crew Cabs

I would just like to point out that Banks can be competitive with stock trans and stock fuel set-up. There a few people that ran 13.5-13.7 w/ppe but that was them just getting ready to upgrade the trans and slap on a lift pump.

With just a ppe tuner, intake and exhaust most people can only pull off very low 14s and very high 13s in Crew Cabs

By the sounds of his post, I dont think he cares about quarter mile times.

I kinda agree with him though. Numbers mean nothing to me. I could care less which tuner makes the best h.p. or gives the best quarter mile times. No interest, no desire.

Basically any tuning device out on the market does the same thing. Some do it better than others. Some do it more efficiently than others. Some cost more than others. Some fail more than others. Some companies have better customer service than others. Some will fry your stock tranny when pushed hard. Some wont....as quickly anyways...

I was going to purchase the Banks just because of the testing and tuning they have done for a better product but what steered me away was the problems they were having for the LBZ tune and not having a new flash for it. A certain Unit offered some advice on a tuner and i must say the Predator has been awesome especially for the money. I have had 0 problems with it and it has been on for over 20k miles now. $1000 for banks or $300 for predator, the price difference will get you an exhaust and possibly air intake if you desire. It has never limped, no codes, no excessive smoke "no over fueling" and can still be upgraded through your PC. My truck is a daily driver and has to be dependable so i didnt want to go nuts over a powerful tuner, i was looking for a dependable tuner and the price was right.

I have been reading up a lot again recently about diesel tuners etc from a all different manufacturers on different forums and magazines etc and i am really getting cheesed off about all the crap that is floating about

Every one seems to write off banks equipment just because it's more expensive that other equipment. Research takes time, Time takes money,

while I was researching purchasing my 2006 chevy silverado and deciding to buy the Banks BOSS HOSS KIT, I spent quite a few hours reading there website and other site and came to this conclusion. They put the money up, they do the research and they make a great products that work and do what the say they will do. What's the point of making 1000 ft lb torque on a daily driver if it's gonna be in the shop more time than your on the road.


I would like to see for the first time a side by side comparison on not only what the tuners can do or produce, I want to see the back ground on the companys to compare side by side. How long they have been in the business etc. I would also like owners sides of the view too Not one line wonders saying " brillant best thing since sliced bread" i want more depth so it's a balanced job.

This is where people are going to send me emails saying Ya talking out ya ass

You can't go wrong with PPE. Great product and great customer service.

You can't go wrong with PPE. Great product and great customer service.
I went with the PPE and have to say their Customer service has been second to none. Im new to the duramax and they take the time to talk with you not hurrying you off the phone. It make you glad you went with them and if they are reading the posts Thank You for all your help

I had a 2005 LLY with the Banks Big Hoss bundle on it with PDA. Everything worked perfect and no problems. It was amazing to me (my first hot rod diesel)!

A year later I took all the Banks off and traded in the truck on a 2006 LBZ (so I could have the new engine/tranny, leather, and 0% financing. I waited & waited & waited for Banks to come out with a tuner for it. In the meantime with all the waiting, I was reading on here, for hours and hours. For me it came down to EFI Live and PPE. Knowing that I don't have the time to test and tune on my own I went with the PPE. I would have to say that I like it a lot better than the Banks system I had. I can just plug it in the OBD port and download whatever I want, change tire sizes, change gearing, correct speedo, among a LOT more things. With my Banks I couldn't do that. I love the fact that I don't have to wire any tuner up under my hood. When I need to go to the dealer, I upload the stock program and I'm done.

I have nothing against Banks, it worked as advertised, but I'll keep my PPE........oh yeah, I'm still using the Banks exhaust from my 05' on my 06' (I just had to buy one new piece).

I started out with the Banks 6-Gun bundle on my LBZ. Great product quality and great product fitment when installed on my truck. I like the PDA for monitoring the engine & trans very well. For a stock trans and no lift pump truck it ran extremely well. I am not one to be satisfied however. I soon had added more mods and was looking for more power and flexibility for future mods so I added EFILive. From what I've read PPE makes awesome programmers as well. I can vouch for their customer service being second to none.

i haven’t decided on a programmer yet but i did call PPE and they were very helpful, they answered all my questions no matter how dumb they were, they were very patient and their willingness to help was second to none, even when i told them i wasn’t sure if i was ready to make a purchase yet they still wanted to help. when i do decide to pull the trigger on a programmer it will be PPE:D

Banks puts out a good, SAFE product. It is a great starter kit for your truck. My only complaint is that it had ZERO low end, which really sucked when towing. I doubled it up with the Predator and it took care of the problem. I now have the improved ATS E-Power tuner and I think it is the bomb. It really woke my truck up.

I have been reading up a lot again recently about diesel tuners etc from a all different manufacturers on different forums and magazines etc and i am really getting cheesed off about all the crap that is floating about

Every one seems to write off banks equipment just because it's more expensive that other equipment. Research takes time, Time takes money,

while I was researching purchasing my 2006 chevy silverado and deciding to buy the Banks BOSS HOSS KIT, I spent quite a few hours reading there website and other site and came to this conclusion. They put the money up, they do the research and they make a great products that work and do what the say they will do. What's the point of making 1000 ft lb torque on a daily driver if it's gonna be in the shop more time than your on the road.


I would like to see for the first time a side by side comparison on not only what the tuners can do or produce, I want to see the back ground on the companys to compare side by side. How long they have been in the business etc. I would also like owners sides of the view too Not one line wonders saying " brillant best thing since sliced bread" i want more depth so it's a balanced job.

This is where people are going to send me emails saying Ya talking out ya ass
you can buy efilive and make your own tunes....

and banks is a good starter product with mild tunes,and tranny safe features but nothin near ppe. just my .02