What's out there for tunes?

[Aturek]

Hi All,

What is out there for common tunes for 5.3? I have started towing trailer for work on a pretty regular basis and it feels like a LOT for the truck, Granted it's a heavy trailer (enclosed double axel gutter trailer) but it pulls like a lead sled. Getting like 9 mpg sucks and i'm babying it.

Over all i'd like to get better MPG and a bit more power for pulling a trailer. 

What are the reputable tunes out there?
 

[newdude]

2 hours ago, Aturek said:

Hi All,

What is out there for common tunes for 5.3? I have started towing trailer for work on a pretty regular basis and it feels like a LOT for the truck, Granted it's a heavy trailer (enclosed double axel gutter trailer) but it pulls like a lead sled. Getting like 9 mpg sucks and i'm babying it.

Over all i'd like to get better MPG and a bit more power for pulling a trailer. 

What are the reputable tunes out there?
 

 

 

Realistic answer?  Bigger truck.  HD gas or HD diesel.  You state that it feels like a lot for the truck, and that it IS a heavy trailer.  That pretty much sums it up to me that you quite possibly don't have the right truck for the trailer. 

 

Have you ever weighed the trailer?  What is the GVWR of the trailer?  Tongue weight of the trailer?

 

The truck.  Do you know what gearing you have?  3.08 or 3.42?      

 

More towards your question.  Tuning is tricky.  Canned stuff (plug in flash programmers) can be hit or miss.  Custom is usually the way to go.  But.  Tuning, if done poorly, can do more harm in the long run. 

 

As for how it tows now.  These GM V8s, they really make their power 2500-5000rpm.  So don't be afraid to open it up a bit to get to the powerband.  Tow/Haul mode on too.    

 

20 horsepower and 40 torque from a tune isn't going to help much anyhow...

Edited October 16, 2025 by newdude

[asilverblazer]

2 hours ago, Aturek said:

Hi All,

What is out there for common tunes for 5.3? I have started towing trailer for work on a pretty regular basis and it feels like a LOT for the truck, Granted it's a heavy trailer (enclosed double axel gutter trailer) but it pulls like a lead sled. Getting like 9 mpg sucks and i'm babying it.

Over all i'd like to get better MPG and a bit more power for pulling a trailer. 

What are the reputable tunes out there?
 

My 1999 1/2 ton 4.8 2wd, 1999 1/2 ton 5.3 4x4, 2007 1/2 ton 5.3 4x4, 2015 1/2 ton 5.3 4x4, 2016 1/2 ton 6.2 4x4 and my 2018 1 ton diesel 4x4 all get 9 mpg towing:

Large pontoon boat

2 horse trailer

3 horse trailer

27' travel trailer

35' travel trailer

16' utility trailer with tractor, loader and implements

22' gooseneck car hauler with cars

16' utility trailer with hay

 

My father in laws Fords all do the same too.

[KARNUT]

I got 7-9 mph pulling gas and diesel. Stock, banks, vortec, whipple, hypertec, super chips, etc. I did those for empty performance. No help for pulling except getting up to speed faster.

[MikeBMW]

11 hours ago, Aturek said:

Hi All,

What is out there for common tunes for 5.3? I have started towing trailer for work on a pretty regular basis and it feels like a LOT for the truck, Granted it's a heavy trailer (enclosed double axel gutter trailer) but it pulls like a lead sled. Getting like 9 mpg sucks and i'm babying it.

Over all i'd like to get better MPG and a bit more power for pulling a trailer. 

What are the reputable tunes out there?
 

I went with the Superchips Flashpaq F5 from Holley.
A discussion regarding it is here:

 

[2015 sierra]

trifecta performance

 

 

I can't say enough good things about the product best money ever spent on my 2015 gmc Sierra 1500