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07-29-2015, 06:01 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 386
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Looking at buying banks powerpack system!!!
Just got back from Colorado in my motorhome towing a chevy Colorado reg. cab. Im looking at the banks power pack system for the motorhome to have more power in the hills and in the headwind.
My first question is does it make a difference?
Has anyone installed this themselves?
How does it affect the shifting going up hills?
Thor 37gt 2013 5 speed trans. F53 chassis
I have installed sct tuner, roadmaster reflex,
and have done the swaybar fix. These things have made a world of difference so far.
Thanks
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07-29-2015, 06:15 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Poulsbo, WA
Posts: 749
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I seriously looked into the system for our 454 Bounder. From all the research I did, it appears to be a substantial boost in HP and Torque over stock with improved mileage pulling grades. While a bit mechanical, I looked into having it installed. Seems around 10-15 hours at a cost of over $1,000 and that presumes no issues removing the old headers.
Since we will probably be upgrading next year, I could not justify the $3,000+ cost. So I just sprung for the Ram Air intake in hopes of just a bit more giddy up. But, if we were going to keep our Bounder I would have pulled the trigger. And as I understand it, tranny shift points do change for the better.
__________________
Bill and Debb---2010 CT Coachworks Siena 35V
1999 Jeep Cherokee Sport---Roadmaster Falcon 5250 -
1 Cavalon (Scooby) 1 Papipoo (Bella- DOB 5/06/18)
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07-29-2015, 07:52 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 287
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We have a 2008 Damon Challenger 378 on a Workhorse chassis towing a 2012 2 dr Wrangler. We have been to several western states over mountains. The only time that more HP may have been needed was going over the 11,000 ft pass in Colorado but we made it just took a little longer. I dont understand the need to spent thousands of dollars on a MH to get more HP. I don't know if I'm missing something, I have seen several MH with the Banks Emblem on them but it doesn't make sense to do the upgrade and not get a substantial gain in MPG.
__________________
Mody n Domy
full timing it
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07-29-2015, 08:30 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Warner Robins, GA
Posts: 2,613
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mody n Domy
We have a 2008 Damon Challenger 378 on a Workhorse chassis towing a 2012 2 dr Wrangler. We have been to several western states over mountains. The only time that more HP may have been needed was going over the 11,000 ft pass in Colorado but we made it just took a little longer. I dont understand the need to spent thousands of dollars on a MH to get more HP. I don't know if I'm missing something, I have seen several MH with the Banks Emblem on them but it doesn't make sense to do the upgrade and not get a substantial gain in MPG.
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Since you have the 8.1L Chevy engine with the Allison transmission the Banks system won't do much to improve the power. If you had the Ford V10 you would get about a 15% increase in power installing the Banks System.
When we purchased our coach with the Workhorse 8.1L and Allison transmission I drove a similar one with the Ford V10 and Ford transmission. I noticed a big difference in the motor noise, the power output and the handling. I paid more for the Workhorse but it was worth it.
Jon
__________________
Jon & Sue Francis (Retired U.S.A.F.)
Lil Girl-Rescued, Abby Rescued, Peaches Rescued
06 Allegro 35TSA Workhorse Chassis
2013 Chevy Spark Dinghy
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07-29-2015, 08:40 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Solo Rvers Club iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Vancouver, WA
Posts: 37,725
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Have had two Banks systems. First was on a '98 35' Santara 460. Installed by CW. Did improve the power and shifting but didn't notice any mileage improvement.
Second was on a Cummins ISC 350, again made a big difference in power but no noticeable mileage improvement. I installed that one myself.
__________________
2009 45' Magna 630 w/Cummins ISX 650 HP/1950 Lbs Ft, HWH Active Air
Charter Good Sam Lifetime Member, FMCA,
RV'ing since 1957, NRA Benefactor Life, towing '21 Jeep JLU Rubicon Ecodiesel
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07-29-2015, 08:49 PM
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#6
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Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Columbia, CA
Posts: 96
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We had a 2004 winnebago adventurer with the Chevy 8.1 and had the banks system in stalled at camping world. It made a world of difference in perfromance and power output. We live in ca and going over the grapevine is real slow going as it is long and steep. After installing the banks we went over the grapevine doing 65 passing all the big trucks with no problem.
DH said it was the best improvement we did. We didn't get any more mpg but he said that was probably because he couldn't keep his foot out of it as it made him feel like teenager again with all that power.
__________________
Lee & Diane
2005 Itasca Horizon AD
Columbia, CA
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07-29-2015, 08:59 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,391
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You got to feed the ponies if you want them to work. More HP ain't gonna get better mileage.
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07-29-2015, 08:59 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
National RV Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 817
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As you might gather from previous posts, the key to this is the application. Banks appears to help on older V-10s, Ford and Chevy V8s. For your rig, I sincerely doubt you will notice much difference in power, and will so no change in MPG.
My personal experience: Installed a full Banks, including the Transcommand on my 2001 Class C, with the older V-10. The result was very disappointing. I could not see any increase in power, a slight improvement in shift patterns, and an actual drop in my MPG. IMHO, it was a total waste of the $$$$. My current class A, 2006, 34' has the newer V-10 (2006 chassis) and I feel it performs better than the 30' C did after the Banks.
__________________
Neil, Lin, and our furry companions, Ashby and Cody. 06 National Surf Side.
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07-30-2015, 02:12 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Casa Grande AZ
Posts: 246
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We had the full Power Pak installed 5 yrs ago on our 36 ft. 2004 Dolphin. (8.1 Workhorse). Notice a good difference in Torque at levels you need it, 45 to 65 MPH. You do not buy power and expect to increase mileage. It depends on which you want. I am not sorry for the investment. I believe that it will ad to resale value also.
__________________
Alleyman; 2004 Dolphin 5355; Banks Power Pack, Ottominder; 405 Watts Solar, 2010 Explorer XLT Toad. four month boondockers!
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07-30-2015, 02:51 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 5,752
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor 37GT
Just got back from Colorado in my motorhome towing a chevy Colorado reg. cab. Im looking at the banks power pack system for the motorhome to have more power in the hills and in the headwind.
My first question is does it make a difference?
Has anyone installed this themselves?
How does it affect the shifting going up hills?
Thor 37gt 2013 5 speed trans. F53 chassis
I have installed sct tuner, roadmaster reflex,
and have done the swaybar fix. These things have made a world of difference so far.
Thanks
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All the responses seem to be Workhorse related, but this is a Ford chassis. Have you considered the 5star tuning or any of their products?
__________________
2015 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
2018 Chevrolet Colorado Toad
Roadmaster Tow Setup
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07-30-2015, 05:47 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Entegra Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 386
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Thank you all for your feed back. Im not concerned with the mpgs as long as it stays the same or better. I do have five star tuning. When we were in Colorado we went to Lake City and had a great time, but the mountains are more than our motorhome liked. About half way through the mountains we decide to unhook the truck and it did a lot better, so we did this on the way home until we arrived in Colorado springs. I was hoping to find someone with a newer F53 chassis that has done this. We love our motorhome but going up mountains with the pedal to the metal and only doing 30-35 mph doesn't seem very healthy for the engine with a toad on the back. I would love to hear from someone with this chassis and length. Again thank you all for the feed back.
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07-31-2015, 07:46 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Penticton BC
Posts: 203
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I work at a Ford dealer that works on a lot of Motorhomes (all chassis brands).
The Banks system really perked up the 460 but really does not seem to do much for the V10.
I can't see it making a huge difference for you maybe you will climb the same hill at 38 mph that was 35 mph before still WOT with her tongue hanging out.
__________________
99 Dutch Star Spartan 300 Cummins,Toad 06 Matrix
31 Model A , 2007 Road Glide, 56 Chevy Handyman station wagon (in Progress)
DW Suzie and Georgia Newfie,Cleo Mastiff
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07-31-2015, 08:08 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 2,971
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Just MO, but the last thing I need is to spend a bunch of money for a little more HP, when there are so many other things that will sap your wealth during ownership.
With our coach and for example, I'd probably be wise to install more tranny cooling and a temp. gauge for it, as well.
__________________
07 Revolution LE 40E_1 1/2 Baths_Spartan MM Chassis_06 400HP C9 CAT_ Allison 3000
Dinghy_2010 Jeep Wrangler JKU ISLANDER
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal Chevy Model 6350 (SOLD)
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07-31-2015, 09:00 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 257
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You get more power but I wonder if that puts too much stress in the motor and trans. Not sure if our drive trains were built to be hot rodding up hills.
__________________
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"Mrs. CC. Magna" 36' 1993 Country Coach, Magna, 300hp Cummins, 5 speed Alison trans, #5016
127,000 miles and counting...
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