Toyota Tundra Tuning Options – Bully Dog Tuner What You Need to Know
Tim Esterdahl | Nov 06, 2013 | Comments 17
When the Bully Dog tuner came out some time ago, the fast truck owners were super excited about finally having the opportunity to tune their rides. After scouring forums and reading through multi-page threads, the consensus seems to be, well, there doesn’t seem to be one. Here is what we seen and read in real world testing.
This Bully Dog tuner can help you go fast, really fast although it comes at a price.
The Bully Dog GT T+ is an electronic tuning device that was released with 4 different tuning options (stock, tow, regular, premium + a new trail tune) and a whole range of other features. While the tuner has fast truck owners seeing improved shifting, increased HP and off the line speed, there are other features that are handy. These features include things like changing the seat belt chime, altering the settings for lighting and door locks as well as modifying how the power windows and sunroof can operate. For a complete list, click here for the Bully Dog website.
While these other features are great, the ECU tuning is really where the market is for this. Retailing at around $1k, it is for the serious Tundra owner. By altering the stock tuning, these truck owners are able to “wake up” their truck. It responds better and, for many, the “butt” dynamometer is outstanding. While on the subject of dynamometer testing, the forums seems to be mixed on results with some owners reportedly getting better results versus others. Bully Dog’s owner testing video shows many improvements including +71 HP and +70 lbs of torque, yet real world testing seems mixed and many owners just haven’t hit those marks.
The other thing to know about the Bully Dog tuner is that truck owners without a supercharger are less enthusiastic about the results. On many forums, you can find the tuner for cheap since many of these owners are selling them. That doesn’t mean that all truck owners don’t like it, it just hasn’t been as big of a hit with this group.
At the end of the day, it seems the tuner is really great for those owners who like to drag race their truck. However, it is just one of the many aftermarket mods they do. Most of these trucks have a supercharger, modified exhausts, slick tires and other goodies. Plus, increasing the cost. is that the tuner requires that you purchase higher octane gas. If you are looking to run your truck in the quarter mile, this is the tuner for you and is one of the many modifications you will need. If your truck is a work truck, then skip it.
What do you think? What have I left out? Have you heard anything different about the Bully Dog tuner?
Editor’s note: One of the reasons, we have been slow to write a story, was that we were waiting for all the kinks to be worked out. It seems there were several issues that have since been resolved.
Related Posts:
Filed Under: Toyota Tundra Accessories
It does sound good for the enthusiast. Well I’m not excited about it. That doesn’t mean it isn’t good for others. Just like a 4×4 or going off road. I’m not into it. I use to like to hunt but now could care less. I’m not young so I don’t have that drive to do those things. Nothing against those who like to do those things. For me I’ll just watch them do those things.
Tim,
If only they brought that price down from Space. Most of us do not have salaries of NASA scientists. The Tundra is able to tow the Space Shuttle, it doesn’t mean we are willing to pay astronomical prices. Houston to Bully Dog…come back to earth over!
T
T,
LOL! Houston to Bully Dog…
-Tim
You guys can read the realtime results on Tundratalk. Not much power increase for normally aspirated 5.7L engines. It will change the drivability and responsiveness of the truck, remove speed limiter, turn off seatbelt chime…
Art,
That is exactly what I read as well.
-Tim
Tim,
I think someone should let me give it a whirl (test). I’ve been using a Piggyback Tuner for the last 2 years and I think I could point out the differences as I have the Uni-Chip as my starting point for comparison =o).
T
T,
Actually you should check out the forums. With the winter weather moving in, a lot of the northern state drag racers are being shut down. Depending on where you live, you might be able to “borrow” one for a little while. Just a thought.
-Tim
T,
I hit a wrong button and lost your comment on emailing you. I’m out of town right now, but when I get back I’ll contact you. Really, it is just about going on the various forums like TundraGeeks or Tundratalk and poking around.
Tim
I’d be curious to know if application of this device/tuner voids the warranty.
Engines are way more complicated than just 10 years ago.
LJC,
Probably if the manufacture can prove that the tuner caused the problem. If you can prove it was a defective part then they would stand behind their warranty. There is the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, but it is still murky.
-Tim
Like the tuner I got for my TBSS, this one can alter or firm up the shift points on the Tundra’s transmission. That alone got me interested because my trans is a slow poke yet I don’t want to get the Spoolin shift kit that smacks me in the back of the head at low speed! I also do not race my truck but can see the need for a shift kit for guys that do race. It’s a must and YouTube vids bear this out.
However, as y’all pointed out, the blogs are mixed but leaning neg on this tuner with some guys saying BD promises the real power when you opt in for their tune setup for >93 octane fuel or even race fuel. Who has access to that on daily basis? Not me. Nor do I have the wallet.
I’m gonna wait it out.
Thanks for bringing this up for review!
Rick,
My pleasure. I was initially going to jump on the story, but I thought it better to wait it out and see what “real world” testing revealed. I’m pretty glad I did since I think the story about is pretty useful without all the “excitement” overwhelming it.
-Tim
You might want to hold off on this product guys. There have been a lot of issues reported with some of the race guys over at TundraGeeks. Most recently someone fried their ECU as a result of the BD tuner locking up.
Read this entire thread.
http://tundrageeks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9571
I have a stock Tundra 12 and just want to know if I can get better mpg! no one seems to answer that. It would be worth it for me, in the $500 range just to get better mpg. I put on about 75miles a day!
Good question Chris. I have a 2008, and it is a rocket already. Looking also to improve mileage and performance. Does anyone have an answer for Chris and myself?
If your looking to improve MPGs and a little better performance, do some simple upgrades, ex: exhaust, CAI, headers, even better spark plugs and coils. This is also a lot safer considering some have fried their ECU from the BD tuner locking up.
Hey jason what kinda spark plugs and coils should I go with??