Banks Speedbrake on a Duramax

hook47 wrote:
I have used the Banks SpeedBrake for the last 4 years and tow above the OP's weight by a good bit. It has performed flawlessly and I wouldn't want to tow without it. It is a module mounted in the engine compartment and intercepts the OEM computer's signal and modifies it. It will not over rev the engine, no more so than the stock grade braking feature will over rev the engine; stock it will go to 4800 rpm in grade braking mode. With or with out the Banks the computer won't let you downshift if the result would be to over rev the engine. I have tried to downshift and it wouldn't do it until my speed was slow enough to not over rev then it would downshift.
I would also recommend the IQ monitor and a thermocouple to monitor EGT's.
I have found that setting the SpeedBrake in Auto mode where through the IQ I can adjust the target speed up or down by either 1 mph or 5 mph at a time works best for me. When I exceed the set speed and ease up on the accelerator the SpeedBrake takes over and starts to adjust the VVT and engage the grade braking feature. It will adjust these 2 parameters to maintain speed; usually never reaching the same high rpms that just the grade braking would get to.
I tow at a touch over 27K GCW and going down a 6-7% grade I can keep a constant speed for as many miles as needed and if necessary lower the set speed through the IQ and it will slowly reduce speed.
It is simple to install and is worth the money. Best bought through Banks; warranty questions and help goes through the reseller first but if bought through Banks they deal with warranty issues directly. Costs when I was buying wasn't better through resellers.

Thanks, (also to Lenny K) this is info I was looking for. I'm not at all interested in a tune.

Mark.