When you are on the road with your RV, keeping a check on your vehicle's performance can be important. Knowing the state of things such as fuel economy, oil pressure, battery voltage and horsepower can go a long way toward the enjoyment of your trip. It can also help alert you to potential problems before they become major issues. On a similar note, you may want to try and improve your vehicle's performance with a tuner. The right kind of tuner can help you get greater horsepower and fuel economy, for example. No matter what you are looking for, there are different products available that can assist you in these areas.

For monitoring a larger diesel powered vehicle, there is the ScanGaugeD vehicle computer, perfect for RVs. It features the X-Gauge system so you can keep track of a number of different aspects, including customized gauge sets for a specific vehicle. Current speed, fuel economy, RPM, coolant temperature, fuel costs, oil pressure and horsepower are just some examples. Four different gauges can be viewed at a time on the space saving display. The Performance Monitor feature can display and record measurements in real time, including acceleration time, distance, and braking. Up to 8 performance runs can be saved in case you wish to compare them. The trip computer measures 5 different sets of data, so you'll know how far you've traveled, how far you've gone that day, and even how much distance you can travel based in the current level of your fuel tank. The Scan feature will check for trouble codes, which may allow you to troubleshoot problems and turn off warning lights without having to resort to professional service.

The Superchips Flashpaq is a vehicle tuner made to boost performance, when can come in handy when towing a trailer. The Flashpaq interfaces with your vehicle's computer system to help you increase horsepower, torque, throttle response and fuel economy. The Quick Tune feature can change power levels to the most popular settings for your vehicle, including an option set for towing lighter loads. Advanced Tuning lets you select the settings yourself. The time it takes to reach a certain speed or distance can be tracked and logged. The Stock option will reset everything back to the factory settings and remove settings made by the Flashpaq. It's best to reset everything back to Stock when the vehicle is being serviced. It can also give you trouble codes to give you the ability to fix problems yourself if necessary. It features an easy to read display with simple controls for quick operation. Different Flashpaq tuners are suitable for different vehicles, including models for Ford, GM, Dodge and Nissan, so make sure the unit you choose is compatible with your vehicle. Special editions specifically for use in California are also available. Keep in mind that not all the features or tuning functions will be compatible with all vehicles.

As always, if you have further questions on these systems, please feel free to contact us.

By Julie T