Wastegate vs vgt-Towing up a near vertical gravel road!

[turbovan]

Not sure if this is the place for it, feel free to move as needed.
Went to a local bike spot the other week, towing my 12K toyhaul up a near vertical gravel road, loose and loamy, a few have issues but it seems the newer trucks with heavier trailers and vgt turbo's don't struggle so much.
I find in 4L, the turbo won't spool so I can't modulate the throttle and its either all or nothing.
Took me 7 try's and the only way I made it was to lock it in first, foot to the floor and hold on.
Thought I was going to break an axle or 2 and more but got away with it. Destroyed my new rear tires though.
I know VGT turbo's make boost off idle, as i drive them and have towed with one. I have a near new LMM turbo I can put on and have the turbo turned on in my LLY ecm, or is there a better option for a turbo as the true LLY turbo is bigger than the LBZ and LMM.
Is this going to work or I am chasing my tail? TIA.

 

[Chevy1925]

Sounds more like a tuning issue. I can modulate mine pretty darn easy. Specially 4 low

 

[2004LB7]

Agreed. Sounds like a tune problem

Torque converter choice might play into it as well

 

[NC-smokinlmm]

I’ve put an lmm turbo on an LLY, I don’t think it required retune either. It ran great, the lly turbo is bigger but the lmm turbo responds faster. He only swapped bc he thought the turbo was bad.

 

[turbovan]

Sounds more like a tuning issue. I can modulate mine pretty darn easy. Specially 4 low

Even towing up a steep gravel hill?
Trouble is, my tuning options are limted, well, everyones are these days, thanks EPA.

 

[2004LB7]

Even towing up a steep gravel hill?
Trouble is, my tuning options are limted, well, everyones are these days, thanks EPA.

Can you load the stock tune and try that?

 

[turbovan]

Can you load the stock tune and try that?

I can't because its a LLY with an LB7 turbo. That was hard enough to find someone to do that.

 

[2004LB7]

Still sounds like tuning. Does it give you an all or nothing type throttle? Boost leak can do that too

 

[Chevy1925]

Even towing up a steep gravel hill?
Trouble is, my tuning options are limted, well, everyones are these days, thanks EPA.

Yup. I had my toy hauler on the back and tracker inside trying to climb a steep ass muddy 2 track that my dad decided we needed to go over to camp. Also done many a dune trip where i had to be easy on the throttle in sand to keep axle hop down (prior to axle wrap bars). No issues.

Sure you dont have a maf issue?

 

[turbovan]

Still sounds like tuning. Does it give you an all or nothing type throttle? Boost leak can do that too

No boost leaks.
Its hard to control so if I want to be slow and gentle up the hill, it just bogs, then I have to mash it to go then all hell breaks loose.
Besides that, its perfect.

 

[turbovan]

Yup. I had my toy hauler on the back and tracker inside trying to climb a steep ass muddy 2 track that my dad decided we needed to go over to camp. Also done many a dune trip where i had to be easy on the throttle in sand to keep axle hop down (prior to axle wrap bars). No issues.

Sure you dont have a maf issue?

New OEM maf 5 years ago. Stupid me dropped the original and broke it, sigh!

 

[Chevy1925]

New OEM maf 5 years ago. Stupid me dropped the original and broke it, sigh!

Not the actual maf. The way its reacting is like fuel is real limited due to maf limiting till the g/s hit a certain spot and fuel starts comin in harder.

 

[turbovan]

Not the actual maf. The way its reacting is like fuel is real limited due to maf limiting till the g/s hit a certain spot and fuel starts comin in harder.

Ok, I'll put my labscope on it.

 

[2004LB7]

No boost leaks.
Its hard to control so if I want to be slow and gentle up the hill, it just bogs, then I have to mash it to go then all hell breaks loose.
Besides that, its perfect.

I've run into similar situations with ice and snow on hills. Revs are high and speed is good. Then it upshifts and or finds a spot where it gains more traction it bogs down and looses momentum.

Solution, put the gear selector into a lower gear to restrict the ability to upshift and thus maintain RPMs and power.