Banks pedal monster

please no bashing! has anyone tried one yet? good bad or ugly comments on the Banks product only please

 

Some people really like it, personally I hate it and find them too touchy. If I had a manual I might reconsider it.

I have more experience with the sprint booster. https://www.sprintboostersales.com/...021_TOYOTA_Tacoma_Sprint_Booster_V3--SPRTO026

 

any other feedback?

 

Get a tune its cheaper from comparing the quotes I received from tuners.

 

I installed the PedalMonster and was/is pleased with it. Easy install, noticeable difference in throttle response without having to mash on the pedal every time. (yes...call me lazy) Something to consider if you are just looking at a quicker take-off or passing power is the ECT Power button which Toyota can never say will void your warranty. Another thing to remember is the decrease in MPG. Yes we own a truck so who cares about MPG...but in SoCal where gas is pushing $4 bucks a gallon plus I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I dropped from 18mpg to 14mpg when installed and running in "city" mode. (below that is stock mode)

 

i used the Pedal Commander before any tunes were available. i appreciated it a lot because the factory tune was such crap that my MT truck was awful to drive. the PC saved me from selling the truck, so i was very happy with it.

BUT, the main issue i had was with driveability. throttle modulators like the PC don't adjust any engine dynamics such as port vs. direct injection (among everything else aside from pure throttle position). so when a modulator like that ramps up the throttle level strongly it also strongly engages port injection at low rpm and the thing had an especially mushy power delivery and throttle response. i hated that part and was waiting to correct it. finally we got that handled with the Otto v. Atkinson and port v. direct changes in the proper tunes, which is one of the many reasons i would never consider one of these as long as the tunes are available. because i like driveability... not to mention the tunes handle shifting stuff in the ATs.

 

Is there any chance the PedalMonster messes with the gas gauge? I've had mine on for about a week, got gas before installing it and it's only now dipped below the F mark on the gauge

 

I have a Banks Pedal Monster and like it a lot.
Caveats:
--I have a manual transmission
--I was put off by a few too many reports of the "throttle commander" product triggering limp mode
--I didn't want to put a tune on the truck as I got it as a toyota certified used truck with an extended warranty
--the published HP/Torque curves on popular tunes aren't that impressive, and the stock numbers seem fine to me

I find that the drivability (which admittedly is highly subjective and lacks a consistent definition or metric) is much improved. The Pedal Monster has three categories: city, sport, track. I noticed minimal difference throughout the City range. After just a little tinkering, the lower end of the "track" spectrum is quite nice for me. Not overly touchy, but gives the power I would expect from a 278hp truck at the throttle input I'd expect. YMMV.

I'm not sponsored; no consideration given for this post, and I paid retail. Just a satisfied customer.

 

I looked into these but went for the OTT tune instead much happier. It is always better to retune existing electronics rather than add something additional to trick the stock stuff.

 

I wouldn't personally paint with that broad a brush ("always better...."). I've been impressed with folks' impressions of the OTT tune, and it seems to dominate the tuning market for Tacomas. It seems like the right way to go if you want a tune and have no powertrain warranty concerns. Tunes manipulate many more variables than the pedal monster or throttle commander can. I put a tune on my wife's VW and we both love it; MUCH more power in addition to throttle re-mapping. My issue with the Taco isn't lack of power; just the way it's delivered. Remapping the throttle was all I needed. Now, if OTT tunes unlocked 350hp on 87 octane gas, I'd be singing a very different tune....

 

Here’s my experience: I have been driving with my new Pedal Monster for about a month now and I really like it. I have my setting on Sport with level 4. It accelerates much better without having to depress my gas pedal more than half way down. It also has power midrange from 40-60mph. One thing I was curious about was whether it would down shift more that one gear on some of the rollers in the highways near me. For reference when I had CC to 70mph the transmission would down shift two gears, making my engine rev more than I liked. My resolution was to CC down to 63mph only shifter down one. After installing Pedal Monster my transmission only shifts down one gear at 70mph CC. Just to confirm I tested this multiple times and it fixed my main issue. Two things it resolved for me was the poor acceleration and maintain CC of 70mph on hwys near me with many rollers. I am very happy with it. I feel it everyday when I accelerate and love being able to maintain speed out of on ramps and just busy streets where cars drive a little too fast. My MPG went down as expected, but I static carry about 600lbs from my cap,RT tent and gear. I get 15 city and about 18hwy. My V6 Tacoma comes with plenty of power, but in stock configuration it just doesn’t know how to put it down.

 

I too had good experiance with that 'throttle controller'. 1) Went from stock = horrible. 2) installed the Banks PC installed for almost two years = made the experience five steps better than stock 3) Went to OTT (tune) = the best but not five steps better that stock to the throttle controller. Not sure why the attitude is so 'anti' throttle controller on here...I've got experience with them all. All things equal I would do a tune. For the money, I would consider a TC for the driving experience was close to a tune for me.

 

Running a manual as well - the only thing I want fixed is the slow rev-up while clutched in. I still have to handbrake-start on some hills, especially with a full cab or load, as quickly letting off the brakes and mashing the gas seems to make the truck rev up even slower out of spite. My 2nd gen did not behave this way. Can the pedal monster fix this? The truck almost seems to rev slower the more I push the pedal.

 

Yes. You can "adjust/fine-tune the curve or rate" of the 'electrical signal for the throttle body opening' to the physical pedal movement. With the app, you can adjust and see the change in real-time on your phone.

I have one for two reasons. It connects to the ODBII connector allowing piggybacking of the Banks iDash SupeGgauge with the Pedal Monster. I can fine-tune the physical pedal movement to feel similar to my three other vehicles that are throttle by a physical cable. My last name is Banks but I do not get any discounts.

 

The cool thing with the Banks Pedal Monster is, it defaults to stock when in reverse, so no twitchy throttle in that situation. Also, reverts to stock, if the unit itself fails. Many other throttle/pedal adjusters, put the vehicle in limp mode, and in certain situations... That could be very dangerous. I dont have one on the Tacoma because I am tuned but, I have one on our 2017 GMC Sierra 2500 with the DMax/Allision powertrain, and I love it. Ski