Gearhead vs. Spartan vs. H&S opinions needed

skevac · May 14, 2013

I really close to pulling the trigger on a tuner and would like some opinions from people who have actually ran a couple of the tuners listed in the title for comparison to each other. I won't be pulling or racing just looking to get the EPA crap off & make the truck more efficient (better mileage & drivability). I tow off and on in the summer and like the thought of being able to shift the tunes back and forth with a push of a button (H&S) but more people seem to like the Spartan???? Everything I've read about gearhead seems to be great (smooth shifting, low smoke)so I'm leaning towards their tunes on the H&S platform. So, what's everyones opinions? I would really like to hear from someone who has had Spartan & Gearhead tunes to see which they prefered and why? Thanks in advance & please no bashing. Just would like some honest opinions from people who have had experience with these.

sootie · May 14, 2013

there are many threads about this-the search button is your friend. it is all personal preference and budget. spartan and H&S canned tunes work and make good power. they are a tad smokey for my liking and i dont really like either companies trans tunes. i love gearhead custom tunes for the reasons you mentioned as well as mileage and the ability to tweak it to my liking and/or to match upgraded hard parts (turbos, injectors etc). that comes with a price tho. just my .02

Strokin6.4 · May 14, 2013

Why not IDP? Just asking? Craig at MPD seems to love the H&S MCC for 6.4s. His f450 he tuned himself is probably the best shifting I've heard in a 6.4. No wierd bugs like a lot of 6.4s have when the skinny pedal is pushed hard.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

skevac · May 14, 2013

I have to puchase the MCC to get custom tunes right? So, if I do that does that mean I can run anyones custom tunes after doing so? Don't want to sound dumb but, I don't have any exerience with this stuff. Just a lot of reading on here.

VanoFord · May 14, 2013

sub'd to learn since i'll be in the market for a tuner in a few months. knowledge is power...

superstroked · May 14, 2013

skevac said:
I have to puchase the MCC to get custom tunes right? So, if I do that does that mean I can run anyones custom tunes after doing so? Don't want to sound dumb but, I don't have any exerience with this stuff. Just a lot of reading on here.

Yes, I think Gearhead, KEM, and SPE make a tune you can get for the MCC.

jdgleason · May 14, 2013

Stick with Gearhead. Great dude and he has the best tunes out there.

pog · May 14, 2013

gearhead hands down. best tunes ive ever ran on my truck.

Derek@Vision Diesel · May 14, 2013

jdgleason said:
Stick with Gearhead. Great dude and he has the best tunes out there.

Hard to argue this point, but I have NOT tried IDP personally. Majority of that reason is because my gearhead MCC stuff is nearly perfect.

Sequential6.4L · May 14, 2013

I've ran both spartan an H&s, I find the spartan tunes to be more agresssive an better suited for the track, they seem a little stronger the h&s (300hd vs 310/350), the shifting is also harsher an more agressive, but based on the features, adjustability, an user friendlyness my vote is h&s

Fordtrucks · May 14, 2013

I have not tried anything beside the H&S I have now. With that said, I now have Gearhead files for both the trans and engine and it runs AMAZING! The trans file is a load based shifting which was a HUGE improvement over the H&S speed based setup. The shifting is real quick and firm. The engine file is very nice, way less smoke then the canned HD300 file was and seems to make more power at the same time. I also like the ability to drop the power down when I hook on to a trailer, or if I were to loan the truck to my mother lol. The defuel settings are also real handy for safety reasons I think. Just my opinions.

MINK · May 14, 2013

Gearhead on the H&S sounds like a good setup as of late, I still run one of his beta race tunes on my sct and like it.

strokin20 · May 14, 2013

I've Got A Spartan And Gearhead Sct Tunes. I Run Gearhead All The Time. Def The Best Shifting And Coming Home From Louisiana After Installing My 71Mm Atmo, I Got 18.5. Before The ATmo I Was Getting 17.5 On The Highway. Mods Are In My Sig.

White_monster · May 14, 2013

I've tried them all. Spartan has the best monitor hands down. H&s has mcc which is fantastic. Sct is just a tuning platform with an ugly monitor. Gearhead custom tunes have been the best I've run. IDP ran horrible on my truck and I went back to spartan till I got gearhead tunes.

It's been said before and I'll say it again. It's all personal preference.

Rmartin-97 · May 14, 2013

I've ran h&s kem gearhead and innovative on sct. Now in runnin gearhead on h&s and its by far the best tuning ever on my truck. Matt knows what he is doing best tunes out there.

3brorce · May 14, 2013

MINK said:
Gearhead on the H&S sounds like a good setup as of late, I still run one of his beta race tunes on my sct and like it.

What the H is that in your sig?

3brorce · May 14, 2013

Ran Spartan and QTP, TSD and IDP on SCT. My IDP tunes are the best so far. I will have GearHead here sometime I am sure. I didnt give Spartan much of a chance after my trans almost pooped the bed on 310. Like said, its all personal preference. My pre-loaded IDP tunes get the best mileage over all my emailed tunes not sure if others have noticed it or not.