Custom vs OTS VF tune

I’m looking at the OTT (or maybe KDMax) as an option for my 3rd gen on 33s & 4.88 gears. Is it worth driving hours to an authorized tuner for a what I assume is a custom tune? For similar pricing I can get my own tuner and Tacoma tune pack from VF. I assume the later is going to be less optimized, “off the shelf” (OTS) type of tunes…but really not sure what these authorized tuners are doing on their own. Any thoughts, especially from those that have had the chance to run both?

 

The years of development that @PapaRee and @TWTaco have put into the KDMAX tune is well worth the drive. I'm sure you've visited the KDMAX thread in your research. There's a reason it's several hundred pages. Lots of feedback. Lots of input from other drivers have allowed them to develope a top notch product. Full disclosure: I tune for KDMAX in Colorado. I will let others chime in as needed.

 

Get the kit directly from vF. Purchasing tunes from the groups on here usually yields a cheaper price for the tune itself compared to meeting up with the flasher to do it for you. And if an update is released, you can get it via email rather than waiting until the flasher's schedule is open. The same goes for issues as well. You can flash yourself to a known good tune instead of potentially waiting months for the flasher to meet back up.

 

I don’t know any OTT tuner selling tunes for $700. VF kit is $400, a tune pack from all the reputable tuners is $300, including VF. So self tune is $700 pretty much any way you do it. Most 3rd party tuners charge $400-500 to tune your vehicle and in the case of OTT, don’t charge for retunes and updates.

DIY is a great option, but it’s not the same cost as having someone else tune you unless you have significant drive time (gas $). Also, if your truck needs an ECU update you will need Techstream and the files to update your truck. Those are not difficult to find, but it’s another process you need to be prepared to deal with.

*edit* At this point it is pretty clear the base VF tune packs (OV2.0) are not competitive with 3rd party offerings like OTT. There is a reason VF is focusing on making/improving/expanding the tuning software vs. selling tunes.

 

Thanks all - I appreciate the responses.