KDMAX-PRO or Shift Sense Pro - V2

Recently picked up a 2016 Tacoma TRD Off-Road and it took only a few days to get pissed about the well documented crappy shifting. I immediately dove into the forums and discovered there a many possible fixes/improvements. Two that I have on my short list are the KDMAX - Pro tune or the plug-n-play Shift Sense Pro device. Both solutions have a lot of positive reviews and happy customers.
Please let me hear your experience with these products - Pros & Cons

My list.
KDMAX-Pro: Pros - permanent solution, proven. Cons - $400-500, find and travel to a tuner.

Shift Sense Pro: Pros - $175, solid reviews. Cons - more wires/equip. to stuff under the dash.

 

Welcome


I think most people will say tune. I don’t have either though, never had shifting issues with my truck

 

I have the Shift Sense.
Things i like:
-it's a predictable speed based shift
-doesn't have to have a lot of 'load' to keep it at or above 1,500 rpm
-flex lock is not present from S1-S3

 

I vote neither. Change the diff gears to 4.30 or lower for a true fix. I made my way through the shift sense, then tuned, then regeared. I wasn't happy until the gears.
2018 TRD OR

 

I went back to stock tune. It is hella smooth and mpg back up in the 20's. If vf tuner allow me to add what shift sense has I'd do that instead of a custom tune. In that case if you ever want a tune u could get one.

 

You can absolutely do that with vF tuner. All you need to change are the throttle settings and leave everything else alone.

 

The "cons" you mentioned re: KD MAX is the price to play and worth the price of admission IMHO. I loaded the tune myself.
The "Cons" you mentioned re: SSP are non-issues.
Easy peasy clean install and it does a good job if you are on a budget.

Sure, I would love to re-gear, just not in my budget and the thought of having to do this just pisses me off more.....

I waded into the waters with SSP straight away and was happy for a time.
Since then, I have been through OV Tune and and currently running KDMAX with an eye on the Overlander reviews.
More low end TQ sounds good to me. I don't need more top end as I don't drive fast.

My SSP could be had at a mutually agreeable price. Ping me if you are interested.

Good luck. Apart from re-gearing this should be a pretty easy decision for anyone if they intend to keep the truck and want to like it more.

 

Dude kdmax pro for sure if that's what tune your looking at . That shift sense is garbage. All It does is mess with throttle sensitivity. The tune will do that and more. Shifting will be quietly improved and you can choose what throttle sensitivity fits you . Might take some time for muscle memory on the ole foot but you will adjust . Overall the one time tune and done will definitely be more beneficial to you .

 

Buy a vf tuner and tune yourself. It’s actually about the same price as getting someone to tune for you THEN you can try different throttle sensitivity with an easy flash of the computer. It’s so simple even a 54 year old dude like me can do it.

 

Are you confusing SSP with Pedal Commander.... or am I ?

SSP does extend shift points or holds gears longer depending on how you want to look at it, but ......

I think it is Pedal Commander that gives you a more sensitive throttle and a sense or feeling of more power (?)

https://www.dz-custom-innovations.com/products/shiftsense-pro

https://pedalcommander.com/

 

NO affiliation, just spotted this in the for sale section, thought I'd pass it on.....

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ovtune-vftuner-obdii-cable-kit.764140/

 

These are vin locked so I would assume you would have to purchase credits and a license. If it were me I would just buy a new one ( latest addition) and then you know for sure it’s vin locked to your truck and will work. JMO