Remapping: enhancing the performance of your motorhome

Remapping

enhancing the performance of your motorhome

Jeremy Howell explains more

People often find that their motorhome struggles to maintain speed when faced with a steep hill or a head wind: not surprising given their size and the fact that most motorhomes are close to the maximum allowable weight of the base vehicle. The result is lots of gear changing, and difficulty in making steady progress.

Fortunately, these issues can be overcome with a simple modification. By modifying the engine’s software, your motorhome can become more economical, stronger, with better response when climbing hills, require much less gear changing, be much more positive moving off at junctions and generally give a more enjoyable drive.

But I don’t need my motorhome to go faster!

Of course not: motorhomes really aren’t designed to be thrown around at speed! Remapping a motorhome is all about improving driveability and driving pleasure. It’s about not having to worry about maintaining cruise speed when you reach an incline or headwind. It removes the worry about whether or not you can climb a steep hill up to the campsite without dropping down into 1st gear and maybe getting a few more miles per gallon too. It’s about modifying the engine management to better suit the particular needs of a motorhome.

So, how is re-mapping done?

For the majority of vehicles, the process is carried out within 2 hours at your home. It’s not normally necessary to take your motorhome to a workshop and the process is quite simple: 1. A technician will come to your location, carry out a simple diagnostic check on your vehicle – remapping should only be carried out on a healthy vehicle – and take a copy of all the unique engine management files and data held on your vehicle's ECU (engine control unit). 2. These files are modified to provide a personalised upgrade, developed and written for your individual vehicle. This can include any specific requests, such as better fuel economy, good torque for towing a car, etc. The original files are kept so that the vehicle can be returned to original if required. 3. When complete, the re-mapped files are programmed back onto your vehicle's ECU. Then after a final check, the vehicle is ready for you.

It’s as simple as that. No visible modification is made to the vehicle and you can immediately feel the benefit. The remap can be tailored to your specific needs, but generally they are offered in three different ‘flavours’ for simplicity: • Performance remaps – focus on best possible safe gains on torque and power with some improvement in economy.

Remap being carried out on a 2019 Peugeot Boxer 2.0HDi based Motorhome by linking to its diagnostic socket (OBD).

• Economy remaps – focus on best fuel economy with some useful improvement in performance. • Best of both – a mix in between the two options above. Most motorhome remaps would be ‘economy’ or ‘best of both’.

Reliability

A good quality remap from a reputable company will have been developed over many, many hours of testing and should not reduce the reliability or longevity of your vehicle. It will also maintain the vehicle’s compliance with emission regulations and will actually reduce CO2 emissions. It should come backed up with money back guarantees and warranties. If not, look elsewhere.

Insurance

A remap of your motorhome is classed as a modification and you should get in touch with your insurance company before getting the work done. There may be a small increase in premium but nothing significant, particularly if the remap is tailored for best fuel economy. However, all insurance companies are not created equal, so always check first. Your remapping company will be able to provide you with figures relating to the performance increase to your vehicle for you to pass on to your insurers.

A minority of vehicles need to have the ECU removed from the vehicle in order to apply the remap.

Mobile ECU remapping in the Southwest. Remap2Race is one of the best ECU Remapping companies out there. We have over 10 years of experience in the ECU Remapping industry.

If you own a motorhome and you require more torque and power for those dreaded hills, then give us a call! 01172 872133

ecu-remap2race.co.uk

@ecuremap2race @DynamicsEcu @ecuremap2race

TUNING & ECU REMAPPING SPECIALIST

REMAP YOUR MOTORHOME FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE AND MORE MILES PER GALLON

A professional motorhome remap can increase the performance of your vehicle, making all your journeys more enjoyable

For information about what we could do for your motorhome, call our tuning experts today

M: 07522 000299 | T: 02392 706299 info@amtuning.uk | www.amtuning.uk

Unit 3 Wingate Workspace, 25 Wingate Road, Gosport PO12 4HE

Manufacturer’s warranties

There is an obvious concern that remapping may void part of a manufacturer’s warranty although in reality, problems in this area are very rare and could only relate to the engine and transmission. However, if you are nervous about the effect remapping might have on your warranty, it would be best to wait until the warranty period ends. Remapping will make no difference to normal servicing, MOT test, repairs, diagnostics, etc.

Tuning boxes

A tuning box is a separate piece of hardware fitted onto your engine. The box contains the remap software and the best tuning boxes can be as good as a normal remap. The advantage is that it can simply be removed – returning your motorhome back to standard – and then refitted later. The disadvantage is the cost. A good tuning box is more expensive than a normal remap as you pay for the tuning software specific to your vehicle and your requirements, and the hardware. Cheaper tuning boxes tend to lead to higher emissions, rough running and the reliability is often poor.

Is it for you?

Well, if you find yourself wishing your perfect motorhome had come with the 160HDi engine instead of the 130HDi, for example, then maybe yes. If all is well with your insurance and vehicle warranty and you find a re-mapper who offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, then why not give it a go. It could make your holiday drive even more enjoyable.

Jeremy Howell is a Fellow of The Institute of the Motor Industry and lectured for many years in Automotive Engineering. He currently runs Halesowen Engine Remapping and Kidderminster Engine Remapping when not out and about in his Elddis Autoquest.