I'm ready.....

[JHolmes]

Truck: 2007 crew cab long bed 4x4 3500 DRW, 5. 9 auto 4. 10, 6000 miles as of today.

Application: Daily driver, family hauler and toybox puller. 38. 5 triple axle 5th wheel @15k loaded to Glamis 8-10 times per season, 5-6 trips to Northern AZ mountains during the summer. Steep grades and extremely high temps (120 plus).

After reading the forums etc. for 5 months it was an easy decision to upgrade my transmission first. ATS converter, valve body and billet input shaft along with a Mag Hy-tec pan and auxiliary cooler with fan.

What has not been an easy decision is the power end of things. There are so many options regarding programmers, intakes and exhaust systems. I don't care about being the fastest truck in town. I want the truck to live a good long, reliable life with more than enough power to get my garbage to the dunes and up that long steep stretch of I-40 to Flagstaff.

I have looked at the Banks Big Hoss package and like what they market but can't help but think it is more marketing genius than products that are actually worth the pretty penny they are asking for it. I do like the idea of making good power without blowing a ton of black smoke(don't get me wrong, I like seeing a big plume but would prefer not to have my truck do it if possible).

Please help me make my final decisions regarding power upgrades for my specific needs.

 

[Mike_0521]

If i wanted mine to last. I do! I wouldnt do anything. U have plenty of power. Do an intake and call it a day. I was looking at the banks ram air. Thats just me. Post, if you do upgrade!



-Mike

 

[CHolman]

Okay here's my opinion... Get a good free flowing exhaust, intake I love my AFE stage II and a SMARTY and be done with it... My friend Joe here at work was getting ready to get the same package and I talked him into the above and he couldn't be happier. I wouldn't set his SMARTY past the 90 with timing because he has the stock transmission and I told him even that was pushing IMO, but he loves it... For like $1,500 he threw the cat out and welded in a AERO turbine, free flowing intake and SMARTY. OH and it as a very light haze under full throttle...

 

[RankRam]

Okay here's my opinion... Get a good free flowing exhaust, intake I love my AFE stage II and a SMARTY and be done with it... My friend Joe here at work was getting ready to get the same package and I talked him into the above and he couldn't be happier. I wouldn't set his SMARTY past the 90 with timing because he has the stock transmission and I told him even that was pushing IMO, but he loves it... For like $1,500 he threw the cat out and welded in a AERO turbine, free flowing intake and SMARTY. OH and it as a very light haze under full throttle...

That's very good advice... ..... but don't forget gauges though.

 

[JHardwick]

Most guys are gonna suggest the Smarty becuse it's the latest entry.



Not too long ago it would have been the TST, A-2 before that, Quad, EZ etc, etc Not to mention the dozen that I missed, and then a dozen more stack combinations.



If you forget about brand names, HP ratings, programmers, foolers, timing, pressure, timing & pressure and answer 2 questions honestly, you'll pare down the choices measurably.



1. Do you want to keep the factory loaded program in your ECM, or are you okay with new programs being written to your ECM?



2. How important is in-cab adjustability to you?



Answer these 2 questions, and then see what is left.

 

[JHolmes]

Gauges built in the unit are a plus as is in cab adjustability. Is there a reason I would or would not want my ECM to have a new program written to it?

 

[DHuffman]

Is there a reason I would or would not want my ECM to have a new program written to it?

Warranty issues, perhaps...

 

[Bob Wagner]

the smarty is the only ecm tuner on the market that is not detectable when returned to stock.



Thank you

 

[Briman]

Just remember to ask your self this... . can I afford to lose my warranty. It is very easy in this modern world to have your warranty revoked for very little. If you chose to BOMB (better off modified baby) I would start with the items that support horsepower; exhaust, intake, gauges, & low pressure fuel pump. Then a turbo/exhaust manifold, modified common rail high pressure pump and injectors. Followed by some sort of programer or box or stack. I would look further than Banks Big Hoss before making my decision.

 

[RSeymon]

Just my 2 cents worth

This point of view comes from someone who lives in Las Vegas NV.



The question to ask yourself is how fast do you need to go up the grades? Our trucks stock will pull your weight you talk about just fine. I myself love speed but when it comes to towing my fifth wheel(see sig) I have plenty of power for all the grades. With that said I have done the following mods to my truck 1. home depot air intake box mod 2. amsoil filter,3. cool blue hose,4. free flowing muffler, 5. cfm+ air horn. I have a stock transmission. 6. Gauges.





One of the guys at work just did the big Hoss set up, Tuner pda exhust turbo system. His truck is a 2003 Did he pay to much ? He loves his set up and the fact that it is what he wanted.



Talk to Bob at smarty and see if you can try the smarty, some might feel that its to much money and power for their needs. There are lots of Tow type tuners out there Gadzilla, The G miser, Edge ez, banks bullet, Predator and on and on.



Get the gauges, air intake exhust set up and air horn, cool blue hose run it a few times pulling and see what you think.



If your not fast enough and want more smoke get any of the above tuners.



P. S. smarty is not the only tuner that does not leave a footprint, I tried a Diablosport at the track and then went back to stock and back to dealer for a issue and nothing was said or found.



Just my 2 cents worth There are many great products out there and this fourm is the place to get the imformation you need to make the right choice. Hope this helps

 

[JHolmes]

No easy answer

With so many choices it is unlikely that there is only one "perfect" combination for me. It seems that the basic idea of an intake system, 4" turbo back exhaust and a programmer with guages built in should work fine regardless of brand name.

Luckily, the shop I use has another customer that has ordered an AFE stage 2 intake, MBRP exhaust and an Edge Juice/Attitude combo to be installed on a 2006 CTD next week. They checked with the owner and he is ok with me taking it for a test drive before it leaves the shop to see what I think. He is not doing any transmission upgrades but only tows a 4000 lb. boat a couple of miles to the lake.

I'll let you know what I think.

 

[MStrain]

I got my brother to buy the Smarty for his 06 6speed, did the software update (2. 08a moderate). I set my Banks Six Gun with speedloader to stock and loaded the level 5 software on my truck. Well now I see why everyone loves thier Smarty's, it will put a huge grin on your face. The Six Gun is a good product and is a low impact power adder, the truck doesn't get too stressed and it runs very smooth on all settings. One thing is that I live in Los Angeles which already has a pretty bad smog problem and I was dumping alot of smoke anytime I punched it even a little, I only tried level 3 and 5 and both were leaving some decent size clouds in the rearview. Also the EGT's were hotter than with the banks, I was hitting 1300 quite easily. I had the Edge EZ and thought it was low quality and the engine rattled and did not sound smooth. With the Banks you get safe power that is very smooth, also no smoke clouds, I don't have the power pda, I just made a little metal bracket that I mounted the little adjuster knob, so it is really easy to go from stock to level 6 (100 hp) by just turning the knob. The Banks Six Gun is high quality as well, the unit is like a solid machined piece of billet. I think the Six Gun with speedloader cost me around $650, I don't know if it will work on an 07 but it should since we have the same engine, I think it is going to go on Ebay soon, or if someone here wants a good deal on it I would sell it for a good price. Since I rarely tow I think I am going to change to the Smarty, if I towed I would probably just keep the Six Gun. I have done the intake, exhaust and an egt gauge and that is all I plan on doing until it is paid off.

 

[Giachino]

Agree with the above: Intake (i use the simple true flow) + replace muffler (i have a cat back and love it, but just did the muffler on my 05 and i was just as happy)... . these two will give you reduced egt's and quicker boost..... then look at power adders / guages.



Try the truck with the J/A Setup... . and see if someone will let you demo the smarty... . if your near phoenix you can try mine... . then at least you'll have some real info to compare... .



I've only used the smarty, but you couldnt pry it from my hands... .



Smarty does smoke... . if left on level 1 or 3 (for towing)... . it's not bad at all unless you punch it at low boost... . also the new beta 4. 4 has less smoke... . i think the benefit of smarty is when you take the trailer off, with your built transmission, you can utilize the upper levels and have a rocketship..... so best of both worlds... good towing and good perfromance...



Comment on EGT's..... i never run above level 3... . EGT's are not an issue on the odd levels... my previous high was 1250* (0-100mph)... and with the beta 4. 4 they're 1100*... . i'm sure they get toastier on the higher levels, but i just couldnt see towing on level 1 or 3 having an egt issue as compared to stock (1400*)... .



Guages: If it were out when i was purchasing, i'd have gotten the quad commander to utilize with the smarty...



Good luck and enjoy... .