Towing with the Smarty Beta 4.4 ?????

[Slicks]

Who has used this Beta 4. 4 software while towing heavy and how was the smoke, mileage, and EGT's etc. ? I just made a trip last week pulling my new Toy Hauler (K-Z 41K 14,000 lbs GVRW empty total weight of truck and trailer is 22,000) from IN to IL with the Smarty on SW7 with good EGT's, but too much smoke. The whole side of the Toy Hauler was covered in a light black haze. I loaded the Toy Hauler (GVRW of hauler is about 17,500 lbs truck and trailer is 25,500) then left IL headed for Ca. I set the Smarty on SW3 hoping for less smoke, but wasn't much better. I then dropped to SW1 somewhere in NM, but smoke was still a problem. EGT's where pretty good, but smoke was just too much. The inside of the Toy Hauler even had some black residue inside. My wife was not happy#@$%!

The smoke was only the worst when in overdrive pulling a grade, boost was only 15lbs when in overdrive and of course that is when I would see the most smoke. If I would down shift from overdrive, boost would go up to 25-30 lbs and smoke would clear up a lot. One problem though is that the 2005 trucks don't lock out overdrive when in tow haul mode, and the truck likes to use overdrive and would up shift back into OD and viola lots of smoke. I just wondered if the Beta 4. 4 allows more boost at lower rpms to reduce the smoke and if it allowed the OD lock out feature, like I have read the new Dodge dealer reflash has programmed. Thanks, Jason. .

 

[Sean Flanagan]

With the Smarty Beta 4. 4 on LEVEL 1, with an '07 5. 9 and a 6 spd manual I gave it a towing test. Pulling just 6k, at about 6000-10000ft altitude, up 8 mile long 7% grades (I 70 west of Denver to Glenwood Springs and back). The hills are the only reason why I want more power. EGT was almost unmanageable. I could bury the pyro past 1500 in about 3 seconds of Full Throttle. Also, it would smoke like an old dump truck. There was basically no change in fuel economy, if anything it was worse. I couldn't pull the hill much faster than the stock truck. In my opinion, this beta software ain't for towing anything, just for hot rodding. The beta program is very aggressive. That's why it's beta, use at your own risk.



I did a little playing with it on Level 3 and the thing was even more agressive and would easily slip the clutch. A lot of fun but, way too much for me and my wallet.



Sold the Smarty on E-bay for almost what I paid for it, got an edge with the attitude monitor so I can set an EGT max limit. Definitly a much better way to go for towing. Almost no smoke. Costs a little more money though, but that is because of the attitude, which provides gauges too.



The smarty had much more of a fun factor, but the edge gets me up the hill without melting my pistons.

 

[lcaad1249]

I've noticed pretty bad mileage towing my Jeep/Gooseneck. I didn't notice excessive smoke. I tried again a couple of weeks later and bumped down the SW and got worse mileage. When talking to Bob afterwards, he said that with the Beta versions all power levels are pretty close to the same.

 

[Bob4x4]

Who has used this Beta 4. 4 software while towing heavy and how was the smoke, mileage, and EGT's etc. ? I just made a trip last week pulling my new Toy Hauler (K-Z 41K 14,000 lbs GVRW empty total weight of truck and trailer is 22,000) from IN to IL with the Smarty on SW7 with good EGT's, but too much smoke. The whole side of the Toy Hauler was covered in a light black haze. I loaded the Toy Hauler (GVRW of hauler is about 17,500 lbs truck and trailer is 25,500) then left IL headed for Ca. I set the Smarty on SW3 hoping for less smoke, but wasn't much better. I then dropped to SW1 somewhere in NM, but smoke was still a problem. EGT's where pretty good, but smoke was just too much. The inside of the Toy Hauler even had some black residue inside. My wife was not happy#@$%!

The smoke was only the worst when in overdrive pulling a grade, boost was only 15lbs when in overdrive and of course that is when I would see the most smoke. If I would down shift from overdrive, boost would go up to 25-30 lbs and smoke would clear up a lot. One problem though is that the 2005 trucks don't lock out overdrive when in tow haul mode, and the truck likes to use overdrive and would up shift back into OD and viola lots of smoke. I just wondered if the Beta 4. 4 allows more boost at lower rpms to reduce the smoke and if it allowed the OD lock out feature, like I have read the new Dodge dealer reflash has programmed. Thanks, Jason. .

With 3. 73's. 35's and a DTT trans you spend a lot of time at very low rpm,close to lugging with a heavy trailer.



Bob

 

[Slicks]

With 3. 73's. 35's and a DTT trans you spend a lot of time at very low rpm,close to lugging with a heavy trailer.



Bob

The sweet spot is between 70-75 mph on the flat with EGT's between 800-950. 50 mph in 3rd gear pulling the long grades, EGT's between 1100-1250.

 

[JCasper]

I had to put a turn down on my exhaust to keep the side of my trailer clean.



It's either that or lose the Smarty. It smokes no matter what.

 

[Giachino]

Beta 4. 4 puts out around 150++hp on any of the levels... . that's why Bob w put the "tow at your own risk" warning..... so i'm not thinking it's a good towing solution..... i'd say use the standard smarty sw on level 1, 3 or 5... . should cut down on smoke, manage egt's and still give a nice power boost... .

 

[ColemanR]

I ran the 4. 4 it is a lot of fun just a bit much for towing I changed back to the aftermarket injector aftermarket turbo program tows much better (my trailer isnt black anymore) nice power boost and EGTs hit a wall at 1300 Randy

 

[Slicks]

I have a turn down on the truck, it don't seem to help. I am currently running the standard Smarty software on SW1. The big problem is not enough boost when pulling the hills at lower RPM (1800) as soon as I down shift and bring the RPM up to 2500 the boost goes up to 25-30 lbs and smoke is in check.



Last night I read on another forum Bob and Marco were pulling 539 horse on a CR with little to no smoke on a truck without fueling mods. I hope the lower power levels of this new tune will include the little to no smoke option as well I used to think the big diesel plume was a riot when pulling my open car trailer on 2-3 hour pulls, but the big smoke clouds really suck when towing a new 5th wheel for 30hours, especially the mess you have to clean up afterwards #@$%!



I am actually contemplating twins for the truck to get more air in and dissapate all this fuel. I talked to Nathan Wright this afternoon. Just a lot of money, and am not sure I can control myself and keep the power low for reliabilty