Smarty Jr.

[jshumate]

I know this has been discussed before, but I am interested in specifically how much difference Smarty Jr. makes when towing a heavy 5ver up hill when I now have to really watch the EGTs and end up slowing way down. My trailer is about 12 - 15K lbs. Climbing the Vail pass in CO recently, I was down to 28 mph due mostly to high EGTs and as a result low boost.

If Smarty will keep the boost up and the EGTs under control, that would make a huge difference.
Thanks,

 

[SNGLESHOT]

John,
My BIL tows your size 5thwheel camper and has similar truck. All he does is brag about the Smarty Jr he has on his rig now. He states it is a huge difference and would never be without one now. As for pulling that size mountain grade I am not sure but he goes all over the USA so I am guessing he has been in a similar situation. I am suprised no one with more information that me has posted yet. Hang in there.

 

[Hoefler]

What are your EGT's?? Pulling a grade, you are going to have higher EGT's. My 05 stock would see 1400* pulling a grade and 1200* with out trying. When they added the catalytic converters, the temps went up. The thing to do is drop a gear or 2. Keep the RPM's around 2,000-2,200 and go.

 

[jeepit]

Keep the rpm's up to control the EGT's. I really enjoy my Smarty but still have to keep an eye on the egt's.

 

[CToney]

I have yet to see over 1250 F when towing. With the Jr set on tow you should only see 1200 with a stock air box. Some cold air boxes are not cold and let in hot air raising egt and limiting power. With my Jr on perf and with my mods I have tons of power and managable egts. Don't run a 325 hp truck and tow on the perf setting, too much torque. Keep rpms above 2000 and egt stays down. Check out my other mods.

 

[BigFun]

John,

What I have found with my Smarty Jr and G56 is too much power causes the DM Flywheel and Clutch to slip at lower rpm levels. I tow a 16K gross weight 5th wheel (rarely maxed out) and find if I keep in the HP band and out of the torque band (read higher RPMs), the rig runs well with little slip until RPM drops off. Running down the flat hwy in 6th @ 55-65 works well. I downshift on the uphill pulls with little impact. To answer your question, my Smarty Jr works very well keeping EGT in check with better boost. I just do it with higher RPM which is better 99% of the time.

A new SB clutch is in the future.

Otherwise, Smarty Jr performs very well. It's not a limiting factor. The DMF/clutch combo of the G56 drive train isn't designed with all that extra power in mind.

BF

 

[DaveHess]

John, Take the leap. I could send the EGT to 1350 in a New York minute with my VanAachen C3. 1 towing my TT at a gross combined of 17,080. Same highway, trailer, and weight and as before except now with the Smarty Jr on Tow and she'll climb up and tap 1200, and then come back down to about 1100 all with me never coming off the throttle or downshifting. It's a beautiful thing.

 

[AH64ID]

What temps are you seeing? In stock form you are safe up to 1450* for grades, with short periods above that. Its stock, you really won't hurt it unless something fails.



But with my Jr I rarely broke 1300* towing hard, now I rarely break 1200* with the cam and the Jr.

I have yet to see over 1250 F when towing. With the Jr set on tow you should only see 1200 with a stock air box. Some cold air boxes are not cold and let in hot air raising egt and limiting power. With my Jr on perf and with my mods I have tons of power and managable egts. Don't run a 325 hp truck and tow on the perf setting, too much torque. Keep rpms above 2000 and egt stays down. Check out my other mods.

The 03's run a bit cooler than the 06's, but 1300 should be about as hot as the 04. 5+'s will run.



I agree on the air boxes, below 450rwhp they aren't needed.

 

[jshumate]

Thanks for the feedback. Since I didn't win the Smarty Jr. , I'll probably go ahead and get one. As BF said, there will probably be a new SB clutch in my future. Too bad the OEM clutch isn't that strong.

Anyone know of a good place in SoCal (inland empire area) that does SB clutches?
John