Attention: TDR Forum Junkies I have a Smarty on my new '07. I had a TST with remote gauges on a '98 24 valve for 9 years. My buddy has a Edge Juice Attitude on his '04. So here is my un-biased opinion based on these experiences.
Everybody has posted the pros of the Smarty, so there is no sense in me repeating them. But here are a few more.
1. You can adjust the speedo for tire size
2. Programmer can be updated from the internet with new programs for the ECM. When Dodge releases an update, usually the Smarty guys come out with an update a little later.
I use my truck to tow things, in the mountains, at high altitude. And when I am not using it to tow, I use it to communte, 30 miles one way, and I am trying to get the best fuel economy possible. So here are some of the Smarty disadvantages. These are pretty much the same disadvanages for all "downloader" type power enhancements.
1. Not adjustable on the fly.
2. Can't "de-fuel" based on an EGT set-point like the fancy TST and Edge boxes do. This is a very big limitation if need to tow something up long hills. If I am going to tow, I have to watch EGT like a hawk or re-load the stock program.
3. Claims of lowering EGT are minimal at best, as it is with any power box or downloader. You need to make serious changes to the turbocharger setup to get a usable improvement. I typically use software #3 with stock torque management for stock injectors and stock turbo. I can bury the pyro past 1400 in about 5-10 seconds. Software #1 is takes about 10-15 seconds. That is full throttle at in 5th gear going 60 mph.
4. Claims of increasing fuel economy are minimal at best, as it is with any of the power boxes. I think the Smarty maybe raised my economy by 0. 5 to 1. 0 mpg, on a good day, with a tailwind, driving like grandma. I want to see an improvement so my imagination can make me see what I want.
5. The Edge box can "de-fuel" if it detects auto transmission slip. The Smarty or any other downloader can't do that.
6. It will screw up your overhead fuel economy computer (even more than it already is). But any power box or downloader will screw it up. With the Smarty software #3, my truck reads about 2mpg high. Before smarty, it reads 1mpg low.
7. Some people like smoke. I don't. To me it is just a waste of fuel. You have to be careful if you have a manual transmission, or the Smarty can make your truck smoke like an old dump truck, even on #3. If you keep the revs high, there is no smoke.
The Smarty is still a great setup. But if you work your truck hard, be warned, there are some limitations. But then, all the power enhancements have limitations. I havn't heard the statement around the TDR in a while but here it is... "I am my own warranty station!"
Good Luck,
Sean
Everybody has posted the pros of the Smarty, so there is no sense in me repeating them. But here are a few more.
1. You can adjust the speedo for tire size
2. Programmer can be updated from the internet with new programs for the ECM. When Dodge releases an update, usually the Smarty guys come out with an update a little later.
I use my truck to tow things, in the mountains, at high altitude. And when I am not using it to tow, I use it to communte, 30 miles one way, and I am trying to get the best fuel economy possible. So here are some of the Smarty disadvantages. These are pretty much the same disadvanages for all "downloader" type power enhancements.
1. Not adjustable on the fly.
2. Can't "de-fuel" based on an EGT set-point like the fancy TST and Edge boxes do. This is a very big limitation if need to tow something up long hills. If I am going to tow, I have to watch EGT like a hawk or re-load the stock program.
3. Claims of lowering EGT are minimal at best, as it is with any power box or downloader. You need to make serious changes to the turbocharger setup to get a usable improvement. I typically use software #3 with stock torque management for stock injectors and stock turbo. I can bury the pyro past 1400 in about 5-10 seconds. Software #1 is takes about 10-15 seconds. That is full throttle at in 5th gear going 60 mph.
4. Claims of increasing fuel economy are minimal at best, as it is with any of the power boxes. I think the Smarty maybe raised my economy by 0. 5 to 1. 0 mpg, on a good day, with a tailwind, driving like grandma. I want to see an improvement so my imagination can make me see what I want.
5. The Edge box can "de-fuel" if it detects auto transmission slip. The Smarty or any other downloader can't do that.
6. It will screw up your overhead fuel economy computer (even more than it already is). But any power box or downloader will screw it up. With the Smarty software #3, my truck reads about 2mpg high. Before smarty, it reads 1mpg low.
7. Some people like smoke. I don't. To me it is just a waste of fuel. You have to be careful if you have a manual transmission, or the Smarty can make your truck smoke like an old dump truck, even on #3. If you keep the revs high, there is no smoke.
The Smarty is still a great setup. But if you work your truck hard, be warned, there are some limitations. But then, all the power enhancements have limitations. I havn't heard the statement around the TDR in a while but here it is... "I am my own warranty station!"
Good Luck,
Sean
What is the recommended setting for towing a 10k trailer??Someone enlighten me please. :-laf
Thanks Bob & Marco
