EZ Towing Report I Promised

[Barry]

Went to PHX. and back in 48 hours to pick up one of the 5th wheels I had bought there. Have been running a VA for 18 months. This was my first trip with the EZ. Good power. Comes on more smoothly than the VA. Ran 70-75 going out empty. Arrived in Mesa with a solid 19 mpg showing on the overhead computer. Hooked up to a 95 Fleetwood Savanna M30-5X and headed back. The EZ does not quite have the same low bottom end that the VA does. (I'm speaking below 1500 rpm) The power comes on very smooth. I would suspect this is because of the input from the boost sensor. I like to operate between 1500 and 2500 loaded. The EZ does this well with a load. I'm guessing the unit we were towing weighed around 9,000#. We could easily run 70-75 with very little boost. Dropping out of Benson, AZ. into the Texas Canyon, a brand new Tropical MH with the Ford V10 emblems comes by me(downhill) running about 75. He was empty with only the delivery driver on board. When we started the long pull out of the canyon, I was anxious to see what the EZ box was going to do. I rolled in about 22# of boost and sat back and watched. About a third of the way up the canyon, I went by that V10 like a freight train would pass a hobo. There are two factors on this trip that keeps me from giving a better report. First: My pyrometer went bad. So I cannot give you true temps. Second: Half way thru the trip coming home, we picked up a blistering tail wind. The trip from Mesa to ELP. where we spent the night gave us 12. 9 towing. The next day with the gale force tail wind, was almost 15 mpg. I know the 19 mpg going out is accurate as I crossed checked it manually. I feel that the 12. 9 for the first part of the homeward trip is fairly accurate. In any event, I had the faulty pyrometer replaced today and I will be making the same run next weekend to retrieve a 95 Hitchhiker 30 RLUG. Would I recommend the EZ over the VA. I think it is a toss up as to power. The item I think should be considered is the smooth roll on of power that the EZ provides. I like the VA and I like the EZ. Booth have good power. Just a little differant characteristics. I have never gotten this good of fuel mileage before, however this is the first long trip with the truck having over 20K on the odo. It could be that the truck is finally starting to settle in. Also a factor on this trip was both going and coming, we went thru every form of precip except hail. It was cold. Altitude ranged from from 800ft. to 5,000ft. I'll keep good records on the next run and report. Y'all behave... ... ... ... .

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2001 2500 QC, ETH/DEE,4:10s, LSD, EZ with elbow(26. 5PSI) Boost/Pyro Guages, 4" Turbo back, BD Brake,Mag-Hytec Cover, Kleen Wheels, Energy Release, 70 gal. fuel, 20K Reese. 25,000 Miles on 01/30/01(RV Dealer)

 

[Big A]

Thanx for the report Barry. Would you say it has about the same power as the VA?
Thanx
Big A

 

[Pete Peterson]

Good report Barry. The VA I assume is the older type. Not the new one for the ETH. Even so it looks like both boxes do a good job,so if the new VA designed for the ETH it just might be the ticket. Thanks again for the report. Pete

 

[Barry]

Big A: IMHO the power of the VA and the EZ are neck and neck. They just approach the power from a little differant angle. The VA has MASSIVE bottom end where the EZ has a smoother roll in of power. After 1800 RPMs they are probably very, very close. The EZ has a boost sensor input lead that restrains the engine from fueling until the boost begins to come on line. Where this is very helpful is to keep you from damaging your driveline when you inadvertantly try to roll on power down at the bottom end of the RPM operating range. With the VA, I could make my drivline rattle in the 1200-1500 range. The EZ won't do that. Safety factor. Both good products. Good competition makes for better products and pricing. I have had bad units from both companies and both replaced the defective units with no questions asked. The company must proform as well as it's product or it is not a good deal... ... ...

 

[Barry]

The dealer taking the 'Hiker II in on trade failed to get the unit in time for me to make my "Mad Weekend Dash" to PHX. So we went to the Gaither Concerts here in FTW. over the weekend. Coming home sunday with a 9000# 5th behind me (and my new replaced pyro guage) I made these observations: 800ft. elevation. 61 degrees. Flat ground. 65MPH @ 2125 rpm. 12# of boost and 600 degrees. There is a short hill that is a pretty good pull coming out of Benbrook on the way home. I stood in it up that hill from 2000 rpms to see if would build heat. It got to 750 and I topped the grade at 2125rpm. So going up hill with the trailer it gained speed. I like the EZ, but I miss the massive bottom end of the VA. Maybe I'll grab a VA to take with me this weekend and switch back and forth to compare... ... ...

 

[Ramboy00]

Barry
Keep posting your reports. I am very interested in low-end power.

Phil

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'99 D3500, auto. ,2WD,3. 55 LSD, all options, Banks Power Pack w/K&N filter, '99 40ft. Alfa Gold Triple-slide 5'er

 

[Bill Stockard]

Barry,

You are right about the VA box "rattlin'" the driveline at lower RPMs. My '00 ETC 6 speed screams, "shift down" by rattlin' the driveline when the RPMs drop below 1800 with a heavy throttle. If I'm on a hard pull, I keep the "Rs" at or above 2000 which is easy to do with the even gear splits on the 6 speed.

What I notice most about the VA box when towing is how much easier the engine holds RPM on hills and going into strong headwinds. I will get a puff of smoke when shifting gears and really getting on it.

Bill

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Y2K 3500QC, 6 Speed, 4. 10, SLT+, Camper & Tow Pkg. , Westin Chrome Nerf Bars, Mopar Flaps, Reese 20K Hitch, EGT & Boost Gauges, RPM 45 Gallon Aux. Fuel Tank, Highway Products 5th Wheel Toolbox, ECM Controlled PacBrake, Painless Wiring Kit, Mag-Hytec Diff. Cover, Rancho 9000, Air Lift 5000 Air Bags, TOYS: '97 Hitchhiker II 31' 5th Wheel, 2 slideouts, 19,750 GCW, '94 Lance 990 11' 3" Slide-In Camper, Torque-Lift Camper Tiedowns

 

[Barry]

Some of you have asked me to decide between the VA/PNP and the EZ. I have now reached a conclusion. Let me preface my remarks by telling the story of the 4 blind men who wanted to "see" an elephant. The 4 blind men were led to the animal and each one took hold to a part of the animal in order to "see" the beast. As you have guessed, each man had a differant idea as to what an elephant looked like. The same goes for my testing of the EZ. I had a VA/PNP for over a year on 2 differant trucks. Massive bottom end. Pulled great. 10% increase in fuel mileage. Best single plug in mod money could buy. Then I was asked to try the EZ. Good power. Good fuel mileage. Runs cool. I like it. Here is where it gets spooky. My VA was the OLD style. I have tested the new "HO" PNP and sent it back. I was told that the "new" PNPs are engine matched. I thought "baloney". They are right. I bought a new PNP the other day (235hp) and plugged it in to make the PHX. run. I drove the truck for 30 miles and took it off. I made a horrible mistake and sold my old PNP to a wild hare hay hauler for $400. SO, in conclusion, IMHO based on 4,000 miles of testing, I would choose the EZ over the "new" generation of PNPs. Now for those of you that are BD fans(and I am)there is a new giz gadget due to be released this month that is supposed to be THE THING. What little bit I have been told is top secret. Those of you that have the old style PNPs, hang on to them.