Smarty JR. and Towing

[JMichelson]

I been driving my truck around on the economy and have seen about 1 mpg. improvement in city driving. The extra power is nice and makes the truck a little more sporting to drive. Next week I'm going to tow my trailer (7800lbs)for the first time with the Smarty JR. I know that the Junior has a tow mode for 70hp. I was wondering if their is a down side to towing on the 100hp setting. If 70hp is good for towing then 100hp is better. I have a South Bend clutch so the drive train should handle the power. The truck doesn't have gauges. Can anyone see any potential problems. Jeff

 

[MA2LA]

the only problem I could see is that with out gauges you could possibly run up egts, the jr does a great job in keeping them low but with the new found bottom end some people are more likely to keep it in a higher gear witch can lead to higher egts. I've towed with the 70hp and it was great, it also seemed to have a alittle more bottom end than the 100 but thats all SOP. I miss the 100 but my transmission doesn't.

 

[Buffalo]

Last month, I towed my 7000 lb. + trailer, twice, over a small mountain range. Tried the 70 & 100 settings. (I liked the 100 better. ) Neither showed excessive EGT's. Good power. I have the NV-5600 & it handled the power well, also. No clutch problems (stock), either.



The Smarty Jr. really in a fairly mild programmer compared to some of the others. Smarty goes up to 230 HP. For my needs, the "Jr. " is just fine. If I had much more power, I'd be on a 'first-name basis' with the AZ. Highway Patrol. Don't need that!!!!!



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[ronman]

... I Next week I'm going to tow my trailer (7800lbs)for the first time with the Smarty JR... Jeff

Jeff:



Are you planning to track fuel economy with Jr when towing next week? I won't be towing for another couple of month's and I'd love to know if Jr improves towing mileage at all.

 

[oneshotkyle]

JeffMic do yourself a favor and get a pyro. these common rail trucks can reach 1550-1600 degrees in stock form. with a pyro and a good clutch you can turn it up all the way no problem.

 

[JDecanter]

I towed in December with the Smarty.
I could not verify any mileage increase but as you know when towing there are so many many things that can affect mileage that a one time trip doesn't prove anything.
I towed 10,000 lb. trailer and had 600 lb ATV in the bed. I got a little over 11. 5.

 

[JMichelson]

Jeff:



Are you planning to track fuel economy with Jr when towing next week? I won't be towing for another couple of month's and I'd love to know if Jr improves towing mileage at all.

I will keep track of the mileage. I have a good base line for towing without the Smarty. I plan on towing on the tow setting (70hp).



Gauges will be added soon, not in time for this trip. I'll drive it carefully and watch that I don't lug it and drive the egt's up.

Jeff

 

[CToney]

A few other little mods such as airbox/filter and intake might yield some more ponies. I hope to be just under the limits of the stock clutch with my mods. Not sure if the G56 clutch can handle more torque than the NV5600. You have a higher start point than me in the torque department.

 

[JMichelson]

A few other little mods such as airbox/filter and intake might yield some more ponies. I hope to be just under the limits of the stock clutch with my mods. Not sure if the G56 clutch can handle more torque than the NV5600. You have a higher start point than me in the torque department.

I have a Con OFE installed already. The stock clutch slipped on the 70hp setting towing the trailer. This will be the first tow with the new clutch installed. I do have an Amsoil air filter. I'll get my signature updated.

 

[CToney]

Check out http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...viewitem=&item=150216800102&_trksid=p3907.m32 This is the where I got my intake horn from. I contacted the guy directly. Same price as what I paid. Can't wait for mine to get here. On tow it probably put you over the stock clutch's holding limit but you have more torque to begin with than me. The clutches must be similar in capacity between the two different trannies.

 

[AH64ID]

I towed on 40hp yesterday... really liked it, 34psi and 1150* max... Only saw above 1000* once, WOT pulling a steep hill in 5th, 2200-2800*, ran like a bat out of hell. If you get on the fuel in lower rpms w/out boost the EGT's climb quick, but don't go much over 1000*.

 

[MrFixit]

Looks like most of you have the manual trans. I have an 06 auto and I see too much smoke when I use the 40hp setting. . especially when it kicks into OD at low RPM (this is in Tow haul mode). I was hoping to leave it on 40hp for all my driving but I may have to switch back and forth. I have not tried the 70hp (Tow) setting yet. Imay need to just drive differetnly w/ the smarty jr. . like turning OD off until I get up to cruising speed. What kind of smoke do you guys see w/ the 6spds while towing in the MPG setting?

Thanks

 

[AH64ID]

Looks like most of you have the manual trans. I have an 06 auto and I see too much smoke when I use the 40hp setting. . especially when it kicks into OD at low RPM (this is in Tow haul mode). I was hoping to leave it on 40hp for all my driving but I may have to switch back and forth. I have not tried the 70hp (Tow) setting yet. Imay need to just drive differetnly w/ the smarty jr. . like turning OD off until I get up to cruising speed. What kind of smoke do you guys see w/ the 6spds while towing in the MPG setting?

Thanks

Mine only really smokes at low rpms pre boost... . From what I have read most auto guys see less smoke than man guys... .



Towing on 40hp I blow a constant mild haze, only visible to me at night with headlights behind me...



Honestly i would rather get a few EGT's back if it meant less smoke... I maxed my EGT's towing at 1100-1150. . so there is about 100-150* to play with there...

 

[CToney]

I have no smoke on my '03 on tow or encon. I had some smoke when my air cleaner filled with snow though.

 

[MrFixit]

Mine only really smokes at low rpms pre boost... . From what I have read most auto guys see less smoke than man guys... .



Towing on 40hp I blow a constant mild haze, only visible to me at night with headlights behind me...



Honestly i would rather get a few EGT's back if it meant less smoke... I maxed my EGT's towing at 1100-1150. . so there is about 100-150* to play with there...

Funny you say this... this is how I based my towing experience. I was on the freeway for a short run and saw that little more than mild haze in my case... in the headlights behind me. It was too much for me.



As for non-tow... .

Since, I have cleaned my stock air filter (and took that foam chunk off) it seems to smoke less when the auto kicks down a gear to pass. This is non-towing on level 1. I used to get a pretty good black puff in this scenario pre- AF clean. I am going to invest in an AFE drop-in or complete intake kit down the road. It would be nice if MADS makes a less smokey version for the Jr. To it's defense. . I have not towed yet in Tow mode which may be part of my problem.

 

[AH64ID]

I dont really want to use Tow mode... I am happy with the stock hp, just not the stock EGT's,... so I really dont want to have to dump more fuel at the motor, nor more hp at the clutch, or more psi at the stock HG, and turbo...

 

[Bob Wagner]

smarty junior beta #4 ready for testing, please send an email address for a copy.



Thanks

 

[AH64ID]

smarty junior beta #4 ready for testing, please send an email address for a copy.



Thanks

I'll be sending you an email...



What the difference in 3 and 4?

 

[MrFixit]

Bob. . 4 or 3. You sent me smoke test 3 yesterday. If 4, what happened w/ 3?

 

[JesseRiley]

Any issues running the Smarty Jr along with a quadzilla boost fooler on an 05'?