Smarty Jr. vs Bullydog

[EnLjones]

Ok so I'm old school and I'm still running the bullydog but I'm seriously considering the smary jr. I would like to hear from those who have ran both to see if it is really worth the extra expense of buy the Jr. I tow 10K a few times a year and commute, I don't abuse my truck but like to have the extra power there when I need it. Am I going to see enough of a difference as far as power, economy, lower EGT's, and perhaps rail pressure (all the things the smarty jr. claims to bring to the table)?

 

[SierraRam]

Are you running the triple dog or the pup and do you use the outlook? If so I have run both and currently run the Smarty. I do like the way the Smarty works better as far as power but the BD with the outlook is no slouch. I know the support for the Smarty has been great and they are always working on new programs.

 

[EnLjones]

I'm running the triple dog with out the outlook. So would you say that they are pretty equal in performance? I would hate to go out and spend the money to find out that it's not much better than what I already have. The whole grass is greener of there thing.

 

[CToney]

I like my JR. Haven't tried a BD. EGT is never been over 1250F on long grades with heavy loads on Perf on the JR. It is nice to adjust things to suit mods specific to your truck. Try a HE351 turbo with the JR and you will be quite happy.

 

[Buffalo]

I have the JR. on my '03, 3500 SRW, NV-5600 & am very happy with it. The trailer I tow is a Nash 25-S (25') that probably weighs in the 6-7000 lb. range when loaded & I have a 115 gal. auxillary fuel tank on board the truck that stays full, often. Much of the towing I do is in the mountainous Western US.



I've tried towing in the Performance Mode (100 HP. ) & noticed that the EGT's got a little warm going up steep inclines. Nothing dangerous but, I found that I kept my eye on the EGT guage just to be safe. Never saw temps much over the 1200-1250* range.



In the Towing Mode (70 HP. ), I've never seen temps even close to the 1200* range. I really don't even need an EGT guage in the Towing Mode. Also, I've been very happy with the power in the Towing Mode. As far as I'm concerned, the Towing Mode is perfect, for me.



I've never tried the Bullydog & don't know how it works so, I can't give you a comparison. I do know that I'm very pleased with the JR. & would buy it again.



Joe F.

 

[EnLjones]

Thanks Joe for the feedback. It looks like we have similar trucks and I tow a 26' toyhauler that when full comes in close to 9K or above. I've enjoying the bulldog but like the fact that the Jr. will give me lower EGT's and makes power without having to raise my rail pressure to extremes. I dont' think I've read anything bad about the Jr. but since I already have a box I'm just trying to justify in my mind the additional expense of another box. I'm buying another set of Toyo M/Ts and gauges this next week, it might be hard to convince the wife that I need a new box too: :-{}:-{}

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

If you want to try the Jr. I believe Bob Wagner has a 30 day money back policy. If so, why not find out?

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[DennyDay]

Just had Bob update the program my Smarty Jr, no charge by Bob or MADS - even got a free candy bar! I'm really not computer literate and it now has some new features - - like PoD, torque changes, and timing changes - - - can some one give me the simple info on these new items and what they do? - - have not changed (all default) anything since I got it back and put it back on #1, Economy?

 

[Bigiron]

I have a Bully Dog Triple Dog with Outlook monitor. I really like it. Never have had anything else. Does everything I want it to. I believe BullyDog has the Try Before you buy download so try em both and see what you like best. Good Luck. Happy Shopping.

 

[KeithTaylor]

Thanks to everyone for their comments on the Smarty Jr - after reading various posts here on TDR and looking at how some members are modding their trucks, I'm thinking that the Jr along with a 5" exhaust would be just what I need. I pull a toyhauler that is just a shade over 10K loaded, a little more power would be great on the hills . . .

 

[Jim Ross]

Joe, do you have any mpg figures to share with us?
I'm very new with the Smarty Jr. We tow a 27 ft 5th wheel Arctic Fox with a super slide. I have tired the Economy setting and am now trying the Performance setting. Next will be the Tow setting.
Thanks for any info you provide.

 

[PWirth]

I really like my Jr. The POD feature is really great for icy roads. When the roads get to the skating rink type slickness and then it rains on top, I back it down to 20% and it keeps me from just sitting there spinning all four tires when pulling away from a stop sign. The low setting keeps the tires stuck to the road. It is also really fun when a buddy asks to borrow the pickup. I backed it down to 60% and after he returned it he made a bunch of comments about how slow it was. Then I told him that I had cut him back to less than even stock power to keep him from driving my pickup like he drives his car. I don't know of any other tuner that lets you back the power level off to below stock settings. I have taken it all the way down to 1%, but I could only barely push it to get up to 15mph. I usually drive with it at 80% on the performance setting with maximum timing and torque management, but I bump it up when I want to play.

I have always gotten at least equivalent mileage with the Smarty Jr. as I got before adding it. If I keep my foot out of it I have seen as much as +2mpg on the highway, but that is pretty rare. It is usually closer to the +. 5 to +1 range. If I am playing then it goes right back down to the stock levels.

 

[Jim Ross]

You have a lot more experience with the Jr than me.
Our '07 never got as much as 14mpg without the Smarty. On my last tank of fuel, I did finally get just barely 14mpg with the Jr set on Performance #2 Timing, Default Torque and 99 on the POD. After running this tank to see what I get, I am going to try the Tow setting.
Compared to our '01, the mileage on this '07 is awful.

 

[Hawk]

I have the same problem as you do. My 03 got great milage and this new 07 is horrible. Now I get the same milage empty that I got pulling with the old truck. I hope that the Smarty helps.

 

[Jim Ross]

I feel your pain. My '01 got 14. 5-15 pulling a 16' box trailer and 13-14 pulling the 27' 5th wheel. This '07 has only seen 14 one time, so far.

 

[BullyDogJason]

I have a Bully Dog Triple Dog with Outlook monitor. I really like it. Never have had anything else. Does everything I want it to. I believe BullyDog has the Try Before you buy download so try em both and see what you like best. Good Luck. Happy Shopping.

this program has been discontinued by us. but you can likely still find dealers that offer it.

 

[ArthurMiller]

Smarty Jr

When I was towing trailers out of Ind, I had mine set on the highest setting, a 3 axle 42' fifth wheel could average 14. 5. to 15 out and back to the dock in Baltimore by the pencil. I think was fair milage.

 

[TCDiesel]

If you have upgraded Your trans the T-Dog give much better firm shift then the JR,if you have factory trans say with JR. Otherwise they are equal. The P. T. O feature the T-Dog is quick and nice if you have early 03, W/O cruise ramp. I like them both its just a matter of preference,IMO.

 

[CDonaldson]

I tried a couple different programmers, Ouad and B-dog, I was truly unhappy with the EGT's when towing and had some xtra rattle timing stuff. I got a JR and all that stuff is no longer happening. I tow, tow heavy, and tow a lot plus I am towing at high altitudes. EGT's never get over 1200*s on steep 6% grades pulling 12K in 5th gear. In fact, running on the flat at 5-7K ft elevation, my EGT's are in the 600-650* range on super hot 100* days. I like the fact that the rail pressure stays similar to stock pressure as well, maybe up a little tick of the needle width. Fuel economy has been excellent, I saw a 2 mpg gain overall. Here at high altitude I do get some black smoke out of the Jr that I did not have before, and on the performance setting I can get quite a bit of black smoke, it seems to decrease when I get down around 2-3K ft elevation.



I am a happy JR user, would certainly do it again.





CD

 

[Jim Ross]

What settings do you use most on the JR?