Smarty or TST for towing?

[JCasper]

I only have Smarty but have thought about getting a TST. My mods are in my Sig and I tow a TT that weighs about 8,000lbs. My gross when I am loaded is about 17,000lbs.



For you guys who vote Smarty, what SW and level do you like?



TIA,Joe

 

[1965LONEWOLF]

I Have Only The Tst - I Would Like To Know Too ?

 

[JTodd]

I typically run the Smarty on SW3 for normal every day driving since I dont have the trans built out yet. When I tow, I drop back to SW1. Seems to stay cooler and get better mileage.

 

[JCasper]

Anyone, got anything?

 

[Blu-meanie]

I'm using the beta program and tow on SW 1. I haven't tried this program on SW 3, but I did on the earlier programs and you can kill a lot of bugs at higher elevations.

 

[wbrown02]

Don't know about the Smarty?... ... I have the TST and like it very well..... Kind of a set and forget thing... ... Allows you to set max boost... . max EGT. No matter what power setting you use seems hard to hurt the motor.

 

[gitchesum]

I ram my Smartyon Level 6(90HP with no timing) with a 9000# RV behind me.



From a dead stop, I got the truck rolling then hammered the go pedal and held it there until I was at about 85 mph. Never exceeded 1250 on the EGT's verified by both the analog gauge and the digital gauge on the TST(which was turned off).



Towed that way the rest of the trip until I needed a little passing power, then I would kick the TST up and make a quick burst to pass. EGT's got up there when I had the TST on.



This in on an otherwise stock truck. Stock fuel system and stock turbo. Only the built transmission and exhaust.

 

[Deerezilla]

Wow thats good I tryed my smarty on 90 with timeing the other day egt's went up quick with just driveing no load. I'll have to try it with no timeing Been thinking about a bigger turbo and IC to cool it better. since any thing over 60 it gets to hot

 

[BHaner]

TST + EZ for towing and daily driving.



Smarty + TST + EZ for sled pulling.



Running the smarty just makes too much smoke to be driving around town. Too much heat to be towing.

 

[JCasper]

TST + EZ for towing and daily driving.







Running the smarty just makes too much smoke to be driving around town. Too much heat to be towing.

That's for sure, especially with the new turbo.

 

[AKaiser]

TST + EZ for towing and daily driving.



Smarty + TST + EZ for sled pulling.



Running the smarty just makes too much smoke to be driving around town. Too much heat to be towing.

Smarty is a smoker for sure, but you can keep the smoke to a minimum if you don't push down too quick.

 

[JCasper]

Smarty is a smoker for sure, but you can keep the smoke to a minimum if you don't push down too quick.

To a minimum in my case is always a haze.



With my TT behind me at 70MPH in 6th there is a haze coating my trailer constantly.

 

[nps]

The first time I tried towing with Smarty I could see a constant smoke haze even on level cruise at Level 1. Bad for the RV and soot finds its way into the slide gaskets too.



Now I only tow on stock SW, but remain hopeful for the often-mentioned Beta SW.

 

[JStieger]

I towed about 10,000 lbs yesterday with Smarty Beta 4. 4 on 60 HP timing program + TST 1x0 with 3* auto timing. This is on top of the 100 HP Flux 2 injectors. Only problem I had was traction taking off from a stop :-laf. The 60 HP program definitely comes on strong off-idle with injectors and twins. No smoke or haze at cruise. However, if I mat it at low boost, then yeah there's a bit of smoke. I also averaged 15. 9 mpg. EGT at 75 mph cruise were ~750* (empty ~ 550-575*). EGT on the rolling hills (constant speed changes and low to high boost) topped about 1100*. I usually have to worry more about the speed limit though when EGT do get to this level.



Normally, though, I tow with the Smarty 30 HP timing program and then use the TST to set the duration. It gives the best smoke control, but retains the low end kick and mileage gains of the Smarty. The 30 HP program to me also seems more "drivetrain friendly" while towing in traffic - smoother shifts and take-offs.



The TST by itself with a pressure box is definitely softer coming on and less smoke off idle. EGT either/or looks to be the same, except at cruise where the Smarty is about 50* lower.



With the Stage 2 CP3, I can just look at the MP8 adjustment knob and the rail pressures will start maxing out under any load just off-idle. Realistically, I can only use about 10% of the MP8 box.



The above was with the small BD towing twins though.



A little off-topic, but to compare with your single turbo application, my single turbo towing experiences were all pre-Smarty: only TST + MP8. When I ran the SPS 66 turbo with 90 HP 3-flow injectors and towed, EGT always sat at 1100* +/-, mileage dropped 2 mpg, constant visible smoke trail empty, loaded, uphill, downhill - didn't make a difference - and surge city . It really sucked to be towing at one gear lower or 80 mph just to get the turbo "on boost" and out of the surge zone. This was with stock size tires too and 3. 73 axles. I can't imagine how much more it would suck with 35" tires and Oregon's speed limits. Not sure what elevation you're at, but I'm at 5,000-7,000 feet so that didn't help me much either with a large, laggy single.



Then I switched to the SPS62. It was a lot better towing in terms of surge and wider powerband, although the haze under load was always present. EGT were about the same as with the 66 turbo - maybe marginally better. Mileage improved about 1 mpg, but no where near when I ran a 62 or stock turbo.

 

[JThiessen]

If you do mountain towing, the TST may be your better option. I've been using the beta towing software, and while I had plenty of power (much more than I needed), I did experience some transmission slippage. This was towing on level 1. I've towed the same trailer over this route with both my 03 and 06, using both an EZ and a Quad XZillaraider, and never experienced transmission slippage at all before, so this was new to me. Had to the Revs up anyway, to keep the transmission from slipping. EGTs werent really an issue either. Ran up to 1250 for a little while, but didnt really have to back off.

Smoke was not an issue with the Beta software. I've emailed Bob about the transmission issue, hoping that maybe they are still working on the shift points. I havent filled up yet, but it looks as though its in the same ball park as stock.

FWIW: this was going over HWY 20 from Mt Vernon WA, to Winthrop WA over Washington Pass. Pulling a 8500 lb 5er. Truck is stock, 'cept for a cat delete and exhaust. For those that know the route, I was able to accelerate to the speed limit on every one of the steep parts, going both directions, without maxing EGTs. This makes me kinda think 30hp on level 1 is a quite conservative estimate.

 

[JJPage]

I just got home from towing my 5th wheel up to the border and back. On the way up Smarty sw#3, EZ 2, TST 0/0.



On the level, running 60 mph in OD, (3. 73) just cruising, I could not produce 5lbs of boost. When starting into a hill and rolling into the throttle, I could manage 20 lbs boost but my egt's would climb past 1400f in a hurry, thats pulling in OD. If I would lock out OD and pull in 3rd, more rpms my boost would stay at 30+ and my egt's would hang around 1100/1200f.



On the way home, Smarty sw#1, EZ 2, TST 4/2 (2003 twins).



Truck and myself were much happier, pulling in OD at 60 mph on the level, boost managed 10/15 lbs. On the hills, I could pull much harder in OD, 40lbs boost, egt's would eventually get to 1400f, but way later in the pull. I turned the TST 3/2 and this worked awesome, never broke 1300f.



The TST EZ combo worked better for towing, in my situation.



Not really sure which Smarty software I am running, I downloaded 309D 305B but when I connect the Smarty to the truck , it says 309B 305B?

I have questioned Bob about this, but have never received an explanation.



I am reluctant to download the latest because this has been the most drivable version for me so far. I know you cannot go back. The TST spools my turbo harder in the lower rpms.