RobG

I put this thread here because of the ultimate question at the bottom (about possible turbo upgrades)...

Anyway... last weekend I towed my 5th wheel out to Sand Mountain in Nevada (from San Jose). First time it has moved in almost two years. I didn't get to weigh it, as the Flying J in Lodi was packed when I stopped there. Based on the last time I weighed it loaded, I was probably grossing 23-24k truck and trailer.

I started out with my Smarty on 5, but dropped it down to 1 by the other side of Placerville on Hwy 50 (due to I-80 being closed for construction after 7 pm). What I didn't know at the time was my air filter was majorly clogged from a trip to Pismo Beach a couple weekends prior, so it was smoking like mad. I even tried stock, and it smoked (which it has never done), so I put it on 1 because EGTs were cooler. Once at Sand Mountain, I pulled and cleaned my air filter (S&B Intake) so it'd be good for the trip home.

The trip home went smoothly. I went up to Mode 3 just west of Reno. Power was pretty good. I wasn't quite ready to try 5, though I wish I had. Still, it pulled VERY well with no EGT issues at all. What was most impressive was leaving Truckee, heading up the climb to Donner Summit, I sped up to 2200 RPM in 6th gear and set the cruise. The speed didn't drop below 64 mph until the Donner Lake Interchange, where I had to disengage cruise and slow down for some slow trucks and traffic. EGTs were 1100 deg and boost as holding steady at 30 psi.

I didn't check mileage on the way out, but on the return trip, from Fallon to Lodi, I got 11.26 mpg running 60-62 mph. Not bad for 24k. Now granted a lot of that was helped by the gentle downgrade of the western slope of the Sierras, but I've gotten 12.0 mpg towing the trailer on flat ground in Utah with no headwind, and slightly less weight (maybe 1000 lbs less).

But there are times when I really miss my 2001. That thing was a tow monster. What I loved about it was how, even grossing 20-21k, I could pass cars on two-lane roads as well as or better than a car could do the same thing. It had an HX-40, DD3 injectors, 4" exhaust, Psychotty intake, and the DD UPM that I ran on 1 or 2 for towing, because EGTs were pretty high.

I'm wondering if the HX-40 is the reason it did better? I can only make 30 psi right now due to the wastegate; the Smarty hasn't changed it. Heck I'm not even completely sure what this turbo is. The truck is a 2005 model 325/610. I don't know if I want to spend the $$ for a turbo, especially since I need an exhaust brake far worse. But I figured I'd ask what the options are.

Rob

TBittner

Get an aftermarket turbo and a pac brake. or use your stock turbo in a compound setup and get an inline pac brake.

chadder1313

Yeah i sometimes often find myself wishing i had my 01 back. I think the 01 and my 06 tow about the same though. Both were all stock except for exhaust, intake, and a programmer.

RAMRODD

I had a 2000. It was a good puller I did exhaust, programmer(TST) Bully Dog injectors. But it couldn't come close to pulling what my 06 does, and that was before I put twins on the 06.

To the orginal poster if your only pushing 30 psi on the stocker with 1100 on the egt's your not working your turbo to hard yet. The stocker can handel 40 psi no problum.

carl48

you need to get rid of the in cylinder egr on your truck you already have the smarty just change the cam to a pdr cam and the nozzles to 50 hp. this will gain mpg and restore torque. set the smarty on the same setting that is equal to the smarty jr tow setting. this is the point that the he351 at 30 psi can handle the needed air if you go higher you need to increase to 40 psi or better still go to a 62-65-13- ss, and ss manifold with blankets on both