Thanks, I have a friend who loves his TST. I will look into those you mentioned, thanks.

EDIT: Thinking about what i want, and what I need.

A lot of people on here are happy with their smarty jr. and I really dont need a PALM to manage my system.

I think the smarty jr. will win this battle. It takes care of all I need. I will just get a gauge cluster to go along with it.

 

I understand, also. But in over 35-years of driving I early learned it was better to have a dedicated toy than to mess with main vehicle.

Maybe someone can answer it differently. As an OTR driver I often drove trucks that were slow . . is this the big problem, that you guys get wadded panties over others passing you, all day long? Because it sure doesn't matter to a well-sorted truck (by the factory). That's the one that will last longest with least problems. And is no "harder" to drive since that's a matter of getting used to a different way of doing things. So far as I can tell, the desire to be be "smarter" than trained engineers is a matter of laziness.

I pulled plenty of loads that were legal, yet heavy enough that it might -- no exaggeration -- take 30-minutes to reach 60 mph when starting from dead and facing a long, yet gentle, increase in altitude. You just watch the gauges -- keep fuel use in mind -- and wait a little. The only "battle" is learning how to trip-plan to keep the average of miles covered in one hour consistent throughout the day. (Which is why I'll pass any number of slobs -- drivers who don't know their own or their rigs abilities -- towing at or above 70 mph who somehow pass me again and again). Stop every 2-hours for 15' and every four hours for 60'. It ain't rocketry, but it IS backed by real science.

Banks, Smarty, etc, etc, are just real happy to take money from owners of trucks that will already do the job, efficiently. Try to understand that, and lose some anxiety. These are beautiful trucks with overpowered engines that yet return outstanding fuel mileage.

A max effort 600-mile day sounds easy, but the professional way will leave you rested enough to do it again day after day.

"Tuning" really is for amateurs. There is no quantifiable benefit.

 

I understand what you are saying. I am 22 years old and really just want a fun truck that I can mess around with. I wont tow often. So I want a truck i can slowly build up to have some serious power. I plan on buying a reilable car in a few years, and then just have this truck for fun.

So the Bully dog tripple dog and smarty jr. look like good options. I am trying to figure out which one I want now. anyone got sugestions? I like the outlook for the bully dog, but can find a lot more opinions and inofrmation on the smarty jr.

 

My vote is the Bully Dog Triple.
I bought mine for towing and fuel milage for my 04.5
It has been in a year now with no problems.
I pulled a 34 foot extra high (9 foot inside) trailer loaded 20000 lbs 15000 miles and got 19 mpg canadian average.
You can also turn it up to the third stage I think its called extreme and go play with the mustangs but I know its hard on the truck when you do that!
That is just so crazy I couldnt imagine ever needing any more.
Maybe they all do roughly the same and maybe they dont its hard to tell as the actual program changes are so called guarded secrets and by the prices they want most of them are trying to catch up to Bill Gates!.