Who is running a Van Aakin v5?

I remember reading guys say a few years ago the Van Aaken was smoother and Had more bottom end grunt than a edge EZ. Just talked to a friend that has had a Van Aaken for years and hasnt had any problem with it at all and likes it

 

Mine has been trouble free for almost three years. Mileage is great and the bottom end is fine for my use.

 

I drive with mine and it works good. Too much fuel for towing in thin high altitude air - but this is quite unique. Most people will not have that problem. I can't compare it with EZ, never had one but the VA adds the snap to the throttle.
BTW, driving empty today on CO hwy 14 (winding single lane, max speed probably 55 mph) and back I got 21.6 mpg hand calculated with VA on 100%. Elevations from 6,000 to 10,000 ft. Can't complain.

 

i have run the van aaken r and now the edge J/A, i am thinking about running the van aaken for economy since it seemed to sip fuel, it also feels a little more snappy on the low end compared to the edge, but a disadvantage i have seen is that it doesnt fuel nearly as hard as the edge when you get above 2K rpms.

 

I have been running an old van akaken plug n power from BD for about 8yrs now and I have had nothing but great luck with it. When I was running 265/75/16 tires I got around 25mpg out on the highway. Even now with the front leveled and running 315/75/16 I can get 20-21 on the highway. This is running around 60 and takeing it easy

 

Did Van Aaken go out of business?

Which is the best reliable, smooth "box" comparable to the Van Aaken avalible ?

 

Yes they did close up shop but you can still find them on ebay. both the van aaken R and V5 are 65 hp boxes. a similar box would be a Edge EZ also 65 hp.

 

Just for curiosity's sake, can anyone explain what the difference is between a Smartbox v5 and a Smartbox R?

Thanks! Randy.

 

Same they just plug in different, Old one plugged right into the VP44 plug, V5 doesnt plug into the VP44.

Too bad they are out of business, Know I gota find which brand is most reliable and smooth. Leanin toward the Diablo puck I saw for $225, but a aint sure yet. Maybe someone will send me their used Van Aaken for free!

 

go to ebay and search for one, i have seen them as low as 160 bucks.

 

The "R" version plugs directly into VP-44. The V5 connects to a diagnostic plug under the hood. Otherwise I can not tell the difference. I installed both an R and V5, and they had different labels on the bottom for the code version. I don't know if they are different, couldn't tell by driving them.

 

No V5s on ebay, already checked

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Dodge...mZ120307810115

Smartbox R for 150 bucks. it is really easy to install, literally takes 5 miutes or less

 

I have had the VA5 box now for about 2 years and it has a smoothness to it and has a good low end pull feel. It is the 65hp one that also seems to start defuelling around 2000rpm. The only issue I can say is that in hot humid days there are times when you shut off the engine and it will not start again until the ecm under the hood cools down on account that it gets a little hotter with the extra voltage that the unit sends out and it goes in to a logical lockout. This it what my diesel mechanic found out for me the first time it happened. He said it is just something I would have to live with or we could relocate the ecm in a different spot where it would get more air flow.

 

This is the first time I ever heard anything like this. I think there is another reason for your truck to do what it is doing. The way I understand it, VA (and any other chip) intercepts ECM signals and modifies them on their way to the VP-44. If it "sent" higher than specified voltage to the ECM, especially if it sent voltage high enough to cause overheating, the ECM would instantly fry. The ECM is a computer, not a resistor, and heating it up by a higher signal is not going to happen.
-P