I have read many posts on this and wnat more information. I want to know if a very conservative driver towing a 9000lb 5er will trash his auto tranny with a smarty jr.

I take it real easy on my truck and wondered if it is pedal control for the tranny or if it is disaster no matter what. It would take alot of miles of 1-2 mpg better to pay for a new built tranny.

 

My TC started slipping pulling small grades at 60 MPH (1800rpm) with 4.10 gears with just a quad box on level 1 (30hp). I was pulling a 10,000lb lq horse trailer. Instead of trashing the tranny I opted to go ahead and upgrade it. You can try it and see, I did, and it didn't work out, hence upgraded tranny.

 

thanks, anyone else?

 

I towed 8k for a year on the 40hp setting of my Juice with the stock tranny - minor hills - no mountains. But if your reason for doing it is better mileage, I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

It really is a matter of luck. How lucky do you feel?

I ran my truck with the stock transmission for a year and a half on Smarty (senior) Level 9. I have grossed as much as 26k pulling a tractor for 400 miles. I pull my toyhauler often...grossing around 19-20k. And I have drag raced a few times and sled pulled once and my stock trans never gave it up after 86,000 miles. That said, I didn't "beat" on it very often. I drained and refilled the trans fluid and changed the trans filter every 20k miles.

I recently had mine upgraded to a full billet DTT with upgraded everything and DTT Triple Disc TC. I just couldn't take the stock TC anymore and didn't want to half do it while it was getting upgraded. The trans man said my 3rd gear clutches were worn pretty good and my stock TC was discolored due to overheating (slipping).

Personally, I think I was just darn lucky with my stock trans. But if you just pull the amount of weight you are talking about and take care of it, I think it is capable of lasting a long long time with a Smarty Jr. and a sensible driver. ( I wonder how long mine could have lasted had I not upgraded).

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I'm running Smarty on 3 and Quad on 60 hp towing 11k. No problems so far, but my truck did start life as a 235 hp slow poke.

 

Every truck is different. I have the smarty jr on level #2 for last trip with the 8k toyhauler and could feel the TC shuddering very slightly in OD with the motor lugged at 1300 rpm's if I leaned on it. Just kicked down the trans and performed otherwise perfect. Also tried the tow haul and it worked even better, no lugging and no slipping. I service the trans more than most, watch the temps and they never got over 180 in stop and go.

If I don't abuse it I think that it will last just fine. Just know your limits and stick to them.

 

I was wondering what you thought of adding the smarty. Towing mainly mpg, for real please, I have about the same weight fifth wheel. I usualy tow about 65-70 mph and get 11 mpg.

 

I tow with a quad racing xzt 2 box, have been for close to a year now and haul average of 17,000, 18,000 lbs, and my trailer running home empty is 9,000lbs, and have had no problems, now i start in stage 1 of the box, 60 hp, and just drive carefully, dont try to yank it, you can feel when you starin the tranny, i usually back off if i feel it straining, then once im running and thru the gears, rolling steady i may turn ot up, on the fly, to 100 hp, on level steady roll, i have even gon 140 over, but if im hitting hills and tranny is shifting in and out of gears, i will never run over stage 1 60hp, just have to be careful, well see how long before a tranny upgrade, which I know will eventually come, but seems to be doing fine as long as i drive sensible

 

PULLING 22600 gcw, 36 ft fiver, 40 hp setting ,more than enough power,over 30000 miles,mostly pulling,lots of mountains, keep it in tow haul ,no issues YET,also have oversized tires.Great truck.

 

The main thing is keep the revs up while pulling hills. I was pulling at 1600 RPM on the 60 HP setting locked when mine started slipping. I babied it for a while after that and it did fine with higher RPM or just in Tow/Haul and not locked.

The stock tranny can only hold stock power under severe conditions, but it will last and tow fine with some care on the higher settings. Mine is now slipping again on the 90 HP setting when locked. Pretty soon I'll have to get a whole new tranny with all the upgrades. Meanwhile I'm being careful.

Whatever you do don't just burn it up by slipping it till it dies. That is totally unnecessary.

I wish we could drop in the new six speed tranny!

John

 

Nahh....you don't really want that. Just go get the 48RE DTTized and you will be smiling every time you drive it.

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Yeah, I know. I already had a few things done and was hoping for the best, but you're right.

Six gears would be sweet, but while waiting and dreaming I'm being careful not to kill mine and there's no way I can put on a new turbo. Instant toast.


John