Ok, I have a 5" TBE, Egr deletes, and Smarty Jr. I have had its this way for the past 10,000 miles and absolutely love the truck this way. My question is I just purchased a 38ft 5th wheel and it weighs 13,000lbs empty & loaded it will be pushing 15,000lbs, what would be my best/safest tune for heavy towing? Anyone have some real life experience towing heavy alot with these Smarty jr's or any other programmer?

 

It is was me towing that heavy, I'd drop it back to stock tuning or maybe the Fuel Economy tune. Anything more is putting ALLOT of strain on the transmission.

 

I was thinking about that. I currently pull with the 70 hp sw2 tune Tq-0 Tm-1 and it pulled nice but I also worry about the tranny holding up.

 

I would run SW1, its the best for the engine, and only a little more power for the tranny.

 

I had the smarty senior on my 06 and could run it on the highest setting grossed out at 24.5K with no issues.

 

I pull a similar sized fiver,14600 loaded,23000gross,oversized tires,the E/Att is usually set on 2,tow setting-40hp.50000 miles ,with a lot of mountain towing,no issues at all.The edge was acting up on setting 2 this spring ,so i put it on the 3 setting-60hp and does it pull .Pulling the Grapevine this jan,i had it on 2-40hp,i had to keep it at 1250 egts,this kept the trans temp at 210 degrees constant,any more power and the trans temp would climb.IT would indicate that is about all that 48re can handle without slipping on a long steep grade.

 

Alboy, when pulling with on 2, what % grades were they, and what gear (48re) and mph were you able to keep it steady at while pulling up hill.

also, does the engine fan kick on and, did the engine stay below 220?

Thanks.

 

jlipskoc.I have pulled some long 6% grades,truck temps would hit 210-220 and stay there.Speed wise the truck will accelerate up a 6%.A long 7-8% grade about 45-48mph to keep egts at 1250,everything stays under control,trans temp 210-220.Pulling the grapevine i was at 42-45 mph,with a good headwind,i think 2nd gear in tow haul.

 

the Jr was designed to tow. I would recommend and use setting 2.

I tow 23,500 to 24,500 gross all over the country on 2 with over 34,000 miles on this setup. no issues. I have the G56 but the motor runs the best in this setting.

I ran the rockies and would pull 40 to 55 mph on the passes.

EGTs will be hotter with a stock tune. At least on mine thats how it is.

 

Good info! I have installed my boost and egt gauges so now im going to upgrade the tranny pan for a couple more quarts of fluid and cooling help. My plan is to take a 1 year break from work and camp with my wife and 2 kids around the USA from Georgia to Maine to Oregan and back through the middle of the country. I really want get this thing bullit proof while adding a little more power and better fuel economy.

 

Had the same(OP) question----MADS say tow heavy with SW2. You can go to MADS site and mail them with questions regarding the Smarty(jr.) or Sr.