Our Smart Ass Story

Jerry Hoffmann here, founder and CEO of Smart Ass Products.  I wanted to share a little bit about myself and the company, how it came to be, who makes up the team now, and where we're going. 

First, a little background. I originally worked in the IT field for about a decade, but in late 2004 and early 2005, I founded a company called DIYAutoTune—a manufacturer of automotive standalone engine management systems. If that’s too much of a mouthful, we built race car parts.  Starting in a spare bedroom in 2005, my wife Joy and I built the company from the ground up, eventually taking over the basement of our home. As we outgrew that space, we moved into a leased facility in Suwanee, GA. Later, we purchased a building and relocated the business to Gainesville, GA, giving it room to continue its growth.

In October 2023, I exited the company, and it continues to thrive in the capable hands of its new owners.  If you need engine management, go talk to the guys at DIYAutoTune.com!

That was an amazing experience that gave me huge opportunities over the years, I got to write a book, got to set some land speed records and to do some other racing, met some really cool people, etc.  It was great, but it was time for me to move on.  I'm a creator, and it was time to create something new.

My fastest record so far is 217.3913mph with the ECTA in Wilmington, Ohio

Along the way, my hobbies shifted more toward boating and watersports, and—as my ideas are often inspired by my interests—I began to develop a growing list of new product concepts that didn’t quite fit within that business. During that time, I also came to realize that I am far more of an entrepreneur and inventor than a day-to-day operator or executive, and that I needed to return to what I truly love: bringing innovative ideas to life. 

I love to wakeboard, by far that's my favorite watersport.  That said, I have to go a little easier on my knees after donating two of them to the sport.  Surgery and recovery gets annoying after a few times.  And sure you would think I could hold by, but I'm just not good at doing things halfway.   

I'll just take it easy... (yeah right!)

And with a bit more age on my knees... well....  I still wakeboard some, but we spend a lot of time wakesurfing these days behind our 2021 Supra SA400.  

My wife Joy, our three girls, and I live on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, GA, and we keep our Supra on the water at our home. We're very close to a marina, but with gasoline prices running as much as $4 per gallon higher than street-level gas stations, I started hauling fuel jugs down to the dock.

My boat’s tank is rated at 65 gallons, but it reads empty early and typically needs about 50 gallons to refill. Standard gas jugs hold 5 gallons—so that’s ten of those suckers at a time. That’s a lot of jug-lugging…

My name is Jerry Hoffmann and I can't shaka.  That second finger just won't listen.

(and this is my awesome wife Joy!)

 

In early 2020, I got tired of being a jug lugger and decided there had to be a better way.  I tested the solutions that were on the market, siphons and dumb-caddies and funnels and... now I knew for sure.  THERE HAD TO BE A BETTER WAY. 

So I got to work-- and after testing a couple of possible methods that I wasn't happy enough with, I came upon the solution, and the Smart Ass Fuel Mule was born.  I drew the design up in CAD and started ordering parts to build a prototype.  But then I had a setback...  a terrible boating accident in August of 2020 that delayed my building that first unit.  Still working my way through 8 surgeries and recoveries, in early 2021, I got back to it.  Still not recovered from my accident (I never will be fully, but I digress) I welded up that first frame, wired and plumbed the unit, and started testing it.  I used it for the next three full lake seasons.  And oh man, I would never want to go back.  I found not only did I save $100-$150 on every fillup, I also saved TIME compared to filling at the marina.  And the convenience of having a full tank of fuel sitting on ready each weekend for a 5min fillup anytime I needed it was amazing.  After three seasons I had saved north of $15,000 range in gas expenses.  That's insane.  And I save 10-20minutes on every fillup, and 40-50 minutes or more in some cases even.  Also insane.  But in the best way possible.

 

I knew I was onto something cool. 

I originally unofficially called it the Fuel Mule with the initial prototype...  because well, it carried stuff like a mule, and that stuff, was fuel....  so it rhymed and rolled off the tongue nicely.  The Smart Ass part, well... you know that came to me naturally... so Smart Ass Fuel Mule it became!  And what can I say, from there my personality shines through ;).   

The year was 2023, and it was time.  Time to bring the Smart Ass Fuel Mule to life for you in the marine world, and for countless other industries (aviation, farming, construction, emergency response, and more) that need the BEST solution for all terrain fuel transportation available, using the only motorized gas caddy... the Smart Ass Fuel Mule.  (Now officially patented!)

Good ol' Rusty.  My first attempt at Smart Ass Fuel Mule awesomeness.  He's still going strong too several years later!

We got right to work, reviewing the notes I had been keeping while using Prototype 1 ( aka P1) which is the unit I had at that point used for 2 full seasons, later to be nicknamed 'Rusty' (because I never painted or powdercoated the frame, and well... it's rusty).   ;)

We reviewed all design decisions I had originally made, and we questioned anything we thought we could possibly improve.  I also had compiled a small list of changes I decided to make when I built the next version over the two years I had used the product.  We made a few tweaks, and Prototype 2 (P2) was born!

A number of other small refinements were tested in P2, such as a wheelbase adjustment, we again considered using a plastic vs metal tank with plastic being less costly, but the 3003 Diamondplate Aluminum tanks we chose are just so tough and all around safer, and well, better looking!  We were not going to cut any corners, this product was going to be best-in-class in every area.  And it is. 

Further, we experimented with steering geometry and ackermann adjustments, motor and gearing, frame design and dimensions, tank volume and dimensions, and many more areas..  We refined and moved the product every closer to perfection.  And as P3 was developed we dialed in on these changes and it resulted in an absolute beast of a machine.  This sucker was now rock solid stable in darn near any environment it was likely to be used in.  Capable of doing things I'm not even sure anyone would ever ask it to do!

But that's just how I roll.  Overbuild everything.  

 

We partnered with Intertek, a National Research Testing Laboratory, to further refine the product and ensure we examined every possible angle to make the Smart Ass Fuel Mule as tough, rugged, and safe as it could ever need to be. We consulted with suppliers, completely upgraded the drivetrain motor, made all components water-resistant or fully sealed wherever possible, and consulted with a Master Electrician and IBEW instructor as we reviewed and optimized the electrical layout and safety systems.

Everything had to be right—and it is.
 

Originally just an idea driven by an inconvenience while doing a hobby I love, the Smart Ass Fuel Mule was ready for prime time.  And Smart Ass Products is here to bring it....  No more half-assed fueling solutions lugging jugs up and down the hill...  we're giving you the whole (smart) ass....  With the Smart Ass Fuel Mule.

 

So is Smart Ass Products a one-trick pony?  Is the Smart Ass Fuel Mule it?

First Off - watch who you're calling a pony!   Calling a donkey a pony is like slapping a "unicorn" label on a regular horse – it might sound cute, but the ears don't lie! Donkeys are the four-legged philosophers, the Einsteins of the barnyard, and while they'll tolerate your mix-up, they'll probably give you an earful about the differences between hoofprints and horseshoes.  They don't need no ninny horseshoes.  They're all grit.  

Back to your question...   Not even close.  Smart Ass Products has a healthy list of ideas we plan to bring to market that you're going to love.  Some of them are simple, cheap little additions to make your lake life easier, and are even in process or released already like this awesome dock wheel upgrade kit.  And just like our customers feel about the Smart Ass Fuel Mule--- you're going to wonder how you ever lived without them.  Smart Ass Products is all about bringing smart, practical, brilliantly engineered solutions to life—solutions to problems you may not have even realized could be solved this well.

With that said, I'd like to introduce you to Alec.  Smart Alec that is.  He thanks you for your support.