2 speed axle

[TGVET]

Anyone ever installed a 2speed rear axle ? It would be nice if there was an easy swap for my 3500 going from 3:73 to something a bit higher say, 3:42 or ?? Obviously it would only be used for non-4x4 freeway travel. Though about a gear vendors box but read too many maintenance problems with them every 5K needing service. .

 

[Bob4x4]

I have never seen one that would not be too big and heavy for a daily driver pick up

 

[p-Bar]

Ya and the problem with the gearvendors you will never recover the money. the 2 speed rear end would be neat have never seen any drop in units . I have had friends put in "browny boxes" that may be a better way.

 

[p-Bar]

I have never seen one that would not be too big and heavy for a daily driver pick up

I drove a F600 bobtail truck and it had a 2 speed rear end the rear end was huge

 

[TGVET]

The "brownie box" aka gear vendors from what I've read and heard has too many maintenance issues, get lots of wear and tear. . Someone using one may have some input on that.

 

[Slow Six]

As said above the 2 speed axles are in larger trucks and would be to big and heavy for a pickup. The 2 speed axles are bullet proof and have been around for ages, the earlier ones being vacuum shifted. I had the 3:73s in my 03 and I felt they were a good gear for that truck. Higher gearing "might" get slightly better mileage but I don't think you would ever recover the cost.

 

[Sean Flanagan]

I have a gear vendors. It is the best upgrade I ever made on my truck. No issues in 120k miles and it was a used unit when i got it. Change the oil every 10k. I bought it used off eBay and sent it to gear vendors for rebuild.

On my last job we had a GMC box truck with the 2 speed rear. It was a pain. Sometimes it would get stuck in low or even stuck between gears until you stop.

 

[NIsaacs]

On my last job we had a GMC box truck with the 2 speed rear. It was a pain. Sometimes it would get stuck in low or even stuck between gears until you stop.

A new set of contacts would fix it. It is a one piece set with two contacts, one for low and one for high.



Since the OP has a dually, I don't think it would be such a monster. The smaller farm trucks in C40 or C50 Chevy or the F500 Ford axle is about the same size as the Dana S110 in the 4500/5500 Dodges. I say go for it, I like it



Nick

 

[rscurtis]

The size of a 2-speed axle in a pickup is not the issue, it's the cost. I have several Gravely two wheel tractors with 2-speed differentials and you can hold them in one hand. And let's face it, with almost 400HP and over 800 ft. /lbs. of torque, these new trucks could get by with a two or three speed automatic.

 

[jhenderson]

I think some early fords ( modle A ) had a 2 speed. Maybe a called a Ruxle. Can't get much lighter duty than that.

 

[NIsaacs]

The size of a 2-speed axle in a pickup is not the issue, it's the cost. I have several Gravely two wheel tractors with 2-speed differentials and you can hold them in one hand. And let's face it, with almost 400HP and over 800 ft. /lbs. of torque, these new trucks could get by with a two or three speed automatic.

Maybe you could but I remember pushing a danged old Chevy with the 216 inline 6 and a powerglide up too many hills. A two speed auto with the Cummins would be just a little better than walking



As far as price I would think you could get a good used one for less money than a gearvendors.



Nick

 

[Prairie Dog]

I guess Ford beat Dodge to the punch on this one as they were the first to put a 2 speed diff in a truck - in 1940!

http://www.lov2xlr8. no/brochures/ford/40_1.html

 

[cerberusiam]

I am still chuckling over putting a Ruxel axle in one of these trucks. :-laf

 

[Bob4x4]

A 15 inch ring gear certainly would reduce ground clearance... ... .....

 

[RWherley]

You could try to find an older 3 speed auxilery trans to go behind your current trans.

 

[NIsaacs]

They work great if you have a 2wd and long wheel base. See sig. mine is 27% under and 20% over but on a short 4x4 it would be too long for 2 drive shafts. Also you would need to stay in direct in 4x4, if you shifted it by accident

Nick

 

[RWherley]

well as far as going into overdrive in 4x4 the 2 speed rear is no differnt.

 

[cojhl2]

One of the ratios in the two speed must match the front axle ratio.

 

[NIsaacs]

well as far as going into overdrive in 4x4 the 2 speed rear is no differnt.

Yes, you are right. However since the two speed is electric shift, it can be disabled in 4x4 like the gearvenders. Four wheel drive just causes all kinds of conversion problems



And yes, one of the 2spd axle ratios must match the front, then you have to tire match, another issue with a different wheel size.



Nick