2 speed axle

[RHARVEY]

I talked to a guy at an Rv park where we stay and he was sharing a story about a friend that had installed a 2 speed rear end in his Dodge Cummins 5 speed. The story went something like this. . The truck needed more gears for pulling and he did not want a electronic trans behind the 5 speed, so he found what I understood, a 2 speed rear end. After cutting it down to fit under the fenders of his 97 3500, he installed it. . The guy said that it worked like a dream. . he was able to split(low side)of each gear.

I never did get all the facts on cost and type of rear end, but I figured one of you guys could give me some information. .

I have been quoted $2800 for a Gear Vendor, but I would like to stay away from the electronic if I can.

Any idea's



Thanks

Rick

 

[illflem]

I checked into it and what I found out is there is no 2 speed rearend made that will fit a 3500. The 2 speed differentials are so big that it would almost drag on the ground. Either the fellow you talked to was pulling your leg or the person who did the modification spent a hell of a lot of time on it. It stands to reason if it was easy to do that the vendors of O-D gearboxes would also be offering 2 speed rearends. I'm with you though, it would be a great way to go.

 

[MikeR]

I like to talk to guys about trucks and such when I'm on trips,but I'm getting sick and tired of the bull**it that some guys don't know they're talking about.



Sorry to say,but no one is going to put a 2spd rear under a Dodge. If you don't want a Gear Vendor,that's what a US Gear is for. The 2spd guts are not going to fit a Dodge axle housing(of course),and no one is going to risk the liability of trying to put Dodge hubs/brakes on a big truck axle housing that wont fit the axles and splines in the first place.



Another good BS story I heard was... "So-and-so picked up his new truck and drove it straight over to Cummins NW where they installed an Allison automatic and a set of twin turbos".



Another is... "So-and so just got an 800hp chip for his truck".



Another good one was a guy trying to convince me that Cummins and Jacobs is now making a "true" Jake brake for our little Dodge 5. 9's.

 

[Larry Willard]

The one I heard is you can order the truck shipped from the factory with no transmision and send to get the Allison. Saves a lot of money that way.

Larry

 

[klenger]

There's a guy at my office that insists that you can order a Ford pickup with a Cummins.

 

[Bad340fish]

Oh yeah. . don't forget Ford owns Cummins. If they did why would they use the PSD? lol

Clark

 

[Extreme1]

If you have the bucks...

Originally posted by klenger

There's a guy at my office that insists that you can order a Ford pickup with a Cummins.

Get a 650 and have them install your favorite flavor of Cummins. Then buy a dually bed and a mounting kit, no problem...

 

[David_VT]

Given the time&$, anything might be possible...

Hey, ever see the custom dual rear axle pickups?

They have been featured in trucking mags from time to time. A great example of somebody wanting something unique and having the resources to get it done.

If you are down in the southwest, you might see a Dodge 4500. Who knows what that can be built with (since you can only buy in Mexico)... .



But then again, many of us do love a good fish story...



D

 

[QRTRHRS]

Dave,



Are you talking about that Ford that has been written up in several magazines? The one I saw was pretty much owner built and pretty well done at that. A lot of bucks and talent no doubt. I know he had set it up with both rears driving rather than a tag axle setup.



Having driven trucks with two speed rears, I would forget that and focus on the transmission. Multi speed trannys are easier to live with IMHO.

 

[RHARVEY]

OK,,maybe the 2 speed rearend is not the answer, but what about a 2 speed transmission(non-electronic). For some reason I just have not warmed up to a electronic style overdrive. Maybe its the fact that I have not had any experience with Gear Vendor or US GEAR transmissions. .



Thanks

Rick

 

[NVR FNSH]

do a search on user name Large Car or Brownie 3 spd - I think you'll find what you are looking for.



Brian

 

[JLinder]

Pickup 2 speed...

There's local guy here in town that has a early 80's Chevy 3/4T that came with the crappy 6. 2L. In the late 80's or early 90's he put a 6BT in there mated to the stock 4 speed trans. He had to put a 2 speed (over) rear in his truck because it was geared so low he could only do 60mph other wise. I've seen the truck, but I've never paid much attention to the rear. It doesn't look real big like a Rockwell or Eaton used in bigger trucks. There's one out there some place, if I find out what breed it is, I'll pass on the info.

 

[ANCIENT WOOD]

It may be beer making my memory run but I thought brand F had a 2 speed rear option on some 1 tons in the late 70s or early 80s. I drove one and it didn't have an aux transmission but it did have a 2 speed somehow.

 

[E-9]

OVERDRIVE

I have had a US GEAR overdrive unit in my truck for 70,000 miles and love it. It works great and have had no problems.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

Have had GearVendors OD for 10k miles.



So far no problems. It's great to be pulling load up hill, shift from 3rd to 3rdOD, 4th, 4thOD. The ratio from 3rd to 4th on my 5 speed was terrible for pulling a load up hill.



In 5thOD (DoubleOD) with the 4. 10 gears the truck just hums at 80mph.