G56 & gear vendors over/under drive

[JHern]

I am looking at putting the gear vendors in my 06 G56 4x4 LB wondering if anybody is running this set up and your opinions on it any milage gains hows the towing. Thanks in advance



2006 ST,QC,4x4,LB,Jacobs exhaust brake,ultralinings bed liner,air lift air bags,988

front springs,Toyo mt 295/70/17 on factory aluminums

 

[SBeretz]

I think there are a few running the Gv Unit. Most really like it while driving empty. Whatever your RPM's are now in 6th, take 500 from that and you will have what the GV unit will give you. I had one on my old truck and loved it. You can't use it with an exhaust brake (engaged), but other than that, it worked great. I wouldn't mind having one for my truck. Imagine traveling 80mph at 2000rpms. That would be slick. I think alot of guys also tow in 5th OD since it is supposedly a stronger gear than 6th. Who knows, it is a nice unit, ust kinda spendy. Scotty

 

[Hercules130]

I like the sound of that. If i had a long bed and i got the gear venders, i would procure an aluminum duramax single piece drive shaft and cut out the middle man.

 

[JHern]

Scott thanks for the info if it doesnt work with the exhaust brake i think i will pass considering the price of the gear vendors

Hercules i agree with ditching the carrier bearing & go one piece lot less problems

thinking af all our military heroes with us & gone thanks for all your service

J Hern USN 1987 to 1991
2006 ST,QC,4x4,LB,Jacobs exhaust brake,ultralinings bed liner,air lift air bags,
988 front springs,Toyo mt 295/70/17

 

[ronman]

I like the sound of that. If i had a long bed and i got the gear venders, i would procure an aluminum duramax single piece drive shaft and cut out the middle man.

Hercules:



Never heard of the alum duramax driveshaft that you mention. Is it just a stock driveshaft from a GM Duramax, or is it from an aftermarket supplier? I Googled it but did not find anything. I have a new GearVendor's sitting in a box in my basement waiting for me to have the time to install it on my '06 G56, and the driveshaft is the stumbling block at the moment for me. My local driveshaft shop closed up about a year ago, so I'm loooking for another source.

 

[COCummins]

Can't you put one on a short box? I'm new to this stuff...

 

[MA2LA]

Scott thanks for the info if it doesnt work with the exhaust brake i think i will pass considering the price of the gear vendors

I belive its only an issue of not using the exaust brake with the OD engaged

 

[CContreras]

In reply to Gear Vendor Unit

Scott thanks for the info if it doesnt work with the exhaust brake i think i will pass considering the price of the gear vendors







The Gear Vendor is perfectly compatable with an exhaust brake. Had one on my 95 w/ 5 speed and now on my 06 with G56 and lovin it. MA2LA is correct.

 

[ENafziger]

I was looking into the Gear Vendors units a while back, and wrote them directly. Here is there response:



Eric:



We require the Gear Vendors overdrive to be off when you are using your exhaust brake, and using your factory 6-speed transmission ratios to control road speed when deaccelerating. Early exhaust brakes would have a separate switch that would activate the system into a standby mode, then you would either activate the brake with a switch on the shifter, or accelerator pedal, to control speed under deacceleration. We would attach a "lockout" wire to that underdash control switch to lock out the Gear Vendors unit. With the newer Dodge applications, since the vehicles computer is the control for the brake, there is not a separate dash switch that controls the initial operation. These late model Dodge vehicles are unable to use our lockout system. So, we instruct the owners that they must turn the Gear Vendors system off first, before activation of the exhaust brake. Our New Products department can answer any further questions you may have about our product. They can be reached at 1-800-999-9555.



Jeff Kubizna

Gear Vendors





This finalized my decision not to go with the Gear Vendors unit. In an emergency stop situation while pulling a trailer, it would seem a little cumbersome to mess with trailer braking, verify on/off position of overdrive unit, downshift into correct non-overdrive gear, and have exhaust brake engaged. Maybe it wouldn't be that hard once you got used to it, and maybe "accidently" using the exhaust brake with the unit engaged may not have detrimental consequences. For me, however, I decided to hold off...

 

[Doubleclutch]

Not too hard to keep the loose nut behind the steering wheel engaged while in overdrive and in need of the exhaust brake... I had two eaton fuller (red headed up-down mushroom knob) switches mounted on my 5 spd '96. GV on the right, EB on the left- WHATEVER! These switches have three taps, with the center hot always. Pushed down (OD OFF) the top contact is cold, the bottom contact is hot- use it to power the exhaust brake on the other switch's center contact. Pulled up, the bottom switch goes cold, de-energizing the exhaust brake, (wire to center terminal of EB, top terminal of EB switch to EB) the top contact goes hot, energizing the overdrive.

Normal driving, the OD is energized and the EB switch has no power.

When the bad thing happens while in OD, snap, snap, stomp the brake, and then wipe the nose grease off the inside of your windshield. Or reverse the order, results the same. (except for the nose grease). You COULD leave the EB on always using this wiring set-up.

Greg

 

[JHern]

I was looking into the Gear Vendors units a while back, and wrote them directly. Here is there response:



Eric:



We require the Gear Vendors overdrive to be off when you are using your exhaust brake, and using your factory 6-speed transmission ratios to control road speed when deaccelerating. Early exhaust brakes would have a separate switch that would activate the system into a standby mode, then you would either activate the brake with a switch on the shifter, or accelerator pedal, to control speed under deacceleration. We would attach a "lockout" wire to that underdash control switch to lock out the Gear Vendors unit. With the newer Dodge applications, since the vehicles computer is the control for the brake, there is not a separate dash switch that controls the initial operation. These late model Dodge vehicles are unable to use our lockout system. So, we instruct the owners that they must turn the Gear Vendors system off first, before activation of the exhaust brake. Our New Products department can answer any further questions you may have about our product. They can be reached at 1-800-999-9555.



Jeff Kubizna

Gear Vendors





This finalized my decision not to go with the Gear Vendors unit. In an emergency stop situation while pulling a trailer, it would seem a little cumbersome to mess with trailer braking, verify on/off position of overdrive unit, downshift into correct non-overdrive gear, and have exhaust brake engaged. Maybe it wouldn't be that hard once you got used to it, and maybe "accidently" using the exhaust brake with the unit engaged may not have detrimental consequences. For me, however, I decided to hold off...

I would like to thank everybody for information on this it will help when i finally make my decision right now thinking money spent better some where else i kind of agree with ENafziger on the panic stop situation that always seem to happen coming down I-80 out of Reno to Sacto area with loaded down toy hauler

Thanks J Hern
2006,ST,QC,4x4,LB,Jacobs exhaust brake,Ultra linings bed liner,Air lift air bags,988 front springs,Toyo MT 295/70/17 on factory aluminums

 

[DerekW]

Hercules:



Never heard of the alum duramax driveshaft that you mention. Is it just a stock driveshaft from a GM Duramax, or is it from an aftermarket supplier? I Googled it but did not find anything. I have a new GearVendor's sitting in a box in my basement waiting for me to have the time to install it on my '06 G56, and the driveshaft is the stumbling block at the moment for me. My local driveshaft shop closed up about a year ago, so I'm loooking for another source.

there plenty of driveshaft shops around the country but I honestly have been known to cut down a shaft thats too long and weld it back to fit. but making sure not to add too much weld in one spot. just make sure you put the driveshaft in the truck put it in neutral, jack up the rear wheels and have someone turn the tires at a constant pace. but make sure you have it true using a dial indicator before you weld up. I have done a few like that. it aint right but one of the guys was in a bind and couldnt wait til next day to get his daily driver riding on 44" boggers back on the road. he cant stand driving his gas saver car. he never had a problem since than and hes a good buddy.

 

[DerekW]

also have you guys checked out the cummins website. somewhere on there I found a part where i can plug in my information to see if I have the right gearing for fuel economy/power/target mph. alot of you wont believe where cummins likes the rpms of these enginas for economy.