Gear Vendor or not

[HCanales]

3. 42, 3. 73, or Gear Vendor? I want to know what's best. Right now I have 4. 10 gears because I bought the truck like this and I got a really great deal on it. Would the benefits be worth the time and money? Right now I don't do much pulling alot of highway use and I average 23. 3 calculated tank by tank. Getting rid of the truck is out of the question because I will be using it for pulling livestock, hay, and recreation trailers. I've heard that the third gens inherently run at higher rpms that the second gens for optimal performance (hence the reason you can get 2nd gens in 3. 55). I don't know how true this is and will higher gears take the engine out of the optimal range? The good thing about Gear Vendor is if the load factor increases too much you can turn it off. Does anyone have any testimonies on this matter?



3. 42 gears about $1400 in parts

3. 73 well... not much different than 4. 10 performance $700 in parts

Gear Vendor about $2500

 

[AABEN]

I Thank You Are Looking In The Wright Way. the Gear Vendor Is The Best Way To Go . it Can Be Moved To Your Next Truck, They Are One Good Plase To Put Your Money. it Should Pay For It Self. also Save On Engen Ware. I An Not Good At Spelling . hope You Can Make It Out Ben O3 Hop 6speed Princeton In.

 

[ronman]

I'm kind of partial to Gear Vendor's. I had one on my '98 12V 2WD NV4500 w/3. 54 and recently installed one on my '06 4x4 G56 w/3. 73. I have not towed yet with it, but here's a link to my first impressions and mileage calculations with it and Smarty Jr. on an open road test. I think payback is kind of long, but so far, I like the truck much better with it.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com...195182-gear-vendor-s-smarty-jr-stack-mpg.html



Hope this helps!!

3. 42, 3. 73, or Gear Vendor? I want to know what's best. Right now I have 4. 10 gears because I bought the truck like this and I got a really great deal on it. Would the benefits be worth the time and money? Right now I don't do much pulling alot of highway use and I average 23. 3 calculated tank by tank. Getting rid of the truck is out of the question because I will be using it for pulling livestock, hay, and recreation trailers. I've heard that the third gens inherently run at higher rpms that the second gens for optimal performance (hence the reason you can get 2nd gens in 3. 55). I don't know how true this is and will higher gears take the engine out of the optimal range? The good thing about Gear Vendor is if the load factor increases too much you can turn it off. Does anyone have any testimonies on this matter?



3. 42 gears about $1400 in parts

3. 73 well... not much different than 4. 10 performance $700 in parts

Gear Vendor about $2500

 

[SBeretz]

If you are getting 23MPG already, I do not think you are going to do much better. Plus, when you do start hauling livestock and such, you will like having the 4. 10s in order to start loads. I have the G56 with 3. 73's so it acts alot like 4. 10's but it still pulls great unloaded mileage and pulls my toy hauler without alot of shifting. Scotty

 

[hsmith]

I agree, I have 3:54's with the Gear Vendor and it has never seen 23 mpg!!!

I bought mine for the extra gears, not economy.

 

[HCanales]

Thanks guys. I'm gathering that mostly I will gain the most on a smoother ride than economy. A smoother ride with 4. 10 gears would be awsome but, I'm sure they could be some economy gains on a flat long road. Bottom line, if I want economy I can't bank on gear ratios. RONMAN, I like you thread. I did have a gear vendor on a 96 PS Ford f350 with 4. 11 zf 5 spd. The only problem I had with that old unit was backing up I burnt the clutch on it. When the clutch was burnt I had to put it in 4H, lock the front hubs and back up as needed. For the most part I am seriously considering the GV.

 

[Regcabguy]

Gear Vendor results.

My buddy just returned from Death Valley and got 19. 5 mpg overall. His truck has a flatbed mounted popup camper and numerous add-ons which produce a total weight of 10,000#. Truck has just under 9,000 miles on it w/285's. GV made a big difference. Mileage was nearly all highway,but mph were not a concern. It must be noted that he has the Dynaloc conversion.

 

[HCanales]

I stand corrected on the $2500 price they now run $3200. I going to try finding a used unit first. I still think the GV is the most streamline product on the market compaired to US Gear. I don't know of any other similar products, does any one?

 

[Regcabguy]

Gearvendor cost.

I stand corrected on the $2500 price they now run $3200. I going to try finding a used unit first. I still think the GV is the most streamline product on the market compaired to US Gear. I don't know of any other similar products, does any one?

Gearvendor in El Cajon,Ca gets $4,000 installed on a G-56.

 

[hsmith]

Inflation for sure. Bought mine in '97 at I think a bit over 2K. Self install. On my third unit now, glad they have a great exchange policy.

Direct bolt on provides smooth operation and reliability. Hard to justify the cost for economy though.

 

[hdtrukn]

Might try a taller set of tires for highway and go back to stock for towing.

1" will lower RPM about 200.

Just a thought.

 

[HCanales]

Well... It looks like I'm going with the GV. I need to know how much I need choped off the drive shaft. I have a 03', quad cab 3500, long bed, 4x4, nv5600 six speed. Please help guys with info on this matter. Thanks in advance HC.

 

[Matthysse]

HCanales, On my 06' with the G-56 the GV took up 14" so my single drive shaft was shortened by that much + the slip yoke play to a total length, from center to center of U joints eyes, of 41 1/2". The drive shaft measurement, cutting & balancing is the most critical & important part of the install, in the GV manual they call for the slip yoke to be pulled out 1/2" to 3/4" from bottom out but the number they want is exactly 5/8". It's an easy and straight forward install, i can't stress enough the use of a very qualified drive shaft shop i tried twice here in Palm Beach & gave up wound up sending the shaft to GV and it came back better than perfect, very smooth very quiet and no vibrations in the cab. If i can help you in any other way let me know, James.

 

[HCanales]

HCanales, On my 06' with the G-56 the GV took up 14" so my single drive shaft was shortened by that much + the slip yoke play to a total length, from center to center of U joints eyes, of 41 1/2". The drive shaft measurement, cutting & balancing is the most critical & important part of the install, in the GV manual they call for the slip yoke to be pulled out 1/2" to 3/4" from bottom out but the number they want is exactly 5/8". It's an easy and straight forward install, i can't stress enough the use of a very qualified drive shaft shop i tried twice here in Palm Beach & gave up wound up sending the shaft to GV and it came back better than perfect, very smooth very quiet and no vibrations in the cab. If i can help you in any other way let me know, James.

Thank you, seems like 14" may be the majic number. I'm not sure if the what the difference is between the nv5600 and the g56 in length.

 

[Regcabguy]

Back to pizza cutters.

I think it's all coming down to tall,thin tires. Pizza cutters might be a good overall remedy for mediocre mileage without all the expensive aftermarket items. 265 or 275-85-17's anyone?

 

[HCanales]

I think it's all coming down to tall,thin tires. Pizza cutters might be a good overall remedy for mediocre mileage without all the expensive aftermarket items. 265 or 275-85-17's anyone?

I wish, not too many options for the dullie and their stock rims. I'm waiting for my GV unit(23 APR) while I'm waiting I like to prepare my truck so I can bolt on and go.

 

[KBalzuweit]

I thought about getting a GV, but the service intervals stink.

Recommended service interval - change fluid every 5,000 miles depending on severity of duty.

 

[hsmith]

I know, but I go 10k between changes. So far, so good.

 

[ronman]

HCanales:



The instructions you'll get with the GV will tell you how to measure what length driveshaft you will need. I asked their Technical Help line what size I might need and thay said due to manufacturing tolerances and variables, it's best to measure on the exact truck the unit is being installed on. I followed their instructions, and had mine shortened to my measurements, and it came out perfect. Even though your truck might be the same model/WB as someone elses, I would not assume the same length would work on your truck! Maybe it will, but maybe it won't!

Well... It looks like I'm going with the GV. I need to know how much I need choped off the drive shaft. I have a 03', quad cab 3500, long bed, 4x4, nv5600 six speed. Please help guys with info on this matter. Thanks in advance HC.

 

[HCanales]

Your absolutly Ron, GV told me the same exact thing. I was just trying to expedite the process because I have to drive down to MD and take the entire drive shaft to balance it all together. Was your installation simple?

Thank you. HCanales