Gear Vendor

[Kerm]

I am taking delivery of my new TCD. I went with the 4. 10 or 4. 11(whichever comes from the factory) with a 6 speed, because I do occasional towing. I would like to get some better fuel milage though when at hwy speeds. Can anyone vouch for this product? I have talked to one of the techs over there a couple of months ago. But, I am pretty shure they can't be half as strong and durable as he made them out to be he was telling me about having them installed on dragsters that elegitly made upwards of 1100hp and 8-900fpt? Can this be true??. Any realy world HWY MPG?? Also how will this affect my warranty?

Thanks Again!

-Kerm

 

[y-knot]

I know a few guy's that have them, they seem to be happy with theres, but have had a few minor bugs. I can't see where it would be worth the money. You might pick up a couple mile per gallon, but it will never come close to paying for itself. It is a toy, and something to brag about, if that is a good enough reason for you to buy one, they great enjoy it. But I wouldn't try and fool myself by thinking it to be anything else. It could been fun, if you like to split shift.

 

[Doubleclutch]

Hey Kerm- Most of us with GearVendor "toys" have them because we have the 5 speed and need the split between 3&4, and 4 over to save 5th gear at low speed. I am considering one for the 2001 AUTO because of the gap between drive and OD while towing. Haven't heard about many bugs in the units manufactured after ~1999 when major improvements were incorporated. I don't know how hard I'd be lusting after one if I had a 6 speed, but if you're pushing 75 and 80 on the interstates, you might consider one to reduce the roundy-round speed of the engine.

Greg

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

This was discussed earlier, don't remember what forum it was. But any way I figured it out and it will take from 200,000-250,000 miles for the over drive unit to pay for itself. So what I am saying it spend your money on something more worth while cause even though you can tell yourself you are getting better milage you are spending way more money.

 

[wsurf]

I have the auto, and towing with a GV allows me more flexibility to keep RPM where it needs to be. I like it for this reason AND like others with the 4. 10 it does reduce RPM significantly cruising at highway speeds when empty, reduces noise also (@70 mph is 2100, with GV 1650 rpm). Can't make the mileage pay though. Do a search, there is a lot on "gear spliting, overunder drive, gear vendor, etc. . Yea it is a toy but so is my truck!!

 

[wsurf]

Forgot to mention. The GV is smooth as silk and works great!! Yes they put them in hotrods.

 

[XcumminsX]

is there a website for these things?

 

[Fast 1]

The gear vendor splits gears in the 5 speed nicely, but thier is nothing to split in a 6speed unless you like the same gear twice, 5 over and six is almost the same ratio. You're just adding a top gear. No significant mileage gain either just lower rpm at cruising speed and a quieter.

 

[DPKetchum]

I want to go to 19. 5 tires and wheels which will make HIGH gear about a 3. 66 ratio.

 

[Posm]

Once again, I would like to jump in on the RPM vs MPG argument. Their seems to be little or now difference in the lower and higher rear end MPG figures. I have watched hundreds of posts here over the last 3 years. Most people are complaining about their MPG at 75 or above. That is a function of drag which is squared with speed and not linear. If the RPMs were such a big factor, you should be able to go with 19. 5 wheels and a Gear Vendor and get 35 or 40 MPG. It won't happen. The people here that are getting great mileage have a 2WD( several hundred pounds lighter and a foot closer to the ground) and they drive at 70 or under.

Surely someone with a Gear Vendor will be able to test this. Use your regular 1:1 for a week or so of commuting the same route and then use your overdrive for the same route for a week.

 

[DPKetchum]

My friends 03 2500 48re ho 3. 73 2wd gets a sold 4 plus mpg at all speeds better then mine. He can run 80 and is at 18 or so at 70/75 almost at 20. towing a bumper pull two horse trailer gets 13/14 even in mountains. I get 11 or so towing 7 to 10 k and even at 70 around 15/16 maybe. Best mileage for me was 18 at 55 driving like it had eggs under tthe pedal. At 75 to 80 its 12 or so mpg.

 

[PJensen]

I have an 03 2500 HO/6 speed QC LB 4x4 3:73 's and LSD with just 1800 miles on the odometer.



I drive 120 miles round trip a day. Mostly highway / rural roads. About 30 miles is in town.



Mileage worst first tank, 14 mpg.



Best so far 19 mpg.



My average speed on the highway is 65 to 70.



So you are saying buying them 19. 5" Alcoas and a GV unit wont get me better mileage?



What about an over / under unit so I can back up the truck a little slower when there is a trailer behind it. Kinda like the 2nd gen trucks with the CAD on the front axle defeating switch and toss the TC in 4 low? This would help me justify the purchase more for that cool toy.



How much does mileage increase after breaking in the engine. I figure over 30K miles.



Im figuring 10% after proper break in and going to synthetic oil.

 

[Posm]

PJensen

I like toys as much as anybody and am the best at internal justification of a needless add -on. I feel your pain. Here is an idea. How about you get some manual locking hubs and not lock them in for the back-up duties. That would get you a lot more gear reduction than the GV for about 1/6th the money. The lock out hubs may even get you a little better mileage.

 

[wsurf]

Not to beat this to death, but Posm is correct. You might see a slight benefit in mileage but it won't pay. GV does not work in reverse (I think), it is not built for the reverse torque loading like using an e brake. BUT for towing and noise reduction at speed it is great!. If you need to back a trailer slower use 4WD low (if you have 4WD).

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by Doubleclutch

Hey Kerm- Most of us with GearVendor "toys" have them because we have the 5 speed and need the split between 3&4, and 4 over to save 5th gear at low speed.

Greg bring out a good point concerning the gearing of the NV4500 five speed. I had one in my 98. 5 and didn't much like it. I now have the NV5600 six speed and the difference is night and day, the gear ratio and the od problem have been adressed. The six speed combined with the 4. 10 ratio and the HO Cummins give me all the gearing I need to tow my fiver.



Dean

 

[PJensen]

So if they made a kit to unlock the hubs I wouldnt have to worry about the front tires trying to grab in 4 low backing my trailer into my drive on concrete.



I wonder how bad it will grab backing up with it the way it is stock?

 

[ACerf]

Mileage

I get with an SO at 70 in the nigh teens. And it is about the same at 75. If I pull my 11,000lb Fiver I have gotten as good a 13 and as bad as 10. And boys that is a stock SO!! This baby is only 6 months old. It will take several thousand more miles to achive better mileage. As much as 20k to effectively break in the engine.

 

[EMD-Run8]

Why is everybody getting 4. 10's!!!!!!!?????? I guess if your running or going to run larger tires then OK but for crying out loud you just don't need 'em unless you run REAL heavy REAL often. I'll never forget the '89 D250 I test drove when I was in the service. 160 hp/ 400 lbs torque with a 727 torqueflite and 3. 07 geared Dana 60. Nice, low stall converter------that truck would fly!! When my dad got his '92 with essentially the same engine but with the A518/overdrive transmission with the looser stall speed I was like mannnnnnn this sucks!!!!! Every stock auto trannied Dodge diesel I've driven since is just a real disappointment. I digress, but I dunno-------maybe its just me.

 

[wsurf]

To answer the 4. 10 question, I have a dually, no choice on the gearing. BUT . . . I wouldn't like to tow or have a loaded truck without duals. Been there done that. So some may not have a choice for gearing, yes it's a trade off, but I like the safety of 2 rear wheels. I blown tires and it isn't fun. So I ended up with 4. 10's no big deal.

 

[Dean Upson]

Originally posted by wsurf

To answer the 4. 10 question, I have a dually, no choice on the gearing. BUT . . . I wouldn't like to tow or have a loaded truck without duals. Been there done that. So some may not have a choice for gearing, yes it's a trade off, but I like the safety of 2 rear wheels. I blown tires and it isn't fun. So I ended up with 4. 10's no big deal.

You have made a couple of very good points and I agree with you wholeheartedly.

I made the choice of dual rear wheels when I had my truck camper back in 1986, mostly for safety. I had the same camper on a srw truck previously and the difference in stability was like night and day.

I had 3:54 autos in my first 2 diesel 1 tons and they were okay with the truck camper, but failed miserably with the 27 foot HitchHikerII single slide fiver. I didn't want the 4. 10s but went to them in 1998 with a 5 speed and except for the lousy 3-4 shift and the weak 5th gear nut, the truck performed much better than my previous ones.

When I bought my new fiver, the 5 speed transmission became a much bigger problem and I got my present truck with the six speed and 4. 10 configuration and am completely satisfied, I would not do anything differently if I had to do it over again. I have nothing against automatic transmissions, but they are not for me for towing. I like the control I have and the braking with the Jacobs e-brake.

I cannot comment about how I would like the srw towing because I never have towed a heavy trailer with one, but the dually tracks very well in all kinds of wind and traffic. I also needed the dually for the heavy tongue weight of my fiver. All that being said (sorry for the long post), if I were just to have a diesel for a daily driver and not to "work", I would probably have a 3500 (I like the lights) 4x4 sb, 3. 73 auto.



Dean