gearvenders overdrive

[cropdust]

New member:



Anyone have experience with gearvendors overdrive?







2003 3500 4x4 dually

 

[jelag]

We have done some gearvendors sales and service..... They work up to about 20K lbs but aren't designed for use with an exhaust brake..... seems to work well..... they are available in either an overdrive or underdrive..... the latest version is computer controlled... ...



Their clutch was designed to pass power from the engine to the drive train..... not from the drive train to the engine when an exhaust brake turns on... . so if you plan to use and exhaust brake you need to look at one of the other brands... .



Check them out at www.gearvendors.com



Jim /

 

[Doubleclutch]

No offence, jelag, but I think the well is a little deeper than that. Gearvendors calls themselves under/overdrives but the Under part is your stock ratio, and Over is the . 78 from the GV. The exhaust brake issue can easily be "relayed" out of the question by not allowing braking while in OD. Exhaust brakes work better with out of overdrive RPMs anyway. Unlike the other OD on the market, there is a cooler available for the GV unit. Operation is indistinguishable in/out of OD. There is a little "clunking" going out of OD in a manual transmission, but not bad. The GV can be used on a standard cab 4x4 truck (like mine) without mods to the front driveshaft (no 4x4 ops. ) or fuel tank. The folks at GV have made some pretty substantial improvements to the unit recently, addressing some of the previous weaknesses. All this said and done, the USG guys put a pretty good unit on the market which is probably better suited to the man. transmission, but with the above requirements. I've been told that the GV is good for 35,000, but haven't been there so no comment. Cdust- keep looking, most folks that have an od are pretty happy with them.

Greg

 

[CaptainEric]

US Gear underdrive

I have been using the US Gear underdrive for over 50,000 miles and love it. It works great pulling up hill or being pushed down hill. It clunks when you shift it, but there are no clutches to wear out either.



Gear Vendors does not make and underdrive unit (i. e. the output shaft turning slower than the input shaft). They only make an overdrive unit (i. e. the output shaft turns faster then the input shaft). It is strickly a marketing ploy when they say overdrive/underdrive.



I have talked with two motorhome owners who had Gear Vendor units installed. Both had them removed after about 30,000 miles because they started to slip. The motorhomes had gcwr around 25K to 30K pounds.

 

[Jumbo Jet]

56,000 miles on my GV. Had on 2001 5spd. and moved to my 2002 Auto.



So far it has been great.



Customer service has always been great. I installed myself. They offered to provide phone support if needed from home over the weekend. Gave me there home phone number.



I've changed the fluid every 10,000 miles.



I don't understand the 'slipping' part mentioned above. I've always heard that when they fail, it is a hard failure.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Do'es the gear vendors do anything to keep your speedometer accurate when it's in O. D. ?

Also, how many RPM's does it drop it?

 

[Doubleclutch]

About 500 RPM. Don't know about the MPH calibration- GPS says about dead on above 65, with error increasing below. That's with 285x16 ATs. 93 mph = 2000 rpm in 5th over. Results may vary

Greg

 

[klenger]

It shouldn't affect spedo calibration as vehicle speed is sensed at the rear wheels (I think).

 

[jimk]

gearvendor

I bought a used gearvendor a few years ago and I had thought that I might use it to split the 3 to 4 gear split on the automatic. I have been told that is not necessary as the use of a governor kit helps to bridge the gap.

The auto has a higher ratio than the standard so the gap is larger in overdrive. Or that is what I was told. There is times when I pull a trailer when I don't wont to go fast enough to get 1800 in overdrive. I am then stuck with 3 gear lockup to pull the trailer. My auto is stock so when I go to 2 gear or first the slip is great so I have to be careful.

I have though that I might upgrade the auto but I did not wont to spend 3. 5k to 4k+ and then add in the cost with a adapter to fit the overdrive in to bridge gap to pull in 3 gear and the gear vendor overdrive.

I still have the overdrive and have not done any thing to the auto as it has not given any trouble except for the tps switch ( several times) I was almost in the mood to spend the money when the TPS switch acted up again.

The gm transmission has the capability of splitting overdrive with the other gears, example 3 gear and overdrive, with a kit added to the transmission or that is what I was told. This will probably not make some people happy as they are dodge fans however I would buy a Ford if it had a Cummins in it and be rid of the Dodge for good. JimK

 

[ALS]

Used one for 2 years in my 00 Auto w/3:54s towing a 51' T & E custom built with a GCVW about 30K and it worked great. The only engine mod was a VA box.

The Gear Vendor DOES allow you to split each gear. There is a 22 % drop in RPMs from Direct in the GV to OD in the GV, this makes all the difference with the automatic pulling hills loaded heavy.

If there is a failure, it still functions in direct.

If I had another Automatic and needed it, I would do it again at least until DC gets off their rear and puts a real 5 or 6 speed auto behind the Cummins.





Allen

03 Quad Cab 3500 HO 6sp LB Laramie 2WD

03 Freightliner Columbia/16'Renegade Toterhome 430 HP 1650 ft lbs torque Cat-10 Speed Auto Stick