Ordered My USGear OD today!

[trbotrk]

LARRYB-----I spoke with Lee at US gear a little after you did today. As he told you all trannys make extra heat in od. I asked him about using different oils, as you said, and he said they would make a difference but not a big difference. I then mentioned gear vendors units and he said they hold a little more oil and circulate it and "maybe handle the heat a little better". Eighty % of my need for this unit is so I can tow in fourth over. Maybe I have to rethink the whole thing and go with a gear vendor unit. What to do??????

 

[RobG]

I've had my US Gear Overdrive in my truck for over a year now. It's had a temp sender in it since the day I installed it (I did it myself, it's NOT DIFFICULT AT ALL), and the temps have never gone over 220-230.



Heck, my average temperature on the OD when towing is in the 150-180 range. It only gets over 200 when I have a full load (GCWR of about 18k) pulling a hill that's more than just a couple miles long. It's full of one quart of Redline 75W-90 gear oil, and I changed it once about 6 mos ago when I had to replace a defective SPA temp sender (the sender is mounted in the drain hole).



Installation... anybody charging $1000 to install it is seriously ripping you off. I'd gladly do it for $500 but I'd still feel like I was ripping you off. You and a helper can do it in an afternoon. The helper's only required if you can't benchpress 150 lbs easily (the xfer case weighs 75 lbs and the OD is 65 lbs)... it's just easier to have help when sliding the stuff into place.



Heck, it took me longer to run all the wires into the truck and up the shifter than it did to install the overdrive itself!!! And I'm a scrawny little f--- too (5'8 / 140 lbs).



Rob

 

[trbotrk]

ROBG-----This kind of info is what I was hoping to get. You tow a load about the same as I do and probably in some of the same areas. I don't what kind of transmission you have but do you have the US gear unit in OD as the norm. TIA

 

[LarryB]

Yea RobG, Thanks for the input.



I too was hoping to hear from someone pulling about the same weight/power as myself. Your temps are about what I have expected. Looks like the really long hills will need 5th direct to keep the OD from overheating. At least I now have 4th over to limp home on if my 5th gear nut takes a hike.



Thanks guys for all your comments. I'm adding all this to the ole database