Over drive unit.

[brobeson]

Of the US gear or Gear Venders, while one would be best on a 2001 3500 4X4, HO, 6 sp, 4. 10's with exhaust brakes.



I am looking mostly for lower RPM's for better MPG once up at cruise speed, 65-70 MPH.



I heard that one unit does not like exhaust brakes which I have.



Which one offers the most overdrive ratio?



TIA



Bob

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I have the US Gear OD unit - 22% OD ratio for useful gear splitting, added 15 mph to top speed, substantially lower engine rpm at normal cruise. No problems with this unit and exhaust brakes, over 100,000 miles on mine with no problems at all - much of that towing a 7000 lb fiver. The only down side to the US Gear is a somewhat noisy "clunk" when shifted at freeway speeds - I usually anticipate the need to shift in/out of OD, and do it at lower speeds...

 

[Floor It]

I have a gear-vendors and it works great, but alot of guy's are having problems with them while using the exhaust brake. So I guess if your going to use it while using the exhaust brake I would probably go with the U. S. Gear. one.

 

[GLASMITHS]

I have a gear Venders and exhaust brake. The GV does buck like a horse with a bur under it tail at low speeds, so you have to watch it there; but then when loaded you are usually in a lower gear and the GV off. The reason that I purchased the GV was the fact that it will shift under power. (I have an auto) You can't do that with 6spd, or 5 spd.



Generally, I never have to touch the gearshift unless a seriouse incline comes up. I have 50,000 on the GV and love it. If and when it weaars out, there will be one to replace it.

 

[Paul]

Unless you have an ext. cab with full length bed you will have to alter your fuel tank to use a US gear on a 4X4.

Once you are use to shifting the GearVendor there should be no bucking or clunking.

 

[Rambling]

GLASMITH is correct in that with an auto if you don't drop out of the OD early enough you eperience the same thing as forgetting to push the clutch in.



However, the GearVendor will work with an exhaust brake but may have a problem with very heavy braking due to it's Helical gear design(others will correct me if I got that wrong, I'm sure ).

 

[Reddog1]

US Gear

I have a US Gear unit, set-up as an underdrive, coupled to an automatic. This is a new-to-me 96 Ram (had it about three months), and I am still playing with it. I bought the Ram from an estate, therefor could not talk to the original owner. The US Gear Transmission was used to pull a 35 foot fifth wheel. The Ram has the US Gear Exhaust brake. Both units have been in the Ram for 115000 miles, with no obvious problems.



As I previously stated, my US Gear unit is set-up as an underdrive, and I am not sure I would want to change it to an overdrive. With 3. 5 gears, at 55 mph I am doing 1500 rpm and at 65 mph 1750 rpm. This is with no load, Dodge Over Drive and direct drive in the US Gear. In underdrive, 45 mph @ 1500 rpm and 55 @ 1750. I have been told, to cruse at less than 16500 rpm is not efficient and is not the best for the engine.



I typically get 19 mpg, driving in the foothills.





Wayne

 

[RobG]

I have the USGear on my '01 ETH and love it. Yeah it makes a clunk when shifting, but that's just the way it shifts. It works flawlessly.



I read that the USGear has a 20% overdrive (vs. 22% on the GV), though I doubt the extra 2% is a big deal.



Realistically, with my tire size, the 20% of my USGear is PLENTY. Heck, when I'm fully loaded, I don't even use the OD. I leave it in direct 6th (60-65 mph), but I'll use the OD to split lower gears as needed to manage speed and EGT on climbs.



I also have the USGear exhaust brake (the 4" inline model since I have an HX-40) and it works flawlessly with the overdrive.



I wouldn't be without either, that's for sure.



Rob

 

[rob10858]

id never have either, never again. the us gear is the better of the two units, but the headaches that we had with both the gv and us gear soured us forever on od units. believe me, i wished that they worked as advertised, there was nothing better than cruising along in high 5th at 1300 rpms [empty] and watching the fuel mileage increase. but put a heavy load behind either one of these od's for an extended amount of time, and the "clunking" sound of the usg, and the "smooth" shifts of the gv will take their toll on your transmission and rear end. it took us about $22000 to install and remove every od unit in our fleet to tell me that this is not the way to go. again, i wait for any od salesman to contradict me on this, and would gladly welcome the chance to take he or she on a tour of our od scrapheap. the 6 speed is better off left the way it is. those who pull light or no loads might have great luck with these ods, but why take the chance? by the time you start having problems with these things, they are way out of warranty, and you and your wallet will wish they never existed. am i right steve?

 

[GLASMITHS]

Gear Venders

I just returned from a 3000 mile trip, Lake charles to Flint, MI and various other places, pulling my 16,500# Kountry Star fiver. Next to my Cummins engine, this GV is just great. You just cain't use your Dodge O/D pulling that load up mountains; so you use 3rd and the GV as O/D. You can keep that rpm at or near 2100 and just enjoy that 13. 5 mpg.



However, I do not dog my truck! That may be some othe these folks problems, not the unit; and especially some company that has them installed. I would not put them in a company truck.

Listen to this - The day I left on vacation (10-1-01) I observed a (get this) Chebby 1500 pulling a 2001 Dodge/w a Cummins. Almost lost my Oatmeal Crisp. But then realized it was that flat bed from an oilfield co, and everytime I have seen it, the driver is dogging it hard. Black smoke just boiling. get it.



Maybe I said it wrong. The GV will buck below about 30 to 35 mph. So if you plan to come to a stop, downshift to 3rd if you have the GV on; above that ----you play with it and drive like you want to, and what is best for you.



and - if my truck had a 6spd standard, I would not waste my money on one. You don"t need it. But I would not have a standard shift. I'm too old, and too lazy. I drove from Biloxi, MS to Flint, MS and the only thing I had to downshift was the GV. It stayed in Dodge 3rd.



oh, one more thing. RPMS The week before I left, I drove 80 miles roundtrip to a jobsite on 55mph highway. Decided to expermint. Put the GV on with Dodge OD. about 1400 RPM unloaded, ok. Gas mileage 17. 5 instead of 19-22 tell me!!

Where is my 2000 sweet spot