over/underdrives

[6speed]

Has anybody tried the Gear Vendors/U. S. Gear units and what results have you found and what are some recommendations.





04 3500 SRW QC 6 Sp TST Luk H. D. Clutch Debadged Graphite Metalic w/ Teflon Coated wheels that match truck

 

[KLockliear]

US gear unit is very strong. Our R&D guy broke 2 GV's in 6 months towing a 14k 5er. US Gear took all the abuse, no problem.

 

[MChildress]

I have wondered how high a gear you could run empty for milage. I had an 83 Ford 6. 9 with a 3. 08 geared rear end.

 

[GColeman]

I had a U. S. Gear on my 97 CTD. Ran it hard for 100k miles with zero problems. Can't beat splitting gears when pulling a heavy load.

 

[jacqnbill]

Has anybody tried the Gear Vendors/U. S. Gear units and what results have you found and what are some recommendations.





04 3500 SRW QC 6 Sp TST Luk H. D. Clutch Debadged Graphite Metalic w/ Teflon Coated wheels that match truck

I had a US Gear with no problems on a 98 2500 NV4500. Pulled a gross 27,000 with no ploblems. Wore out the transmission.



My brother in law blew three Gear Vendors before giving up. Gear Vendor did replace the units under warranty. The GV has a planatary gear system

 

[p-Bar]

Ya that Gear vendor unit I think is from England , you always have to take a look at the cars made there to figure if they have the mechanical abilities.

 

[wsurf]

p-Bar, you have got to be kidding. Gear Vendor is made in San Diego (actually El Cajon). I had one on my 03 and it pulled like an SOB and never any problems. Solid unit. I do not know how it is compared to the US Gear units. The GV is a planetary gear system and can be shifted under full load. I had the automatic in the truck so the GV unit allowed me to split the gears. I did do some reading about the two before going with the GV, main difference is that the US Gear can be used in 4WD and the GV cannot. GV unit is after the transfer case and the US Gear is between trans and transfer. BUT you can use the GV on 4WD trucks just not while IN 4WD.

 

[p-Bar]

I was under the impression that they imported them from England. Have heard good and bad reports, like everything :-laf



edit: They probably licensed the technology. They have a nice facility, went on the website. Thanks for the education, these forums are great

 

[DOverton]

I had a GV in my truck up to a couple of days ago. My fifth gear had went out on my NV 4500, so I ordered a new NV 4500 with the torque king shaft and gear set from Quad 4X4 and a new US Gear to go with it. I installed them both yesterday and after driving all day today, I'm well pleased with the new set up. You can use the exhaust brakes with the US Gear. CAN NOT use the exhaust brakes with the GV. Never had a problem with the GV though except the issue with the exhaust brakes. I will be selling the used units in the future or trading them for a good set of 19. 5" Rickson Wheels.



Dallas



Edit... I also installed a new flywheel and clutch assembly from South Bend Clutch. Upgraded to the 13 inch Con OFE!!!

 

[betterthanstock]

Ya that Gear vendor unit I think is from England , you always have to take a look at the cars made there to figure if they have the mechanical abilities.

Used to be. Now they make 'em here.

 

[p-Bar]

Used to be. Now they make 'em here.

WSURF had me smoking crack, glad thats cleared up

 

[MEGATRK]

I didn't know that you couldn't use the GV with an exhaust brake?! I have questions now with the shifting on the US Gear with a manual trans. In reading their websight you have to partially depress the clutch to get the US Gear unit to engage or can this be done with out doing that? What about teh "clunk" they mentioned? I don't like the idea of having to shorten my fuel tank for this unit. But I do like the fact that this unit will work in 4wd, as I do some low speed (45-55) traveling for extended periods of time in 4wd for 6 days at a time for hunting. What are everyones feelings on these units?

 

[regelitsu]

I have a Gear vendor with a g-56 transmission and it is great. This is my second unit since I use to drag race it and split while under WOT. At 2000 RPM's I can do 80 MPH with stock tires and a 3. 73. Great unit, you can shift it whenever you want but can't use it under 20 or so cause the pump runs of the drivetrain on the truck (diff to driveshaft). The only thing is that it goes after the transfer case so no 4x4 and splitting but I never use it for that anyways.

 

[Hercules130]

how the heck do you shorten the gas tank?

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I didn't know that you couldn't use the GV with an exhaust brake?

I drove RAJohnson's '02 with the GV and he uses his exhaust brake with it. You can use the GV with the brake as long as the unit is in direct (not splitting gears).



Vaughn

 

[TCandee]

I recently installed a BV on my 05 Auto. Increase my average fuel economy by 2 mpg (19mpg) at 70 mph with some city driving each day. Also towed around 7000 lbs. from Oregon to Arizona and back pushing it as hard as I needed and got around 11mpg. The GV on the Auto with the 3. 73s is almost too much overdrive for speeds below 70. The six speed is a little lower geared and may relove that problem.



By far the best thing that the GV did for the truck is 3rd gear over. :--) That is, the 48RE is in 3rd gear and the GV is engaged. This is an excellent passing and climbing gear. This in conjunction with the edge juice in tow mode blows doors and completely eliminates all gear hunting. There are several very steep grades on the long trip I mentioned and I never dropped below 65 except for sharp corners.

 

[TKingsbury]

I drove RAJohnson's '02 with the GV and he uses his exhaust brake with it. You can use the GV with the brake as long as the unit is in direct (not splitting gears).



Vaughn

I think what he meant was you can not use the exhaust brake with the unit engaged. You can not even use it to hold you back just compression braking either. They are only meant for power to be applied from the engine side, not from the driveshaft. The fact that you can't start off with the GV on is a bad point also. The GV is only an overdrive too, not an underdrive like they call it. I'd get a US gear, they seem to have a good reputation and have some key benefits.

Travis. .

 

[RVTRKN]

What is the cost and the tank issue scares me

 

[MEGATRK]

Looking at Us Gears websight, I think under the over/under drive section it talked and showed about shortening the tank. They said it lose approzimately 1 gallon for the modification.



I do like the fact of being able to use it with the exhaust brake, and in 4 wheel drive. For those long & slow snow/ice covered winter roads to hunting. ie 55 mph of less for 3 days straight.



I'm wondering about that "clunk" from the engaging of the unit? Does anyone have this unit, expecially with the manual trans? I would like to ask you a few questions.

 

[jacqnbill]

I had a US Gear for several years on a 1998 2500 with NV4500 manual transmission. I usually depressed the clutch when shifting the GV and eliminated most of the clunk. It was no big deal. Loved the US Gear.



Bill