U.S. Gear auxiliary transmission?

[slowneasy]

Seriously thinking about going ahead and ordering a U. S. Gear auxiliary transmission and would like to hear first hand, your thoughts on it that have used it to tow heavy in the hills and mountainous areas.

Also, it'd be awesome if someone with a 6 speed/U. S. Gear setup would let me ride in their truck to see how it operated. I live in the Santa Clarita, CA area.



Many thanks!

 

[slowneasy]

Come on Gents! Somebody has got to chime in here... anybody??

I just talked to two different dealer/installers and they both basically said it wasn't possible to install this unit on a Dodge CTD 4x4. Something about having to move transfer case back, brackets and what not. Both dealers were helpful and didn't seem 100% on the installation requirements.

Maybe a call to U. S. Gear.



Thanks!

 

[slowneasy]

Sorry... truck is an 04. 5 3500 dually 4x4

 

[slowneasy]

Update- Just talked to Lee at U. S. Gear and he confirmed that no, the under/over drive unit in not compatable with the newer (at least 04. 5 & newer) 4x4 CTD trucks. He said there were no plans at all to put any resources into one either. Kinda too bad.

 

[Chaw]

You might try looking at the Gear Vendors unit. I was on their site last night and they show a listing for the 4x4 trucks. I think the tailshaft comes off the transfer case and the o/d unit is installed. Looks like you might have to shorten the drive shaft a bit. I would love to have one since I have the G56.

 

[Graphic man]

Dad runs a US gear under drive unit in his Ford for 3 years now ,he is towing 28,000 lb combined and loves it, never had a problem.





Scott

 

[slowneasy]

Chaw, a Gear Vendor was in the running at first until I searched here on the forums and found out it's not compatable with an exhaust brake. I use the brake all the time towing here in the hills and it'd be too much of a hassle remembering to shut it off. On top of that, I was wanting an underdrive unit as sometimes first gear is too high starting out from using a turn-out to let traffic by. Also, you have to reach a speed of 21mph for the Gear Vendor to be operational.

As they say... I'm screwed.

 

[Lektrikman]

Slowneasy, I also had been interested in a US Gear unit for my 05 CTDSB but as you learned they don't make an adapter to fit the OD on the back of the transfer case. I was buggin' the factory about designing up an adapter because I don't want to move my T-case and all the rest of the monkey motion that goes with the installation. I had a Gearvendors at one time and was always concerned about the clutch material I found when changing oil in the unit, so I swore I'd buy the US Gear unit the next time. I wonder if several people approached the factory about creating an adapter that would allow you to bolt the US Gear unit to the rear of the T-case if they would consider it. Have you been to their website yet? It has a wealth of information about their product and I haven't found anybody that hasn't been happy with their US Gear unit... ... ... Lektrikman

 

[TGreer]

overdrives in general will increase your egt when towing under load especially if you are using fuel boxes. I am running a gear vendors unit ,6sp with 4. 10 & won't drive without it when unloaded. Won't use it loaded , but wouldn't be without otherwise.

 

[JimDay]

Slowneasy, I also had been interested in a US Gear unit for my 05 CTDSB but as you learned they don't make an adapter to fit the OD on the back of the transfer case. I was buggin' the factory about designing up an adapter because I don't want to move my T-case and all the rest of the monkey motion that goes with the installation. I had a Gearvendors at one time and was always concerned about the clutch material I found when changing oil in the unit, so I swore I'd buy the US Gear unit the next time. I wonder if several people approached the factory about creating an adapter that would allow you to bolt the US Gear unit to the rear of the T-case if they would consider it. Have you been to their website yet? It has a wealth of information about their product and I haven't found anybody that hasn't been happy with their US Gear unit... ... ... Lektrikman

Lektrikman, Why would you want to put the US Gear unit behind the T-case? You wouldn't be able to drive in 4 wheel drive with the unit in overdrive. Making an adapter so the unit will fit between the transmission and the transfer case would be easier than making an adapter for the unit to mount behind the t-case. It may be difficult to make sleeves that has the splines that will match the transmission to the unit and the unit to the t-case. But it is the easiest way.

 

[steved]

Lektrikman, Why would you want to put the US Gear unit behind the T-case? You wouldn't be able to drive in 4 wheel drive with the unit in overdrive. Making an adapter so the unit will fit between the transmission and the transfer case would be easier than making an adapter for the unit to mount behind the t-case. It may be difficult to make sleeves that has the splines that will match the transmission to the unit and the unit to the t-case. But it is the easiest way.

Umm, how fast do YOU drive in 4wd? I usually don't run more than 50mph, and wouldn't need an overdrive unit at that speed...



Geesh, I could see it now, hotshotter blowing by me at 85mph on a glare of ice... just because he had and OD unit to run OD in 4wd... oh, wait I have seen that before... :-laf



steved

 

[JStrasser]

You might try looking at the Gear Vendors unit. I was on their site last night and they show a listing for the 4x4 trucks. I think the tailshaft comes off the transfer case and the o/d unit is installed. Looks like you might have to shorten the drive shaft a bit. I would love to have one since I have the G56.

My thoughts exactly. When I am shifting while concentrating on the road, traffic and other important distractions, I frequently find myself looking for another gear (7th?). Some of this might be due to occasionally driving my wife's VW Passat, where 5th/top gear is up and to the right, while "seat-of-the-pants" feel of our new CTD leaves me seeking another higher gear.



Cathy and I just got back from a 5 day trip with our travel trailer and a few times (while we enjoyed the sights and conversation) I found myself clutching and shifting out of 6th and looking for the next gear. OOPS.



I have thought of getting the same results by going to larger diameter tires, but I have about 2" over the cab going into the garage now. It would have to stay outside with taller tires. It is a 4x4, so an axle gear change would involve 2 diffs. An overdrive unit at the back of the T-case would be just the ticket. On the occasions where I need 4wd, I just wouldn't use the OD.



Anybody have one or have further info?



Thanks,

John

 

[wsurf]

John,

I would try/recommend the Gearvendor unit. Had one on my 03 DRW 4X4 auto and loved it. Towed with it, used it empty, etc. Never any problems. It has two great advantages (other than gear splitting), running empty you get that 'other' gear (double over) and since the rpms are lower much less noise. But noise isn't an issue so much on the newer trucks.



I traded the 03 for an 06 with the 6 speed and I'm thinking about getting another GV unit.



PS; can't use GV with 4X4, but who cares. And I thought you could use the GV with an exhaust brake but only with the mannual not the auto.



Dan

 

[Burner]

GV = NO exhaust brake. ... ... ... . the man uses his exhaust brake.

 

[BHaden]

GV = NO exhaust brake. ... ... ... . the man uses his exhaust brake.

Correct. I live near GV and sent them an e-mail. They said turn it off when using Ex Brake.

 

[Burner]

If the GV is "ON" and you forget once or need a panic stop while loaded..... I guess a GV is toast, eh?

 

[steved]

If the GV is "ON" and you forget once or need a panic stop while loaded..... I guess a GV is toast, eh?

No, I think they don't want continued use with a brake... IIRC, it will eventually wear them out prematurely if the brake is used a lot...



steved

 

[Lektrikman]

JimDay, I'm like a lot of other CTD owners out there that would like one more gear for cruisin' on the road. I have no need to run 70 MPH in 4WD, but sure would like to have a "cruising gear" for the interstate when I'm not towing. As I mentioned earlier, I don't want to rework the driveline in my truck because it works just fine as it is, no vibrations, no noise etc. not to mention fuel tank mods. I just wish I had one more gear for the road. JStrasser, maybe the best idea would be to put some pressure on the USGear marketing department for a "behind the transfer case adapter". I will email them again to establish a name to contact concerning this application... . Lektrikman

 

[JimDay]

I live in Northeast Texas. We may get two to four inches of snow every other year. We get more ice than snow. The people that live arounded here, don't know how to drive in snow much less ice. Most don't get over 15 mph, that said. The reason I got a 4X4 was to get in and out of fields that are to soft for a 4X2 to stand up on when feeding cows or hooking up to trailers. I am a do it your selfer. Most farmers are! Having to move the transfer case back 10 inches would narrow the angle on the front axle and widen the angle on the back. This would be good. Although, you putting the unit behind the transfer case the rear drive shaft will have to be shortend, it would be cheaper. I'm afraid that the machining of the adapter will raise the cost to high. Here is something else to look at, the adapter may make the unit alot longer than 10 inches. The fuel tank mod. would be a pain for you, but not that hard to do. What I would hate is the loss in volume. To put the unit between the transmission and the transfer case USGear would have to do one of two things. One, make a sleave that would have two sets of splines. One end of the sleave would have splines that would match the splines of the transmission and the other end would match the splines on the unit. Now the splines are the same on both the transmission and the transfer case. So two sleaves would be used to connect the unit between the transmission and the transfer case. Or two, USGear make an input and output shafts for their unit with splines that watch the transmission, and transfer case. Then use the splined sleaves that are used on the truck already. One thing I like about the USGear unit over Gear Vender, is that it can handle 35000 GVW, and an exhaust brake... Jim

 

[Burner]

Good points!