Which overdrive is best?

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I am thinking about an overdrive unit for my '98 5-spd with 4. 10's and would like opinions
from real users and abusers rather than add copy. What are the pros/cons to USgear vs Gearvenders? Any trouble or failures? Thanks in advance for any comments!

P. S. Is this the best web site or what!

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'98 3500 SLT Sport 5-spd 4X4 Quad cab, TST#?, 16cm, BD brake,BD clutch
Bilsteins,Firestone Ride-Rites, 4. 10s, lsd, Tow pkg, Reese gooseneck,
Rhino liner, Mag-Hytec diff
byrdseye@taosnet.com
http://members. xoom.com/byrdseye/

 

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I went through the same quandry and opted for the Gear Vendor unit. My main reason was that should it ever fail, you can still drive home. You just don't have reverse. My truck is highly modified with lots of HP and torque and I tow a four horse gooseneck (10,000lb loaded) and a 14,000lb equipment trailer. About 30,000 miles on the GV unit so far with no problems.
The only negative is that you can't use the engine to hold you back on downhills while in OD. It will tear up the GV unit. The unit comes with ATF in it from the factory and makes a annoying clunking sound when shifting out of OD. Practice matching RPMs will make this go away. Also, I switched to Amsoil synthethic gear oil and it reduced the clunk significantly.
Good luck with your choice.

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96 2500 4X4 5sp 4:10 215hp SLT Horton fan,TST,4"exhaust,GearVendors,BFG 285/75/16 on Mickey Thompson Challenger wheels, K&N, Detroit Locker,50#Boost and Pyro guages, Aluminim flatbed, gooseneck and bp hitches,Helwig air bags with compressor, Helwig sway bar, Preluber w/aircraft hoses,Hytec rear cover,PacBrake,McCloud dual disc clutch,numerous other accessories. Pull 11,000lb aluminum gooseneck horse trlr. and 14,000lb equipment trlr.

 

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I too faced the same hard decision. I settled on the Gear Vendors OD based on the recommendation of a diesel shop that sells & installs both GV & U. S. Gear. My truck is a 2 wd 12v 3500 with auto and 4:10 gears. I pull a 11,500# fifth wheel. No problems with the GV but only have had it installed for about 10K miles. I sure like the way the truck drives & runs with it. From all the research I did, it looked like both GV and U. S. Gear products were high quality items, but for my application the GV was the best choice. Good luck.

 

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To add to what Bob said, you can't use your exhaust brake with the Gear Vendors engaged, either. I had my Gear Vendors installed by Unitrax, and the man there warned me to never use the exhaust brake while in overdrive. He said a man with a Dodge just like mine completely ruined his overdrive in only two weeks by doing that.
Andy

 

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I do not know what use you have in mind. The U. S. Gear is usable in 4 wheel drive and the GearVendor is not. I went with the GearVendor anyway because there is to many modifications to make to the truck to install the U. S. and did not feel it was needed in 4X4. It does shift good and I wish I would have put it in a long time ago.

And they do recommend using GM gear lube instead of auto trans. fluid now.
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Paul A. Schmidt
95, 4X4, SLT 2500, 5 spd. , 4. 10, 270 hp. TST, AFC spring kit, Pacbrake, Walker muffler,
GearVendor O. D.
Eastern PA.




[This message has been edited by Paul (edited 12-15-1999). ]