Has anyone installed a Gear Vendors under/over drive trans on their truck? If so was install easy and how do you like it. I tow a heavy trailer and been thinking of installing one.
Thanks
blacksmoke

 

Tag, I was going to ask the same question, but you have saved me from it... Thanks

 

I installed one on the back end of a Ford C6 years ago. It worked fine, but then I smoked the transmission. If you do it, don't ever pull in overdrive.

 

They are easy to install. I have done several over the years. But with your 6 spd you won't gain Much. you will fill the gap between 5 and 6 and that is really all. You won't be able to tow in 6 over, especially with a heavy trailer. The gearing would be way too tal. They are best to use on a 5 spd where you can't really tow in 5th gear. They let you tow in 4 over without the stress on the 5th gear. Your 6spd can handle it in all the gears. The difference in the 4th over and 5th gear is only 100 RPMs or so. It would be the same in 5over for you, but your 6th gear is not a weak link.

 

I considered getting one a few years ago. I spoke directly with a person at GV and they said flat out you could not tow in 6th over. I have a light 5ver (8100 loaded) he said no towing at all in 6th over. All my long trips are towing so I decided against it.

 

What about us 48re guys towing very heavy? I'm at 26-28k combo depending if the golf cart goes in the toyhauler with us. I've thought about a higher rear end ratio, but that will kill my daily driving. With I could under drive the final gear ratio somehow.

 

I was entertaining the idea of swapping my 3.73's for 3.42's but haven't gone past the thinking stage. I don't know the effects on the stock 48RE or whether the swap would pay off in my lifetime. I don't tow or even load the bed up with more than a few hundred pounds.

 

You can't tow that heavy with the GV. I think they tell you not over 10k. My normal is 8k max. I have towed 15k but only short hauls with a farm tractor. But, you could go to the lower gears for towing and use the GV for daily driving to get back to your normal mileage.

 

Sur5er,
You could accomplish the same result with about 1" taller tires. A lot cheaper and reversible if you don't like it. Your truck would have no ill effects with either one.

 

$4,000 installed for maybe 2 mpg on the freeway? That's all my buddy got out of his and they warn against EB usage.

 

I have a GV in my '99 4 sp (47re). Never towed without it. Have about 175K on it now. Who ever came up with the 10K sure didn't get it from GV. They say about 30K combined. I pulled a 17K 5th wheel 75-80K miles with no ill effects. Don't worry about using it in OD because you can't. There is a lock-out switch that won't let you. I also have an '09 with the 6sp and wouldn't consider putting a GV on it. If I had to doit over I would put a US Gear on it instead, because you cannot use gear braking with the GV or you will burn the clutches up. Just as me how much a re-man unit costs. Which means you cain't use the engine brake with the GV. It tells you so in the owners manuel, which I didn't read.

 

Tjat's what this touhuler is...about 18k give or take a little.

Seems odd they're rated for like 1000hp or somethimg, bit can't take the trailer.

I have no interest in the over drive for towing. I'd like a HIGHER ratio.

Maybe I should check out US gear?

 

Last I checked US Gear no longer made anything for Dodge trucks. I would really like to be wrong though.

 

US Gear is completely out of business. When I purchased my GV in '99, Camping World was selling US Gear. The NO engine braking was not brought up until I fried the clutches. With a DTT up-graded vb you need it locked up in second (to keep it in 2nd) and that conflicts with the GV.

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmm! Appreciate the info. After I posted I checked around and figured it wouldn't be cost effective unless I got the parts free. Anyway, I like the idea of reversability. Thanks again,