If I were you, I'd look into a divorced option that you can do yourself. I just installed a Mitchell OD unit, which is heavy duty gear-to-gear drive. I made a couple crossmembers for it to mount, made a shift linkage and in-cab shifter, and paid about $80 for the driveshaft shortening and balancing.

I found the Mitchell used, and it's rated for GVWR of 35,000 lbs. I know many others are readily available, such as the Brownie auxilliary transmissions. The Spicer 6041 can be found in good condition for $200 - $300.

I know you just did a cam swap yourself, so I assume you've got the fab skills to do an install of an OD unit too. If you're willing to invest a little time, it can sure save a bunch of money!

Just some thoughts...

--Eric

 

I dont have the time i used to!! I have been searching for a divorced unit with no luck so far..I hope to find one soon!

The fab is no problem...You should have seen the drive train i put together on my Rock crawler...I just work more and have less time!

 

I forgot the pix, but I did note this morning that 60MPH is 1500 RPMs in 6th over. 60 is about the slowest you want to do in 6th over, but you can go a bit slower when you are decelerating.

On the highway ~65, 70 you still have plenty of power in 6th over pull hills and what not, but you won’t accelerate very fast until the turbo spools. Well, at least not if your truck is stock. After I loaded the Smarty Jr I started slipping the clutch 6th over on the highway.

The GV is expensive, but I still think it was worth it. All I have to do is run it up to 70 in 6th (At about 10,000 RPM, lol) to know why I bought it. You can tow small loads in 6th over on the highway. 3rd over is pretty cool if you have a load since it splits 3rd and 4th. 5th over is a smidge over 6th.

You won’t see 30 MPG or anything, but I do see anywhere from 18 to 20.5 on the highway driving like I want. I suppose if you kept your foot out of it and ran 60-65 you could get in to the 20’s.

 

what size tires are you running? i assume stock by your rpms.

 

Yes, I’m running the stock 265s; I might try something bigger when these are ready for tire heaven.

 

My exsonlaw use it in his dodges 3500 and has had no trouble with it. He pulls 40 box trailers that are loaded heavy as all get out. He has to back up to loading docks and on the job sits that are off road in soft ground some times never had any trouble in backing up. the old truck is a 98 with a lots of miles. The 06 has not been worked as hard as the 98.

 

I love my gear vendors and wouldn't be without it. Reversing a heavy load is not a problem as some fear. If I need to do any real heavy load backing up a hill, I just put it in 4WD. Then the front wheels are doing the work and it doesn't hurt the GV. I installed the GV at 3500 km and now have 37000 km. About half of that is pulling my 30' fifth wheel RV. I pull the trailer in 5th over which is about the same as 6th under. This saves wear on 6th gear which is the weakest gear on the G56.

 

I like the idea of the GV unit but a few things bother me about it. It doesn't work in lower gears, it doesn't like a E brake, it's a high maintenance item.

GV told me don't use it when you have your E Brake on. They said you're slowing down why would you wouldn't want to use OD anyway. Wrong in my book. If I'm driving and slowing down and 3rd over is the correct gear for the speed I'm going then I should beable to use that gear. It's just GV's way of covering up a weak unit. Or so I believe.

You can run a US gear all the time up down stop go. Yes you have to split your trans and transfer case and that's a drag. Because of the stronger design I don't think it would shift as smoothly.

I haven't bought either one if I do it will be US Gear.

 

There is no need to split gears under 25 mph. I have never heard of anyone who has the GV say they were not impressed with it and would return it.

 

What does the divorced reference mean?

 

It means it is separated from the power unit by a drive shaft. A divorced transmission is usually mounted at the axle and connected to the engine or primary transmission by a shaft.