I've never driven a truck with one, but the guy that took me to fetch Whitey had an 00 F350 with a 12 valve twin turbo Cummins, 6 speed, and a Gear Vendor in it. Get up to highway speed turning over 2k rpm, pull the switch, 70mph at 1500rpm. That truck was impressive.

 

I love my gear vendors. I've been through 3 of them because of improper maintenance though. So proper lube is paramount. That was my issue. And now I've got a source for the rebuild parts. But my first go round I went 3k once it was all done. I just ordered it and did all the install, and had shafts made. I can't imagine not having it anymore. Jason, I replied to your pm with my best take on your situation. If you have any more questions, let me know.

 

Hummm. I like the idea. better towing gears if needed and better millage is possible. but 3 or 4k is a lot of fuel and I don't go a lot of places.

 

I put mine in a couple weeks ago only have a few hundred miles on it, so far so good turns 1900 RPM at 75 MPH 4.10s and 235 85 16 tires.

 

I guess I have to ask why? If I could make them pay off I'd have one in every towing vehicle period.

 

You are asking him to answer to a statement he made 5 years ago. He has had lots of thoughts since then.

 

My bad, missed the dates on the posts....carry on?

 

Duane,

Is your truck 4WD?

Do you have an idea yet of what the fuel mileage is with the Gear Vendors overdrive compared to before?

 

well for 3k new I think it is worth it. I will be ordering one. better millage and better gearing for the hills towing it what I want.

 

I thought about it too with all the towing I do but I've read the reliability isn't the greatest. Also, for some reason John Woods doesn't like them.

 

Humm. A trans guy not wanting people getting stuff he does not sell? They can't be that bad or they would be out of business. More like you hear the bad over the good. But who knows.

 

Well, you might be right, I just don't know. I would love extra gears and would spend the money if I only knew the pro's & con's.

 

So what if he doesn't sell them. An overdrive unit doesn't compete with or take the place of the rebuilt transmissions he sells. I can't see why he'd have any commercial reason to not recommend them.

I think he doesn't recommend them because they've had problems. Google searching turns up some problems but then like you say, we hear the bad over the good.

I was interested in one last year and I found out that reverse gear engages a sprag clutch that is weak. For example they do not recommend backing an RV trailer up over leveling ramps for fear of breaking the overdrive unit. I need a strong reverse so that more or less ruled out the Gear Vendors product.

Also, I don't think they sell parts. If you have a problem you can't fix it yourself, you have to send it to them for the repair. They had a flat rate price at the time that wasn't bad but as a principle I like having the option of buying parts myself.

All of the above came from the internet, I don't have any direct experience with them. Obviously some of their customers are happy. I'd just suggest doing some research on them before sending off your money.

 

Yes, reverse is very important. Some of these RV parks are ridicules trying to back into a spot.

 

Well if reverse is a weak point I cant use it. I pull my trailers out in the sand dunes and I back up in the sand all the time with the trailer. Not deep sand but I could .