Considering a Gear Vendor for your truck/RV combo?

[Flyinbowtie]

I have spent the last couple days emailing back and forth with a feller at Gear Vendors. I was considering a unit for my 07 Dodge 5.9/6 speed 4x4 truck.
They are apparently offering them now...
Anyway he answered several questions I had, I thought the answers might be of value to some of you guys.

They do not want to see the GV engaged in OD in any gear when you are riding an exhaust brake running downhill. Period.
The weight limit for towing is 12k. Beyond that number they see a marked increase in failures. This one was the deal breaker for me, and I imagine a lot of you pulling large 5ers or Toy haulers.
Loaded or unloaded no use of double overdrive, period. In my case not a big deal as my 6th gear is high enough.. If you have a automatic with OD then you can't double down with the GV engaged.
They know some people out there are towing heavier and are "OK" but they are not gonna jump to warranty your stuff if you are over their limit.

I was sorta surprised. Bummed me out actually. No GV for me...

 

[Your ad here]

I think GV has been around since the 3 speed auto days? When automatic transmissions didn't have an overdrive. Towing 12K lbs. back then was the heavy load and with what, 225hp? Now trucks are rated at 20K+ lb. trailer load and pushing 500hp. I don't think GV has really kept up with the new power numbers and capacities of newer trucks. They have many different vehicle applications but I think the heavy towing with a high HP diesel isn't one of them. Look at a torque converter size wise for a pickup and think about how that thing is pulling 25K lbs. GVRW down the road and up hills. Look at the size of a GV and think about that thing pulling 25K lbs. down the road or up hills...

 

[mjc]

I looked into them years ago but never could justify it. I didn't think I would save enough gas to ever pay for it.

 

[Flyinbowtie]

My truck is a G56...6 speed manual.
GV has indeed been around since the days of the Turbo 400. Friend put on on a 31 ft pace arrow and pulled a 26 ft enclosed behind it.
He never hurt it, it helped him do a bit better up the hill.
I wasn't looking for fuel savings as much as a gear advantage pulling the passes up here. Donner, Spooner, Conway are pretty stout.
I suggested to them they consider a HD version...they are missing a market IMHO.
Their main market these days seems to be drag and drive guys.

 

[CLdrinker]

Why do you need a GV with a 5.9 6 speed? Did you just want to play truck driver splitting gears?

You already have the wholly grail towing setup.

 

[rivermobster]

I have spent the last couple days emailing back and forth with a feller at Gear Vendors. I was considering a unit for my 07 Dodge 5.9/6 speed 4x4 truck.
They are apparently offering them now...
Anyway he answered several questions I had, I thought the answers might be of value to some of you guys.

They do not want to see the GV engaged in OD in any gear when you are riding an exhaust brake running downhill. Period.
The weight limit for towing is 12k. Beyond that number they see a marked increase in failures. This one was the deal breaker for me, and I imagine a lot of you pulling large 5ers or Toy haulers.
Loaded or unloaded no use of double overdrive, period. In my case not a big deal as my 6th gear is high enough.. If you have a automatic with OD then you can't double down with the GV engaged.
They know some people out there are towing heavier and are "OK" but they are not gonna jump to warranty your stuff if you are over their limit.

I was sorta surprised. Bummed me out actually. No GV for me...

Pffft.

They are just trying to cover their ass. How could they prove you overloaded it anyways!

My first one lasted 20 years, and at least 100k miles. It died because it had a leak, and I let the dam thing run dry. 100 percent, my fault.

90 percent of its use was dragging my toy hauler around. And once out of CA, 80mph in double overdrive!

Those things are Tough. Real tough. As long as you're using your head, it will probably last as long as you need it to.

 

[mash on it]

Brown Lipe, aka a brownie box, is all you need.
Available in 3 and 4 speed options, with overdrive ratios @ .72:1 and .80:1. Only 450 lbs.

Dan'l

 

[pixrthis]

I wanted one for my 88 Chevy dually until I traveled with a friend with a slightly newer dually that had overdrive and we filled up at same stations and the difference on fuel consumption was minimal.

 

[BRONCOBOY]

I had them install one in my 2001 F450 and towed a 24000 pound race trailer for a couple of years. Was never told or informed of any weight limit, maybe because it was a older low HP truck it was not a issue. They can hit pretty hard when engaging OD if you dont time it correctly, I picked up 2mpg unloaded on the highway. I don't think you need it or could benefit from it

 

[HotRod82]

I had a GV scatter in the middle of Utah while towing a 24ft enclosed car trailer. Only stock Chevy BB under the hood. I removed the rear drive shaft and limped home to San Diego in front wheel drive. The front diff got so hot towing that weight it would sizzle when you touched it! That was enough for me…….converted that truck from a T400 to a 4LE80 and never looked back.