Anybody using a Gear Vendors splitter?

[BriaLynne]

We have a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 Quad Cab 2WD SRW Cummins 5.9L long bed, with the 4 speed automatic. We tow a 32' 5th wheel that weighs approx 11k lbs. This transmission is essentially a 3 speed with an overdrive. The distance between 3rd and 4th is too wide to keep the engine in the sweet spot of the torque curve on long grades. I have to drop down to 3rd early and often, necessitating dropping back to 55 mph.

I am considering a Gear Vendors over/under so I can split the difference. I am convinced from reading their literature that they do exactly what I need done but I have read in the Dodge hop-up forums many complaints of unreliability. Does anybody have experience with this product in a heavy towing application? I am curious about reliability.

[Mr_D]

I had one in an '88 Type B MH with 460. It had the TT towing package with 4.56 in the rear end and it needed an overdrive. Never had any trouble with it but the 460 didn't have the torque of the Cummins either. Didn't add anything to the fuel mileage either.

[L.C.Gray]

I had a GV in my old F350 Crew Cab 4x4 Diesel. It did add to the trucks towing ability and in my case I saw a great improvement (20+%) in fuel mileage as I had no overdrive gear prior to that. For the heavier applications like mine they make a model with a deep sump to hold more fluid and run cooler.

I was disappointed with the longivity of it. Mine had begun slipping and dropping in and out of overdrive on its own before I finally sold the truck. It didn't have a whole lot of miles on it. It's a very exspensive unit to buy and install and also very expensive to rebuild should it need it. In hindsight, I wish I had gone with the all gear drive Liberty unit which would have also allowed me to use it sandwiched in between the transmission and transfer case to allow use in 4x4. My GV once erroneously kicked into overdrive for the rear axle while the 4x was engaged at highway speed. With the 22% difference in drive line speeds it turned into a bucking bronc at a rodeo.

I wouldn't even consider buying another.

[deSanford]

Really not worth doing. deSanford

[datedd]

I had one in my 1983 Lazy Daze MH. It was a very expensive modification for an old coach. However, it performed well especially during up hill climbs. I towed a 2200 pound car behind it and it scaled some hefty grades like the one on I80 coming out of Salt Lake City heading towards Wyoming. The problem was the 350 was just not enough as far as power to weight ratio was concerned. But it was an improvement over stock.

It developed a problem where it would cut on and off once reaching 60 MPH. I called the company and they said I needed to change the filter. The problem with that was I had it serviced when the coach was serviced. I suspected it could have been the switch long after I had to sell the coach due to financial issues. GV weren't really helpful when I talked with them.

If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't.