Gear vendors, any one have it?

weekendwarriorfsw32 · Apr 15, 2013

We'll I am looking at getting a gear vendors under drive for the 450 to help put less of a load on the motor when pulling heavy instead of doing 4:88's on it. Any one have any experience on it? Heard mixed results on them.

ncollins64 · Apr 15, 2013

subd for info also

tbsimmons · Apr 15, 2013

I assume you have 4.30's.
Just FYI I have 4.88's and wish I had 4.30's. My brother had a 450 with 4.30's and towes within 3000# of what I do. Now this is stock power, he got 1 mpg better than I did loaded or unloaded.
Power wise I liked his gearing better. Once the trucks downshifted to pull a steep grade he had a little more room for RPM and I did.

WoodBoy · Apr 16, 2013

WTH you plan on pulling? Bossman's 450 w/ 4.30s grossed over 30k fairly smoothly. Of course you knew it was back there but it actually wasnt bad

madman1234509 · Apr 16, 2013

My friend who does all the work/ fabrication on my truck has a 900hp cummins. He was always plauged with wicked high rpm at highway speed because of the 4 speed tranny that is in it. He installed a gear vendors, set it up so it locks via a switch in the cab, and had a custom drive shaft made with the beefiest parts possible. He installed it and we made out 600 mile journey down to rudys last fall right after. It was flawless, he absolutesly loves it and hasnt had a single hiccup with it, even with big power.

Cowboy Troy · Apr 16, 2013

I heard they are not very good for pulling heavy loads. I've never had one or driven a super duty with one so I can't really say for sure.

weekendwarriorfsw32 · Apr 16, 2013

Yes I have 4:30 but I am on 37's and that throws off my ratios, pulling 20K up some of the hills around here is very hard because the lowest I can go is 50 in 4th under that the converter unlocks and then my trans over heats, so I have to work the engine harder to keep the trans in 4th. I did a ratio calculator and with 4:88's and 37's at 70 I would be doing 2,100 rpm's and that is okay with me.

tbsimmons said:
I assume you have 4.30's.
Just FYI I have 4.88's and wish I had 4.30's. My brother had a 450 with 4.30's and towes within 3000# of what I do. Now this is stock power, he got 1 mpg better than I did loaded or unloaded.
Power wise I liked his gearing better. Once the trucks downshifted to pull a steep grade he had a little more room for RPM and I did.

weekendwarriorfsw32 · Apr 16, 2013

Anything that will fit on a 40 ft goose LOL

WoodBoy said:
WTH you plan on pulling? Bossman's 450 w/ 4.30s grossed over 30k fairly smoothly. Of course you knew it was back there but it actually wasnt bad

NathannialD · Apr 16, 2013

i know Will(heavy haul) has one on his 450 might ask him.

ps. im looking into the input shaft stuff now ill call you in a bit.

mike@haller's · Apr 16, 2013

according to gear vendors your not supposed to install them on a 450-550. They are not meant to be used when grossing more than 25k lbs i think the number is. and thats total weight including truck. Which isnt hard to hit with those trucks. They do work well though and will generally knock right at 500 rpm out of your cruising rpm. They are kind of fragile though. Hit a curb backing up in reverse and they will break. They also dont take offroading very well.

tbsimmons · Apr 16, 2013

I see what you are saying when the TC unlocks. Mine doesnt unlock till around 38-40. Which would be about your ratio at 50. I like 4.88's loaded, unloaded they suck. I gross in the 28000 range with my truck pulling the fiver.
I dont think that a under drive would work unless you can retune your lock up and unlock lower when in tow haul.
The truck is going to lock and unlock off MPH, which is the rearend.
Now if you can under drive over drive and stay above 50 then you are good. otherwise it is still going to unlock without the tune to lock lower.

4.88's with 37's would get you damn close to 4.30's with stock tires.
I have 4.88's with 245's. Helps some but not enough unloaded.
With what you have done to the truck is the power moved up at all? If it is might need a little more RPM that what you are thinking.

B.Warning · Apr 16, 2013

I'm having the same issues with my 550 truck. It has 4:88 gears and with a 31"tall 19.5 and a 6spd I'm cruising at 2700 @70mph. I'm going with 22.5's to drop my rpm on the hwy. My problem now other than the screaming high rpm and ****ty fuel mileage is that it seams when loaded with a trailer in tow is my rpm is so high that I'm out of the effective rpm range where the motor is making torque and doesn't pull as well. I drop my speed to 60mph @2200rpm and it'll pull hard up hills.

weekendwarriorfsw32 · Apr 16, 2013

Exactly what I am thinking. I guess my only choice for strong and reliable is to go with the 4:88's. And that means i have to get new axle shafts for the rear to for the 4:88's. tbsimmons Has your gears ever made a whine?

tbsimmons said:
I see what you are saying when the TC unlocks. Mine doesnt unlock till around 38-40. Which would be about your ratio at 50. I like 4.88's loaded, unloaded they suck. I gross in the 28000 range with my truck pulling the fiver.
I dont think that a under drive would work unless you can retune your lock up and unlock lower when in tow haul.
The truck is going to lock and unlock off MPH, which is the rearend.
Now if you can under drive over drive and stay above 50 then you are good. otherwise it is still going to unlock without the tune to lock lower.

4.88's with 37's would get you damn close to 4.30's with stock tires.
I have 4.88's with 245's. Helps some but not enough unloaded.
With what you have done to the truck is the power moved up at all? If it is might need a little more RPM that what you are thinking.

tbsimmons · Apr 16, 2013

No whine. If gears whine then something is wrong with the setup.

Did the all the mods raise your power curves in the RPM? I use my truck mainly for towing, so unloaded I dont give a crap. If yours is the same and the curve got moved up, I would also think of a lower gear also. 1900-2000 is great in my truck, but that would put you well into the mid 60's mph with your tire and gear right now. To get the 4.88 gearing I have with would be over a 5. But like I said unloaded sucks and much over 65 the mpg is even worse.

weekendwarriorfsw32 · Apr 17, 2013

I believe the cam moved up the power a little. I think the most reliable way is to do the stock 4:88's so I don't have another thing to go wrong on the truck. with 37's and 4:88 cruising at 70 it will be 2100 and I am okay with that.

tbsimmons said:
No whine. If gears whine then something is wrong with the setup.

Did the all the mods raise your power curves in the RPM? I use my truck mainly for towing, so unloaded I dont give a crap. If yours is the same and the curve got moved up, I would also think of a lower gear also. 1900-2000 is great in my truck, but that would put you well into the mid 60's mph with your tire and gear right now. To get the 4.88 gearing I have with would be over a 5. But like I said unloaded sucks and much over 65 the mpg is even worse.