US Gear dual range...?

[mkurkowski]

hello airstream world,

My name is Max Kurkowski and I am a 24 year old farm kid from western Nebraska. I do not own an airstream trailer or motorhome, however, I would like to some day. A year ago or so I purchased a used US Gear dual range unit for my 98 dodge ram 2500 diesel 5 speed. In order to adapt it to my application, i had to order some pieces from the factory. When I ordered these parts, they were the last ones on the shelf, as the US gear company had been bought out by AxleTech International in November of 2008, and had discontinued the dual range line permanently.

Anyway, I got busy with farm work last summer and never got the thing put back together. Now I have finally gotten back to it, but US Gear changed their website all around and removed all the dual range technical data that was there a year ago.

Upon doing an extensible internet search for this information, I came across this forum. It appears there are quite a few knowledgeable airstream owners that run US Gear dual range units in their motorhomes or tow rigs.

My question is, does anyone out still have in their files the documentation for one of these units? If my memory serves me correctly, there is kind of an "all-in-one" packet that gives wiring information, driveline angle information, as well as disassembly and assembly instructions.

I would be more than willing to pay someone whatever they feel is fair if you'd be willing to scan that information and email it to me, or something of that sort.

All help is greatly appreciated.
Max Kurkowski
Grant,Ne

[Waipio Rim]

Max,
Check the .pdf attached to the last post on this thread in the "mechanics corner" section, might help:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f159...r-71092-2.html

[1987_345]

Max. Hi, my name is Kenneth. I bought what US Gear said in early 2009 was "the last complete overdrive unit they had". I have the manual that came with it and would be happy to share it with you. Let me know...

[mkurkowski]

1987...

that would be awesome! i was able to get some info from mike leary, but his must be an earlier model because the internals of the thing aren't the same. how would it work best for you to send it to me? i would be more than happy to send you a check if you wanted to take it somewhere and have a hard copy made. otherwise an electronic version would work too.

thanks for your help,
max

[1987_345]

Max,
I have finally got around to scanning the documents you requested and saved them as a pdf. Do you have an email you want me to send them to?

[Mike Leary]

Anybody hear if someone took over the biz, or are we up the creek with a sugar paddle?

[1987_345]

Mike, When I bought mine lasdt year, they told me that it was the last one they had and wouldn't be selling or making more...

[Mike Leary]

They made a fine product, we've had two of them, one on our previous 280 and one on our current coach. The gear lube gets changed every 20k or once a year.

[Myrtle lynn]

I have a 87 345 55000 miles. I hear all this talk about trans problems. Should I be worried? Do I need to start looking for these parts? When it goes can I not just get a new trans? And get one with overdrive? Sorry if these questions are dumb.

[1987_345]

Yeah Mike we love ours but only put about 5000 miles per year on it. Do yu think the fluid still needs to be changed once a year?

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by 1987_345

Yeah Mike we love ours but only put about 5000 miles per year on it. Do yu think the fluid still needs to be changed once a year?

It sure would not hurt to at least check the fluid every oil change. Ours has a tiny leak at the output shaft, so I stay on top of it. A oil change is cheap insurance, especially since we're driving around with a o.d. no longer made.

[Buttercup]

I have Mile Marker Dual Range. It's an interesting beast to say the least. What oil goes in these things? Regular gear oil?

[mkurkowski]

Originally Posted by 1987_345

Max,
I have finally got around to scanning the documents you requested and saved them as a pdf. Do you have an email you want me to send them to?

Ok great! My email is maxkurkowski at gmail dot com.

As far as whether we are up a creek or not, I'm afraid so. When I ordered the parts for mine they were the last left of what I needed. Kind of scary...if something goes wrong down the road does a $2500 dual range become scrap iron?

Max

[1987_345]

Good point.

[John H.]

I would assume a good machine shop could mill the parts for you.

gears and such

as Long as the internal parts were not blown to smithereens

My gear Vendors Manual says to drain and Add new fluid every Oil change. or every 5,000 miles, or I assume every 12 month's

High Grade GM Transmission fluid is called for as I recall.

[ron turner]

Originally Posted by mkurkowski

Ok great! My email is maxkurkowski at gmail dot com.

As far as whether we are up a creek or not, I'm afraid so. When I ordered the parts for mine they were the last left of what I needed. Kind of scary...if something goes wrong down the road does a $2500 dual range become scrap iron?

Max

Hi Max
My name is ron turner and I found this site searching for information on the dual range transmission. I don't know if anyone is interested but I have a brand new unit complete with wiring and cables that I bought many years ago to put in my surburban to tow my streetrod but I was diagnosed with cancer and stopped all projects. I have since overcome most of my illness but have no desire to restart my projects. If you or anyone on this forum is interested my email is ronluda@netzero.com
Thanks Max
Have A Blessed Day

[ScrapIrony-2]

Originally Posted by mkurkowski

Ok great! My email is maxkurkowski at gmail dot com.

As far as whether we are up a creek or not, I'm afraid so. When I ordered the parts for mine they were the last left of what I needed. Kind of scary...if something goes wrong down the road does a $2500 dual range become scrap iron?

Max

Max,
You CAN sell scrap iron
We have a Gear Vendors overdrive...so far, no problems...just can't use it in mountain driving. m

[racprops]

I got a NOS Dual Range for my 93 G20 Star Craft Custom Van I have made into a part camper.



I got it as a NOS As it was sold a couple of times as fitting a TH400/4L80 BUT its input was splined for a Ford C6 and its transmission to transmission adapter was to mate it to a Dodge transmission.


I also got used rebuilt 4L80e from the same person and it came with the parking brake drum...


SO am mating the two together.


I got the complete kit.



From taking it apart I can say, IF you break this you will have to do a impossible thing to do so.



My plan is to gear the whole drive line for 80MPH running in double overdrive at around 1500to 1700 RPMs which my testing shows as the sweet spot for max MPG.


My 383 is build for MAX torque at 1500 to 2000RPMs, it will run 193 swirl port heads fed by a 57 Tune Port Injection intake and fed on a lean burn cruse fuel setting.


I also will be converting old Bord Warner overdrives from the old 3 speeds using the tail housings from 4L80e's to support the input yokes for adding to my 03 Ford Explorer, which road testing shows can get 30MPG at 49MPG at 1500 RPMs.


Rich

[bobmiller1]

Wow !

[Beltran]

Another alternative is to go into a 4 spd trans and adapt that. You wouldn't need the OD unit. Although they do make a new model you can utilize. I see it a lot on off road vehicles.

https://www.gearvendors.com/index.html