Overdrive: Is It Worth It?

I debated this very topic long and hard last year when I had two overdrives, one that would have fit my CJ5, and another that would have fit my CJ2A, but I decided not to install them because of the way I use these Jeeps.

The CJ2A is mostly used driving around my little farm, with occasional drives into what passes for a town 3 miles from here. The CJ5 mostly for trout fishing trips driving along narrow mountain roads and sometimes fording streams, and occasional drives along the country roads out here.

None of my Jeeps will likely ever see much highway travel, so both units found new homes where I hope they are being put to good use.

 

Man if I had your money Fireball I'd burn mine. I can only afford 1 old jeep.

 

Yeah but yours is NICE.

 

Exactly!

 

That doesn't make sense. Having more Jeeps means being poorer.

 

That's been my experience.

 

JEEP = Just Empty Every Pocket.

 

It’s called being Jeep rich

 

I am not sure that to drive fast with a CJ5 is good, but an overdrive is useful to go with low rpm. Of course some Jeep are well rebuilt and can go fast, it is artistic.

 

It's a joke it's not supposed to make sense. J.E.E.P (just empty every pocket.

 

Get it.

 

With 4.88s I would call it nice to have, but not an absolute requirement. I went several years and tens of thousands of interstate miles without one. I typically cruise around 65 mph, which puts you at 3400 RPM with 31" tires. The Dauntless is perfectly happy at this speed, even if it may sound like a lot to the ear. I finally gathered up the cash for one, and it does quiet things down and improve MPG a bit. Worth it if you have the budget and expect to spend a lot of time at higher speeds or on group trail rides where gear splitting can be nice. But you can easily exceed sane speeds either way

 

I personally believe an overdrive is worth it. I have a Dauntless with 4.88s and installed a Saturn unit about a year ago and have put about 3,000 miles on it, primarily highway use. With the overdrive engaged the RPMs at 65MPH dropped from approximately 3500 to approximately 2600 (my small tach makes exact readings hard at 65MPH ). I can't attest to improved mileage because I only had my Jeep for a few months and drove it less than 200 miles before getting the overdrive but it had to help. I can say that engine and transfer case noise is noticeable reduced which must mean less wear and tear, and I believe that alone makes it worth it. FWIW I keep the overdrive engaged except when I pull a trailer or I go off road.
-Martin

 

One point that seems to being missed here, it’s not just about top speed and rpm but also the ability to split gears to find the best speed/rpm combination for the conditions.

 

I agree. First gear in low range with o/d is the "Goldilocks" speed when I'm moseying around my property checking firebreaks, feeders, etc. - not too slow, not too fast, it's just right.

 

This, 100%
I'd say I use mine to split gears more than as an overdrive for highway use.
Very handy off road!

 

I worry about how much oil gets slung up into the catch in 1st and low range. Likely fine from stop light to stop light but several miles and less than ideal oil levels is not good.

 

If the oil level is kept up, the oil scoop works fine, but it is certainly very important to keep the oil level up. I have encountered a number of overdrives which were destroyed due to lack of lubrication. Once the planetary gears or the hub are ruined it will cost too much to repair one.

 

Irish whiskey...