Anyone still running 24.5" wheels?

Well a 22.5 tall and a 24.5lp are the same overall diameter. If it were me I would switch the tractor back to a 24.5 tall and keep a 22.5 tall on your trailer a little variation there but not much. Never had a problem with tire sizes varying between tractor and trailer. We don't get much for 24.5 casing either which is frustrating also why I recommended running 22.5 falls on the trailer then at least your not getting raped on your casings. Rubber gets replaced on my flat if I don't sell it it'll have 22.5 talls instead of low pros. But running tall tires is a lot cheaper than swapping gears depending on the tires...now that I look at it $4000 to swap the gear set...my drive tire quote came up to almost $4500...I stand corrected

 

...but if you need tires anyway, and it would cost you $4500 to swap tires to tall 24.5's and maybe $4000 to keep the LP24.5's, then the real cost of making the swap is only $500 vs. the $4000 for the gear swap.

I blew out my front carrier yesterday...and the dealer's computers were down today. I'm hoping to get some quotes on possibly swapping my gears and maybe even going to full lockers, and if it is reasonable compared to the cost of simply fixing/replacing what broke, then I'll probably do it. Been wanting 4.42 gears for a while instead of these 4.17's, and adding full lockers when I make the swap would definitely be nice, too. Now would be the ideal time to make the change...the front carrier is the expensive one....but whether I pull the trigger on it or not depends entirely upon what it's going to cost. The only real cost for me to make the change now is the cost of the upgrades above & beyond the cost of just repairing what broke. Upgrades would come with warranties, though.

On a plus side, though, my truck's timing couldn't be better. Y'all have fun during that 72 hr BS...I really don't mind missing out on all of that......fun.

 

Well when you look at it that way yes it is cheaper for tires than regearing. Sorry to hear you lost a carrier but good to hear that your truck has good timing!!! I would definitely go with a set of lockers regardless of cost. I had one in a pickup I drove and there's no comparison between a limited slip and a full locker. Its nice having 100% power to both wheels only issue is breaking things. If you can afford it I would say do it if I could afford to put a set in when my rears finally decide to crap out I will. Won't be as worried about getting stuck in the mud anymore or worried about getting stuck on hills in the winter. I'd put one in my pickup too if the one I wanted wasn't $1000 and I knew it would hold up. What can I say I like to play in the mud

 

What is a 13 double overdrive

 

I've already got Mack rears, so they aren't "open" differentials like most of the other drive axles made by other manufacturers. They have cams & peanuts in the differential that if one tire slips, it sends a percentage of the torque necessary to keep the one wheel spinning over to the wheel that isn't....and the power divider works the same way. MOST of the time, I don't even lock my power divider and I can go anywhere the company trucks can go even when they are fully locked in. If I DO manage to get stuck, applying light brake pressure increases the torque needed to keep the one wheel spinning, which sends torque to the wheel that isn't spinning to get it turning. That works GREAT in a tandem dump.....not so well in a T/T, because when you step on the brakes to get the non-spinning wheels to turn, the trailer brakes engage to make forward progress more difficult....so you aren't JUST fighting the mud/snow/etc, but also pulling against the trailer brakes....so you can really dig yourself in if you aren't careful.

Full lockers would be nice...but just the fact that they are Mack rears makes the full lockers less necessary. That's why I say it depends upon what it would cost as to whether or not I'll do it. If it is close, absolutely...but a couple grand? No way.

 

550 Heavy-3:35 18--just shy of 1300@65
24.5LP
379exhd-285 w/b stainless 53 spread Dane

 

you're missing a few of the key factors. ride quality is a big one, a truck running on big rubber will always ride better, especially on the steers you will feel the difference. I had a Pete 379, had to twist the boss's arm into getting 11R24.5's on the steers.

However, the big advantage to low pro 22.5's is the weight savings, which hasn't been mentioned I don't think.

 

A 13 double over the old ones (RTOO) I believe and somebody correct me if I'm wrong was a tranny that had like a .63 ratio in the big hole. I don't have the specs in front of me but it was actually a triple overdrive transmission as 11, 12, and 13 were all over a 1:1 ratio. Technically speaking most of todays 13 and 18spds are considered a double overdrive as 17th and 18th are less than a lower than 1:1. Typically we call em a 13 double over and they have long legs even when the truck has a set of 3.70 or 3.90 rear gears its still a triple digit ride.

Honest to god if it'd handle the torque of my motor I would have a setup like the old 13 double over. Because with that setup you have low cruise rpms on the highway and rear gears that will pull best of both worlds right there.

 

I still run 24.5's on one of my trucks. I prefer the tall rubber. I run 354 rears.