Originally Posted by Trucker_Matt

if you don't use the brake to slow your road speed, how would you ever downshift from say, 8th to 5th? i was taught to slow to 10mph then revs up to 1500 then clutch it in to 5th...

Thats the very description of a runaway truck.. this is why you have to keep your brakes in check and know what your doing.. the RPM ranges and "speed in gear" is an absolute! If you break outside of these limits a driver cannot get the truck in gear.. so if your brakes start to fade and your speed comes up, and you have no means to drop your RPM or road speed.. your screwed. Thats why the best practice for grades is pick a gear low enough and STAY in the gear! If you have picked too low a gear.. hey.. you can pick a higher gear next time.. If you've picked too high a gear, you will use way too much brake to hold your speed. If you make the mistake of pulling out of a gear.. your speed and RPM increases to the point that you cannot drop either enough to get the truck into ANY Gear... look out below!!!

Originally Posted by Vito

I'm pretty sure I'd hate an automatic on a tractor. I like it for my car but I wouldn't trust the dang auto on a semi. Especially when descending the mountains. 1900? That's nuts.

I thought the same. I run a regional route where I don't have to worry about steep mountain climbing or descending anymore (but I once did). If you have to climb it in 7th, you better descend in in 5th with engine retarder on and be in right lane. It's always worked well for me. Lots of guys flying by and you can smell the hot brakes burning. Not good and not safe. The auto shift has a manual button that you can press with the vehicle moving, then there is an up or down button. You can hold it in a certain geat like described above (BUT, you have to be at the right RPM), hold it there and then use engine retarder and service brakes to descend...gain 5 mph, slow it down 5 -6 mph....gain 5 mph, slow it down 5-6 mph and so on giving brakes some air and time to cool so they don't glaze.

End of the day; I'm much more comfortable grabbing gears with a 10 / 13 / or even 18 speed. I tolerate it but don't enjoy it (the auto-shift). New students can double clutch faster than thing shifts. Reving the engine that high simply uses way too much fuel. Again, I would never rev a 1900 rpm engine up to it's max rpm.

Been through W Virginia through the mountains and been out to Colorado too. Never had any problems with a manual shift tractor. That's what I prefer because I too am more comfortable being in control; you can kind of half handedly control an autoshift. Chances are; you'll find yourself reaching for the shifter multiple times but it's just not there.

That's just my 2 cents worth of input. Hope you people have a nice day and drive safe!

I use both auto shifts on occasion and really don't enjoy it. They are easy in the city when running everywhere making lots of stops but for any distance I love the 10 speed. Floating gears is really easy if you pay attention to your rpms and speed. If I had to double clutch all day long while driving in the city, I would have knee problems for sure.

Well as they say, you can go down a grade as slow as you want as many times as you want but only once fast so better to be safe than sorry. Luckily I live here on the west coast and get to hit Donner multiple times a week.

Originally Posted by Trucker_Matt

What percent grades are risky? Like what's the minimum percent grade I should start worrying about

The ones that you find yourself on that you were previously unaware of! LOL.. Going down into Gollita CA with a load of propane one morning and buddy.. let me tell you.. when the bottom dropped out.. I was NOT even remotely close to ready for it... it was pretty danged scary! I might have had one of those "head up butt / mind in neutral" events.. but I sure didn't see the grade coming.