Downshifting help

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by sage92886, Aug 23, 2007.

  1. sage92886

    sage92886 Bobtail Member

    3
    0
    Aug 23, 2007
    Brea,CA
    0
    Hello everyone,

    When I am approaching a corner at an intersection to make a right turn and the light is green, I slow down, take the truck out of gear, begin the turn and get all out of whack when I want to get in gear to complete the turn.

    Gears grind, I cuss, etc. It is so hard for me to look at my speed and remember what gear I should be in based on my road speed as well as what the RPM's should be to get into that gear.

    Any advice would be much appreciated.

    Thank you for your help.

    Regards,
    sage92886

    P.S. My 12 years are until recently, in a bobtail. My company just bought a full sized truck.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jul 28, 2009
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  3. MXH

    MXH Light Load Member

    101
    6
    Jan 28, 2006
    0
    Depends on the transmision.

    If in a normal ten speed, put it in high gear, gun the engine, and try for 6th gear. If you're going really slow, try for low gear around 4 or 5, of couse you still have to pump the engine up a bit.

    Super 10 speed is a differnent story.

    Uhhhh, the point I'm trying to make is that you haveto "tach" the engine up--push the gas pedal down a bit to get the RPMS up. BOTH the speed and RPMs must match to get it in gear.

    When I'm bobtailing, it is truly far easier to shift thatn when pulling a heavy trailer. Hope that helps!
     
  4. MXH

    MXH Light Load Member

    101
    6
    Jan 28, 2006
    0
    This is actually a really good question, let me start over:

    If you've been driving 12 years, you obviously know what gear you need to be in. However, pulling a load slows your truck down and engine (RPMs).

    You must compensate for the decrease in RMPs by punching the gas pedal down a bit, even when downshifting.

    In a right turn, you must slow the truck down a good bit, so when you want to put it back in gear, pump the gas pedal a bit, then try for the gear most responsive to your current speed.

    Even trucks of the same make and model respond a bit differently. A little gear grinding is expected until you get the hang of each individual truck.
     
  5. wallbanger

    wallbanger "Enemy of showers everywhere"

    Sage, if you are normally coasting (rolling out of gear) to make a right hand turn, then bud, you need to learn how to do it correctly. SLOW DOWN and make your downshifts before turning (like MXH suggested) so that you are already in gear when you begin your turn. Sixth gear works well, unless (again like MXH said) it is a very tight turn, in which case you may need to drop to 5th (or lower), but having it in gear before you make your turn will help you get through the corner easier (with less gear grinding and cussing) and quicker.
     
    Wiseguywireless and statikuz Thank this.
  6. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Sep 17, 2006
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    You beat me to it.
     
  7. Attitude:)

    Attitude:) "Love each Day as if it was your last"

    510
    36
    Jul 13, 2007
    TX NM & CO
    0
    Was glad to see ya'll beat each other to it. I was reading this thinking to meself "wow, I've been doing this wrong by being in gear before my turn" lol. Been driving for less than a year and yes, changing trucks is a pain. When I got in our new/used truck, same gears, pattern etc as the one I've been driving but just the little difference in the trucks had me missing the mark on RPMs etc. I read someones post about the sticking and double clutch, so use that on 8th now after only floating before. Seems to stick in that one gear.
     
  8. wallbanger

    wallbanger "Enemy of showers everywhere"

    Sorry B-Man, I will let you go first next time! ;)

    'Tude, the last FL Columbia I drove had a trans that had a 'sticky' gear, in this case, it didn't want to go into gear (7th). So I ended up short-shifting into that gear, or if I had to stomp it, then double-clutch into gear. And when that wouldn't work, kick the shifter! (JK)
     
  9. Attitude:)

    Attitude:) "Love each Day as if it was your last"

    510
    36
    Jul 13, 2007
    TX NM & CO
    0
    Maybe that's it Wallbanger, it is a FL lol. Other truck I've been driving is a Pete
     
  10. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Thats OK, I was meaning to agree with you and it was pretty early in the morning. I can't be here all the time. I have to work, millions on welfare depend on it. :biggrin_25510:



    As for the original question posted another thought came to me today when I was rolling a corner. It would be better to have it in the "wrong" gear going into the corner for when you are pulling out of the corner than to not have it in gear at all. That way you won't have so much problem matching RPMs as you do with coasting in neutral.
     
  11. CaptCaveman

    CaptCaveman <strong>"Positive Pessimist"</strong>

    90
    4
    Aug 4, 2007
    Amarillo Tx
    0
    One of my driving instructors in school is 72 and has been driving since they were chipping trucks from flint:biggrin_25525: and he would have had several colorful description of of your parentage etc for popping the truck out of gear and doing ANYTHING. You always have your truck in gear except when your in the yard pre-tripping. It sounds like you have trouble with downshifting to the right gear. You need to work on having it in the right gear BEFORE you get to your decision point. It keeps bad things from happening.
     
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