down shifting going though mountains

experience. as you get used to it it will come naturally.

 

Try dropping a full gear from 8th low to 7th low.

 

ETA: The red text is about the splitter (little doohooky on side of shifter knob), the other thing (Not red text) is the shifter!

Shifting down; Pre select High (Direct) while your still in the higher gear, let off the throttle a little shift making sure your RPM is slightly below where you think it should be and ease back into the throttle.

Shifting up; , preselect low on the splitter, back off the throttle and ease back into the throttle after you have shifted into the next gear.
Didnt used to be able to preselect the old trans but doesnt seem to hurt the new ones.

 

^^^ THIS

EVERY truck I've driven seems to have "issues" with particular gears. Perhaps your transmission could use an adjustment, but in the meanwhile you drive with what 'brung ya'. If I'm pulling a hill with a 13, depending on the grade, I'll often drop a full gear rather than try to do the split just to avoid the issue of any delay getting into the gear and causing rpm's to drop too much.

Another thing you can do, knowing that particular gear is a problem, is make the shift earlier than you normally would. That way by the time you get into the gear you'll be in the sweet spot with your rpm's.

 

Try reading one more time real slow! the method consists of using "High" and low on the splitter to slide the shifter (big tall thing) into lower gear or higher gear without grinding gears.
BTW in that example High is DIRECT since that is what is most common! it means when the shifter is in the big hole and the splitter is in "high" (DIRECT), the engine is turning the same speed as the drive line. Not looking to argue about over and under trans either, simply sharing an easy way to get started shifting smoothly without the clutch, and some common terminology that has been used throughout the last century. Good luck!

 

I was taught 1700 rpms on tach going uphill, upshifting, don't need to rev engine downshifting going downhill. Downshift uphill 1000-1500. Since I don't have the ear yet for listening to the rpm.

And... determine level of Engine brake needed going downhill.

Of course Doubleclutching goes without mentioning.