Autoshift vs. 13 speed

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by hayman101, Jul 23, 2009.

  1. joeyneedlz

    joeyneedlz Bobtail Member

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    Jul 29, 2009
    Pierre, SD
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    The 13 speed is superior in reliability to an automatic. However.....

    I am not trying to be rude, but if you have no experience driving truck, maybe starting out with doubles grossing 105,000 isn't such a good idea. I don't understand why all these farmers want the headache of owning, maintaining, licensing, insuring, and driving a truck when there are so many trucks looking for freight and hauling freight so cheap.
     
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  3. Ranger309

    Ranger309 Light Load Member

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    That's no joke about the freight prices.

    And I would never spec out an autoshift tranny of any kind, get the 13 speed.
     
  4. hayman101

    hayman101 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 18, 2009
    frenchglen, oregon
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    Thank You for all the answers, It sounds like the auto shift is out. Bummer. As far as why I want to do it is I can't seem to find this cheap freight in our area(al least what I consider cheap) right now we are paying about $1700 per load for delivery(And most of the time they have a back haul most if the way) I have checked with 4 or 5 truckers that others I know use. all of them are in the $47-50 per ton range. I am only going to haul about 60 loads per year, once the fall time hits most of us farmers get board and that is how these crazy ideas happen(to much time to think about nothing)

    What would be wrong with a 10 speed? There seem to be 20 of them for every 13 speed. The guy teaching me to drive somehow thinks they are evil. Talking to others they say they are much more forgiving than a 13 speed. Better for a newbie.
     
  5. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    I agree that 13 speed is an awesome tranny...

    But the OP doesn't need a 13 for what he's doing...not at all. It would do the job, but he said he wanted simple...autoshifts are simple, but they seem to have a few bugs that need to be worked out.

    My advice to the OP is to hold out for truck with a 10 speed (but not a Super 10)
     
  6. DsquareD

    DsquareD Road Train Member

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    Green Bay, WI
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    I am also just learning to drive. I have had the opportunity to drive several combinations of engine and transmission in school. The two pedal automatic was a real pain to back up. As a beginner, I like backing in idle and covering the brake, which can't be done with the two pedal. If I go easy on the throttle the clutch is jumping in and out, making for a very jerky ride. If I give it enough to keep the clutch engaged it is too fast for my comfort level. I have not had any problem learning the 10, 13 and Super 10.

    Just thought I'd toss a newbie perspective in there for you.
     
  7. 7mouths2feed

    7mouths2feed "Family Man"

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    Jacksonville, AR
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    For what you are talking about using the truck for I wouldn't be concerned with which tranny it has. 9, 10, S-10, 13 no matter. just get a good salid running truck. Your not going to care which tranny it has to be honest. Don't let all the numbers scare you. They all shift in pretty much the same pattern. Just depaend son whether theres a range selector, a splitter or both.. Once you understand the basic shift pattern you'll see what I mean... GOTO you tube and search shifting a ?? speed you'll get bikes and cars too but you'll be in the ballpark for seeing what I mean.

    The S-10 is not my favorite tranny but is seems to be a good tranny. If he learns to drive a S-10 the he'd beable to drive a 13 with ease. Most people that don;t like the S10 haven't driven it... By all means, given my tranny of choice it would be a 13 or 18 but for what he wants the tranny shouldn't be a primary factor in choosing a good truck.
     
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  8. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Absolutely the trans should factor into what he buys.
    5 no disrespect to you, but he aint running in the southeast. With the weight he is running and in the mountains of ID/OR and any where else west he might go a 13 is of super importance. The value of the ability to split your shifts in the mountains becomes very obvious after you've run a 13 versus a 9 or 10.
    Will he be able to haul hay with a 9 or 10? Yeah probably, but the 13 or 18 becomes priceless after you've done both. It'll be much easier to keep the engine in the power curve with a 13. With a 9 or 10 of any kind you have to lug it down out of the power curve and then rev it beyond the power curve to make the shift RPMs work out. A 13 is sweet for the fact there is only about a 400 RPM bump, versus the 700 RPM bump in a 9 or 10.
    Personally I wouldn't buy a truck without a 13 or 18.
     
  9. Sportster2000

    Sportster2000 Road Train Member

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    Hayman101, if you are going up a 14% grade and you miss a shift you are pretty much dead on the hill. I think that you would not be able to find the next gear fast enough. The automated manual would take all the guess work of hitting that next gear at the right time away from you. I have driven almost every type of automatic and automated trans out there and most regular manual transmissions. I have never had an automated manual transmission grind a gear or miss a shift. Sure they can't tell when you are coming up to a hill or when you are going down on, but I can tell that I never had a problem going up one other than going up the hill slower than everyone else. I say get the automated. Watch how it shifts and what rpms the engine goes to. After a while of driving and paying attention to this I would get a manual.
     
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  10. Northernblue

    Northernblue Light Load Member

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    Sep 25, 2008
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    If your doing to many 14% grades, you might also want to think about the Super Dave Rocket ### Blaster Transmission plus some horsepower. And even then you might want to consider a 180 degree switchback halfway up the hill. Just a thought.
     
  11. hayman101

    hayman101 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 18, 2009
    frenchglen, oregon
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    Actually I will only be going down hill loaded and up hill empty if it makes any differnce. our farm is at 5000' and i will be hauling to sea level. there is only on grade of about 6 % that i will be going up loaded the rest is all downhill, or flat across desert.
     
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