Why 13 speed better than 10 speed manual

Discussion in 'Volvo Forum' started by Roman78, Jun 6, 2021.

  1. AModelCat

    AModelCat Road Train Member

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    Not to mention resale value. 2 identical trucks but with a 10 in one and a 13/18 in the other the 13/18 will be gone long before the 10 speed.
     
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  3. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

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    Exactly ........... 13 or 18 will get the vote everytime.
     
  4. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I shake my head that anybody ever buys such a truck for any reason...

    I shake my head that anybody likes to light money on fire like that... especially over such a POS.

    But hey somebody's got to wear the belt buckle and stick their chest out at the lunch counter... SMH...
     
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  5. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

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    Yeah the only gears I split are the top two, and even that's rare.

    And I'm not arguing that point either. But can a person get the job done with a 10 speed? They're doing it all the time. Hell, my uncle has a trip axle dump with a 5 speed
     
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  6. Mattmanstroked

    Mattmanstroked Light Load Member

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    I always thought they should have made a 12 speed. 6 on the low side and 6 on the high side.

    Now look MDrive and Ishift are 12 speeds
    Detroit is a 12 speed
    Think paccar is a 12 speed.
     
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  7. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

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    And I'm not arguing that point either. But can a person get the job done with a 10 speed? They're doing it all the time. Hell, my uncle has a trip axle dump with a 5 speed[/QUOTE]

    you can get a job done with a lot things. But I usually choose a tool more suited for a particular job. A 18 speed will work great for any job, 10 speed not so much.

    10 speeds are great for company trucks hauling 80,000 on the interstate. Same reason you'll never see one in a logging truck or lowbed truck or anything hauling heavy.
     
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  8. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    As someone who owns both, 10 and 13, I would pick 13 anytime if the route includes hills and especially if the load is heavy.
    Driving to Carolinas on i77 is a pain the butt with 10, but driving to Northeast is just fine.

    You can also drive 13/18 as 9, so yeah, it is a better choice than 10
     
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  9. supersnackbar

    supersnackbar Road Train Member

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    The same can be said in a lot of things...you can pump up a tire with a hand pump, but an electric/fuel powered air compressor is better...you can change a tire with a big cheater bar and a 1" drive ratchet...but an air driven impact is a better choice. Hell, the Amish still get from A to B in horse and buggy. The reason 13 speeds aren't more popular is because most of the short bus seat warming academy graduates in today's trucking world wouldn't know what to do with that extra switch on that stick thing poking thru the floor.
     
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2021
  10. God prefers Diesels

    God prefers Diesels Road Train Member

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    Oilfield worker walks into a hardware store and asks to buy a wrench. "What size?" asked the man behind the counter. "Doesn't matter. I'm using it as a hammer."
     
  11. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    I wouldn’t say they’re any better. New warranty on a 10 spd being 500k. 13 spd being 350k. 18 spd is heavier duty, higher torque rating. Definately better transmission. I had a 9 spd hooked to 425 Cat. It did a great job. I had plenty of torque though. My Detroit needs a 13 spd. for drivability. As mentioned earlier, often need to drop a whole gear anyways in all practicality. Splitting it down is just a waste of time on a good pull. I still use the splitter quite a bit on lesser hills. Don’t think I’d ever want another 9 or 10 spd again. 13s are better for drivability, but not necessarily better transmissions. A 10 speed is more reliable, simpler, and cheaper to replace. Fleet choice. Hard to screw up and destroy. Remans 13s are about $1500 more than a 10 spd. Similar spec’d used Trucks are usually $3000-$5000 more w/ 13spd vs. 10 spd. IMO 13 spd for the win. 18 spd for heavy haul, or high torque high hp engines. 18 is overkill for Me. Also more expensive. Truck specs should match Operation. I don’t need 500 hp and 13 spd to haul freight. 325hp and a 10 spd would do the job. But that’s no fun at all.
     
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