Downshifting without revving up the engine?

All the guys that don’t understand or believe Ed’s technique is true. I will say this. Back when twin stick splits were only 250-300 rpm you did not need to rev much to go down. Just Very easy light touch. AND...... There also was a time when you could go down a hill without a Jake. Most of the old hands I grew up with didn’t know what a Jake was until the mid to late 80’s. They were ultra rare. The ‘67 in my avatar ran the rockies up into Montana without one ‘till it’s 3rd overhaul in 1992.

 

It is true if you're driving a 2 stick, but I don't think the op was driving a '76 Mack Half-cab. I could be wrong, but I assumed he was speaking of a modern Eaton Fuller manual transmission.

 

The only difference is a button instead of a stick.
The technique still applies.

 

Post a video of you doing it then. No need to show anything. Just the sound and the downshift are all I ask for.

 

If your ever in my neck of the woods just stop on by and take a ride along. You got your choice of 3 right know. 2 with 13’s and one with a 5x3. One with a 13 has a 4 behind it but we can just leave it in dir and not touch it. All 100% mechanical so no computer tricks. Lol!

 

A 5 mile 6% grade is the same at 4,000' or 10,000'.

 

6% grades are for rookies

 

And yet seasoned veterans tend to wreck on them all the same.
All it takes is that one time!
The grade doesn’t care if you have one year or 30 years under your belt-it’ll still be there,but you might not be!

 

Wow this turned ugly.
I think his point is at 6% you can literally just step on the brakes and come to a quick, and easy stop, so long as the pavement isn't covered in snow or ice. I can be at my usual 106,000 lbs, slap the transmission into neutral, jam on the brakes, and come to a complete stop, and just sit there. When you try the same thing on a road at 16% it isn't as easy. Now add ice and snow, and pitch the road up to 26%, throw in tight switch backs, and you have a good game of WOOHOO DRIVER THIS JUST GOT INTERESTING.
There are some drivers, who consider a 6% hill flatland. Depending on what the region is where you live, and drive regularly. In the same way I hate driving through a large, crowded city, and others are used to it, and it doesn't bother them. Cities piss me off, but 6% for me is flat land. Heck 12% for me is a minor hill, note even note worthy. A day not doing hills over 15% are few and far between, 15% is nothing. It is my normal drive, but a city of a million plus people, makes me wish for rocket launchers on the bumper of my truck. When I get told to head into a big city, I can be heard mumbling curse words if anyone is listening. Some of you likely would stroll through downtown Vancouver in a loaded truck, just enjoying the tunes on the radio, and enjoying the sunshine. Not me, I hate it, and am yelling 4 letter words in the cab of my truck.

 

Not trying to stir anything, but height above sea level makes no difference in how steep or crooked a grade is. If you don't believe me take a trip on the secondary roads of WV or western PA. @OLDSKOOLERnWV can probably tell you about a handful or twenty that rivals any road west of the Mississippi.