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40 yrs driving sticks, now going into winter with "smart shift"

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by 04 LowMax, Nov 11, 2021.

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  1. Nov 11, 2021 #1
    04 LowMax

    04 LowMax Medium Load Member

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    Feb 3, 2013
    Alberta
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    As I said, I've driven nothing but manuals since I climbed up into my first truck back in '73. Now as a semi-retirement gig I am doing some part time driving for a friend. It's a 2010 columbia with 14L Series 60 and this "Smart Shift" trans. Living in Canada, I am used to Canadian winters, with everything they can throw at you from freezing rain, to black ice, wet snow, or the ice making dry snow. I am leery of this trans. It down shifts (its a 13 speed) til gear 6, then it seems to either step the clutch apart (its the 2 pedal) as well as kick it into neutral. You end up coasting up to your corner, and part way into it when you give it some pedal, it slaps it into whatever gear it thinks is right and goes again. This sounds like a recipe for disaster on glare ice. And I wonder what its going to do when you go to take off at a light again on glare ice and you can't feather the clutch gently like in a manual. This thing doesn't seem to start off smoothly. You give it a bit too much pedal, and it must look from the outside like a rookie learning how to drive! It jumps into gear and pops the clutch! If anybody has advice on how to drive this thing, I'm all ears. It's got lots of mileage on it also, which could be a factor. 1.4 million km. Thanks for any feedback. (Help an old school dog learn some new tricks :)
     
    04 LowMax, Nov 11, 2021
    04 LowMax, Nov 11, 2021
    #1
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  3. Nov 11, 2021 #2
    circle h

    circle h Light Load Member

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    Oct 22, 2020
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    I developed some shoulder issues and switched to these automated transmissions. If you have access to eaton service ranger you can change the coasting function. Most of these transmissions are set to coast below six. You can eliminate that all together, but then coming to a stop it will continue downshifting all the way to first. If you could borrow a laptop you could play with adjusting the coast gear and trying some of the different programs to find what you like. It takes a minute to learn how to feather the clutch but it's possible. It will never shift as well as you can but you can learn to anticipate how it's going to work. All my driving is short start and stop, for me it beats rowing all day. Best of luck, enjoy the winter.
     
    circle h, Nov 11, 2021
    circle h, Nov 11, 2021
    #2
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  4. Nov 11, 2021 #3
    Pamela1990

    Pamela1990 Road Train Member

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    Nov 7, 2021
    B.C. Canada
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    I hope to never drive an automatic transmission truck. Much prefer being in control as the driver, and not trying to guess what it may do next.
    Wish my F150 was a manual transmission also.
     
    Pamela1990, Nov 11, 2021
    Pamela1990, Nov 11, 2021
    #3
    Flat Earth Trucker, black_dog106, snowlauncher and 1 other person Thank this.
  5. Nov 11, 2021 #4
    '88K100

    '88K100 Road Train Member

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    Aug 23, 2020
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    Delivered one of those 2 pedal autos years ago... I found the newer autos ok,,,the paddle shifter in Freightliners is easy to use and a must if you doing off road/hilly areas otherwise you are always on your brakes. I have 18 manual which I still prefer in winter, which is happening currently with HWY 17 closed Shabaqua to Manitoba border..
     
    '88K100, Nov 11, 2021
    '88K100, Nov 11, 2021
    #4
    Magoo1968, 04 LowMax and Pamela1990 Thank this.
  7. Nov 11, 2021 #5
    04 LowMax

    04 LowMax Medium Load Member

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    Feb 3, 2013
    Alberta
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    Ditto on the F150. Last December I found a 2003 150 with 5 speed and manual t case. I love 10th generation f150's. This one drives and shifts like a dream. I don't think you could get a stick shift in a pickup for a long time now.
     
    04 LowMax, Nov 11, 2021
    04 LowMax, Nov 11, 2021
    #5
  8. Nov 11, 2021 #6
    Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    Apr 29, 2020
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    Learn how Manual Mode works on that particular Truck....learn the engine brake. Operate it just like a Manual when necessary. Just like a manual....different gears, weights, engine brake settings. Trained on a Manual almost 6 years ago.....been in an auto shift ever since I went solo. Two different Cascadias...2016....2019 and now a 2019 T680. They all have been a little different.... Both 2019's have been much better than the 2016. I have no problem at all driving them. It hasn't even bruised my 61 year old ego one bit. Company truck....... It makes me money.!
     
    Dockbumper, Nov 11, 2021
    Dockbumper, Nov 11, 2021
    #6
    MJ16 and 04 LowMax Thank this.
  9. Nov 11, 2021 #7
    mustang190

    mustang190 Road Train Member

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    Jan 18, 2011
    Florida Panhandle
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    Sounds like a oxymoron? “Smart Shift “. :)
     
    mustang190, Nov 11, 2021
    mustang190, Nov 11, 2021
    #7
    Flat Earth Trucker, black_dog106 and 04 LowMax Thank this.
  10. Nov 11, 2021 #8
    Elroythekid

    Elroythekid Road Train Member

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    Sep 9, 2010
    Halifax Nova Scotia
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    Those autos are terrible, absolutely nothing compared to an ishift, I dont like either but I drove a smart shift and owned an I shift, the ishift beats it hands down, and in manual mode as ALMOST like a manual. I feel for you driver.
     
    Elroythekid, Nov 11, 2021
    Elroythekid, Nov 11, 2021
    #8
    beastr123, Magoo1968 and 04 LowMax Thank this.
  11. Nov 11, 2021 #9
    Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    This too:
    upload_2021-11-11_16-22-50.png

    Smart Car???
     
    Dockbumper, Nov 11, 2021
    Dockbumper, Nov 11, 2021
    #9
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  12. Nov 11, 2021 #10
    Dockbumper

    Dockbumper Road Train Member

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    This is the real oxymoron. Sorry...... Moron

    IMG_20211011_230305.jpg
     

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    Dockbumper, Nov 11, 2021
    Dockbumper, Nov 11, 2021
    #10
    Pamela1990, Flat Earth Trucker, Roger McG and 2 others Thank this.
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