What are your thoughts on automatic vs manual transmissions?

And on cruise, it also goes into Eco-coast before you get to the top of a hill, and coasts down the other side until it goes into 'oh ####' mode, downshifts to the lowest gear it can rev the engine to, and throws on high jakes...then warns you of excessive engine rpm's (when it did it to itself without any driver input)

 

My knees have been wrecked since HS, so far no issue driving truck. If shifting and clutching are that difficult. I might suggest a person get into better shape. Esp modern trucks.

They are yet to design a auto/auto shift trans more efficent than a properly operated manual trans.

Before anyone disagrees, read that twice. I've had this argument a million times.

 

When your on snow and ice you can stab that clutch to disconnect the engine from rear end. When losing traction if need be. You will learn to feel by the seat of your pants. More in tune with the equipment.

 

I don't disagree... it definitely required a lot of overriding to make it work. Overall still better than an eaton or Detroit in my experience, but I will take a manual 13 speed all day long.

 

Living in snow and mountain county I wouldn't mind an automated manual with a clutch pedal, and would welcome my right hand being freed up to be on the wheel.

But I find the automated manuals problematic when it is slick on hills, especially where you are fighting the tandems sliding sideways on the road crown or median.

At least with the Allison transmissions you can shift to neutral when backing when it is slick and the duals start dragging your steers sideways but the automated units react too slow in my experience.

In both auto versions the transmissions do seem to typically have an override on manual mode that is a few hundred RPM below the governor that also causes issues with going downhill but at least the retarders on the Allison transmissions have enough range to typically overcome that problem.

I am not a super trucker and I consider myself an average driver but I do spend lots of time paying attention to terrain and traffic and always preemptively shift which is better than I have seen outside of well known grades and some of the newer automated systems.

But the reality is that many drivers just want to drive and many do not have the obsession with paying attention that I do and I can see where an automated or automatic transmission may be preferred to them.

I am just in 4 and 5 axle dumps these days and there are sometimes that I have to go up grades where my engine doesn't slow enough fast enough to upshift and stay in the power band and so I have to go 15mph for a bit until the grade reduces. Having a Jake that was new enough to dump the RPM in neutral or an auto would help me possibly add a cycle per day so that would be nice. But a 13/18 speed would allow me to do so also.

 

Anybody who has ever had to power shift through a suction cup mud hole or sand pit road will surely appreciate a good manual transmission, not to mention saving on costly service calls when needing a push start. The only automatics I have ever driven were on yard trucks used to spot trailers all day. I could see anyone spending much time in heavy traffic wanting an automatic. All in all I like what I like and they like what they like. nothing wrong with that. I would not have a pov with manual trans, I got tired of replacing throwout bearings pressure plates and clutch plates on those. But only manual on heavy trucks for me. [edited to add] If you are not running around on a parking lot all day spotting trailers knees usually aren,t put under that much stress using a clutch. For truck drivers what usually causes knee pain is pinched nerves in the hip which can sometimes be remedied by lowering the airride seat to ride softer or getting an orthopedic seat cushion.

 

Always heard the complaints about knees, wtf is it with these guys? Ever milk a herd of cows? Now that’s a workout for the knees!

 

Well I am tall enough that I can't have the left turn signal on and use the clutch at the same time... but that isn't the complaint you probably have in mind

 

I have been driving for 35 years. Have been driving an automated transmission for the last 18 years. My left knee can't thank me enough. The 1st automated transmissions were not very good. The Volvo I-Shift and Freightliner Detroit 12 speed are amazing. They can be so precise that you can actually slide trailer tandems 1 hole.