18 Speed

You don’t have to split every gear, but it’s there if you need it.

 

They really shine in a rock truck or log truck. Anything heavy or off highway and the 18spd is what I prefer.

I was told that they shift best when the shifter scrapes the roof though...

 

They really shine in OTR when you sell. I can definitely see their value in steep terrain

 

I’m not an owner op but I drive a truck with an 18. I don’t keep track of fuel
mileage probably as well as I should admittedly, but I can’t tell much if any of a difference between the 18 speed and 13 and 10’s that I’ve been assigned in the past. I do a lot of off road driving and county road hopping and the extra gears are sometimes advantageous. Other than that, out on the highway I just split the top 2 holes.

 

I built my 2015 389 Glider following the once often used motto of “Gear fast and run slow”. I went with an 18speed and 2:64 ratio so that I could run in direct drive, (16) the most fuel efficient gearing position the majority of the time up to 65 or so. When I run 70 or so I run in single overdrive(17). Seldom do I use 18 but it is there if I run out west and need the speed. Many people may not need an 18 speed to operate just as efficiently. It works well for my operation, but a 13 speed likely would work nearly as well.

 

Its all about options. Most of the time I just put it in high split and drive it like a 9 speed.

 

I had an 18 speed in the 249,000# pump truck I use to drive. I drove it like a 9 speed, and rarely hit the first 3 gears. That being said my 10 speed would be better with a splitter on 10th.

 

Ok like my 18 for versatility, I like to roll from a stop loaded or mty in deep reduction low. easy on clutch and drive train. Versus the clowns who take off in 3 rd loaded and slip the clutch. I can drive it like a 9,13, 18
Really like low deep when rolling thru dirt lots of bomb crater parking lots. Roll nice and slow and not stir up dust.

 

Until the fan kicks on!!! Lol I always hate that.