Speaking of double clutching

Italy is like england, 44t is the maximum (most of europe 40) here is possible to load 5% more without getting a ticket so 462000 kg.
My truck has only 430 hp wich is really low for italy since we have a lot of mountains (average here is 480-500 hp) so i use that gear pattern when not too heavy (we transport mostly paper and cardboard) and going flat.
When i go uphill and i am loaded heavy i use almost all 16 gears and i have to switch off the cb radio not to hear people behind cursing me (on most mountain higways in italy there is a no overtaking law)

 

430 hp in Italy wow ....youre a poor relation like me halfgear.

You get allowed a %age over here on speed and weight too, its 3-5% if i remember correctly.

You have the overtaking law do you also have a law for the minimum distance between trucks. We dont but I did hear some mainland countries did.

 

I have seen that in france and germany, there are roadsign about that and police really cares.
I don't know if there is a law or not in italy about minimum distance but we travel attached one to the other, and nobody ever got a ticket. It's the only way to drive here and to overtake. otherwise cars would get in between trucks and brake or do other dangerous stuff.
yesterday i was driving in my lane and this car was overtaking me really fast and found out that he was about to pass his exit and without caring cutted in front of me and slammed on the brakes. I had to slamm the brakes and probbly if i had a old trailer without abs or if i was heavier i would had hit him. So the only way here is bumper bumper truck after truck.
And about my truck not only has 430hp but it is an iveco wich means fiat trucks. Worst trucks ever cheaply made in turkey and soon china

 

Can someone explain to me how your double clutch downshift a mountian grade with a heavy load? Especially on 2 lane roads with lights at the bottom.

Seems to me the much safer way is to put your left foot on the brake, gently hold to keep the truck from accelerating when you take it out of gear, and grab 500rpm and go down a gear. If the jake cant hold the rpm's down, you arent slowing the truck down without the brakess, which means that your not gonna be able to clutch down a gear without the truck taking off on you, and then having to use even more brake.

How could you clutch it out, bring up the rpm fast enough, and get it back into gear with the clutch on steep grades...sounds like a recipe for death.

Most guys that have been doing this for a awhile(i'm talking 30+ years) seem to believe there is overall less wear and tear on the truck if you float, even with minor grinding. I know that if you go in too far, even one time with that clutch, your in for a ride. Plus it will wear out your airbags and suspension in a hurry with the added jumping and bucking.

I'm nobody, just sayin what i've heard.

 

I didn't think you downshifted on a mountain grade, you just descend in the same gear you climbed in..........with the Jake on.......no??

 

Yeah, thats what the book says. But since i've been driving for real. I've been on some grades with heavy loads in west virginia where there are double digit grades with lights at the bottom and going in a lower gear than you came up only means that your gonna run out of brakes because the jake cant hold the rpm's back. So you have to ride the brakes...a no-no.


I'm lucky enough to drive a truck with a big engine, hence even more stopping power.

By there are some areas that are so steep you have to almost just manage your speed, and save the brakes for the end and just go down gear, by gear, and play the brakes.

I can't even imagine taking the truck out of gear on some of those grades without my other foot on the brake. I know the books say what they say, and are right in some general cases.

 

Oh lights, you mean traffic lights lol.......I was thinking flashing lights for whatever reason.


On a downgrade were you told to brake to 5 mph below what speed you want and then release and repeat the process?? (You and I probably had the same book lol)

 

Yeah, what the book doesn't tell you is what if your driving on like I-77 and come to fancy gap. You did ascend anything, so you really can't know for sure what gear to go down in.

The book is trys to peddle this one size fits all, and that isn't true.

 

it one gear below what you pull the hill if you go by the book whith a newer truck pull better. imo if your drop 2 or 3 gear at the top tell you find how your truck hold back on the hill you be better off . it a lot easy to shift up then down it better off if you don"t try to gear down on a hill. if you get it out off of gear and can"t get back in you be in big trouble

 

Double clutching is the same thing as floating except that you use a small portion of the clutch to take it out and put it in.