transmission

I agree w/mtoo, 10 works. I've had an O-12513, O-14613, LO-17818, and now an FRO-17210 w/1650 torque engine. The 10 works for me with a step (even on I-70 and I-5) and brought my tare weight down. BUT, I'm more interested in mpg than getting from A to B 30 minutes sooner. IMHO, for linehaul, an 18 is just carrying around extra weight. Basically the FRO-17210 has the same steps as an LO-18 speed but without all the splits.

 

How much extra weight is the 18?

 

Surprising the 18sp. Is - 716lbs. (1450-2250)
Same weight as 13sp. 714 - 716lbs . With bigger torc 1250. - 2050 weight goes up 2lbs

 

I don't care for 10 speeds. I drove one once for few weeks after my truck was wrecked and it was difficult to slide the fifth wheel because reverse was to high geared, and it was a bit difficult to back up in to narrow spaces for it went to fast in reverse.

Had no such problem with boxes nor 13 over's. Would not want a truck that had a 10 speed.

 

Question, when you where sliding your 5th wheel? Did you lower your landing gear and drop your air bags?, I've driven all types a trannys, never had any issues sliding the 5th wheel

 

Never driven a truck-tractor with air bags.

And yes, with a 10 speed transmission I had to lower the landing gears to slide the fifth wheel and or trailer axles. If you do not lower the dollies you will sooner or later mess up your drive shaft & or rear ends and or transmission.

Yet with a set of boxes and or 13 speed you do not have to lower the dollies.

10 speed transmission is to high of a gear in 1st to slide rear trailer axles and or fifth wheel and to high geared in reverse to back up properly into tight spots that you cannot back strait into.

 

The Mack T310 transmission has a 13.81 first gear ratio and a 14.73 reverse. Tenth gear is a .73, and the average step between the gears is 39%.

The Mack T310M has a 17.35 first gear and 15.22 is the lowest of 6 reverse gears. Tenth gear is .71, with an average step of 40%.

If that STILL isn't low enough for you, the Mack T310MLR crawls with a 27.30 first gear ratio and 23.96 being the lowest of 6 reverse gears. Top gear is a .71, with a 40% average step.

The Mack T313 and T318 both have a 13.44 first gear and 15.91 reverse, .71 top gear, and an 18% average step.

The Mack T313LR and T318LR get you down to 16.42 in first and 28.98 in reverse. Top gear is still .71, and still an 18% average step.

In other words, if you want a low low and a low reverse, a 13 or 18 won't always be your only option...there are 10 speed transmissions that blow the 13's and 18's out of the water in the crawl department. The only advantages you really have with a 13 or 18 is the smaller step between the gears.

 

So, your a Mack Driver, never drove one myself, just KW's, Pete's, Freightliners, Western Stars, so what your saying, does not count.

 

FRO-XXX10B = 11.06 1st, 12.12 R, .75 OD
FRO-XXX10C = 12.69 1st, 13.75 R, .74 OD
RTLO-XXX13A = 12.31 1st, 13.22 R, .73 OD
RTLO-XXX18B = 14.40 1st, 15.06 R, .73 OD

Not much difference there, either...

 

A 10 speed over with 3.70 rear-ends and 22.5 tires is to high geared in reversed from backing up into tight spots where you have to turn as your backing in, and also for sliding a fifth wheel and or trailer axles.

Now if you've got a gear bound truck with very low geared rear-ends, them a 10 speed over would be OK. Yet who wants a gear bound truck running cross country?

I drove such a truck many years ago hauling chicken feed and it did a good job.

Yet late on driving cross county for several weeks I drove a KW with 10 speed over, 3.70 rear-ends, with 22.5 tires, revere gear was to fast even at idle to back into tight spots where you did not have room to back strait into that spot, and or to slide the fifth wheels and or trailer axles.

In fact I do not the least bit care what your choice would be, in fact your more than welcome to have a different opinion than I!

Why keep on arguing over this matter? Do you hate people whose opinion is different than yours? Seems that's the case of the forums, people hates other who does not have the same opinion as they do.