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Eaton Auto questions

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Gigarange, Nov 12, 2015.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Nov 12, 2015 #1
    Gigarange

    Gigarange Bobtail Member

    18
    18
    Aug 14, 2011
    Victoria, BC Canada
    0
    I've been searching around and I find a lot of contradictory information.

    Looking around at used trucks and a 2008 Kenworth T800 has caught my attention.

    The part that I am unsure of is the transmission. The owner has given me this as the model # of it as rtlo 016918a-as318a.
    I can't tell if this is a 3 pedal or 2 pedal setup. The truck is an expensive long ferry ride away so I'm trying to figure out as much about this before I spend the time and money to go physically look at it.

    From what I can tell it is a 3rd generation 18 speed.

    What I can't figure out is if it an autoshift, or ultra shift or one of the other different terms I've seen while searching the forums.
    I've read about the Eatons having troubles with rolling back on hills and being challenging to back up, would this one be one of those?

    I drive 85%+ in town, deal with bumper to bumper traffic on a regular basis pulling 70,000 to 80,000 lbs including the trailer and cargo weight one way and 20,000 lb empty trailer back normally.
     
    Gigarange, Nov 12, 2015
    Gigarange, Nov 12, 2015
    #1
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  3. Nov 12, 2015 #2
    lester

    lester Midwest's #1 Feed Hauler

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    Why not ask the seller "two pedals or three"
     
    lester, Nov 12, 2015
    lester, Nov 12, 2015
    #2
    HorseShoe Thanks this.
  4. Nov 12, 2015 #3
    Gigarange

    Gigarange Bobtail Member

    18
    18
    Aug 14, 2011
    Victoria, BC Canada
    0
    I did, the truck was not around for him to check, he originally thought it was an 8 speed...checking his paperwork is where he got the trans info from.
     
    Gigarange, Nov 12, 2015
    Gigarange, Nov 12, 2015
    #3
  5. Nov 13, 2015 #4
    JPenn

    JPenn Road Train Member

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    Northern Tier PA
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    JPenn, Nov 13, 2015
    JPenn, Nov 13, 2015
    #4
  7. Nov 15, 2015 #5
    Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

    15,317
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    Jan 31, 2012
    Green Bay Wi
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    all of these earlier generation auto shifts are what gives people the impression they are all bad.................just sayin
     
    Cranky Yankee, Nov 15, 2015
    Cranky Yankee, Nov 15, 2015
    #5
  8. Nov 15, 2015 #6
    cnsper

    cnsper Road Train Member

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    I am sorry, but if you are worried about the cost of a ferry ride then you don't need to buy a truck. I have been across on that ferry years ago and it is not all that long. Heck, it took me an hour to go 15 miles the other day. I was heavy and was going over a mountain pass at the time but it was on land.
     
    cnsper, Nov 15, 2015
    cnsper, Nov 15, 2015
    #6
  9. Nov 15, 2015 #7
    HorseShoe

    HorseShoe Road Train Member

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    Yeah I wouldn't buy a truck from someone who couldn't tell me anything about it....
     
    HorseShoe, Nov 15, 2015
    HorseShoe, Nov 15, 2015
    #7
  10. Nov 15, 2015 #8
    Brettj3876

    Brettj3876 Road Train Member

    11,257
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    Nov 18, 2014
    Land of local
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    In my opinion I wouldn't buy an early 3 pedal auto. My dads work has 3 pedal autos in 10 speeds and hes not a fan. My work we have about 30 auto freightliners with the dt12. From what I've heard and from 1st hand exp they are pretty good. KILLER jake on those dd15s mated to dt12.
     
    Brettj3876, Nov 15, 2015
    Brettj3876, Nov 15, 2015
    #8
  11. Nov 15, 2015 #9
    DaveLV

    DaveLV Light Load Member

    182
    261
    Sep 18, 2015
    0
    The 3 pedal is an autoshift. The 2 pedal is an ultra shift. Neither are worth a the cost of said ferry ride. Eaton builds a smoking transmission. But between those 2 and the ZF Meritor they need to be avoided. Shift your own gears, if the clutch is too much for your left leg get an easy pedal. Still too much get a truck with an air or hydraulic assist. Want an auto Volvo's iShift is probably the best, the new one out in Freightliner I'm not up on but I have heard good things. The iShift is a proven platform
     
    DaveLV, Nov 15, 2015
    DaveLV, Nov 15, 2015
    #9
  12. Nov 16, 2015 #10
    Hick

    Hick Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 4, 2014
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    Yup, and the newer generations, too.
     
    Hick, Nov 16, 2015
    Hick, Nov 16, 2015
    #10
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