13spd

Oh by the way, you will have to downshift again someday going downgrade. Let's hope you already set it up so that you come off the top in whatever gear you got to it with ....

 

If ya love the 13 spd, you'd looooove the 18spd.
I loved splitting the low side in traffic in the city. Took me forever to get to the next red light. Especially when the cars are in such a hurry...lol.

 

I second the 18's Get yourself a 150 ton B train and one of those transmissions. Shift all day putting power so pre-ciise just so... make that 150 ton turn into a compliant puppy following you everywhere without trouble.

I also thought of something while typing this. CARS have freaking 8 speed autos.

The more you complicate something on things that don't need 8 freaking gears the easier it is to break it.

 

Try going from 5th & direct to 4th & over.

 

Don't you mean 150,000 pounds.
And a big horse.

 

Everyone is allowed to smoke at least once.

But think over that smoked trip downgrade carefully, what speed were you and what percentage the hill and how much further did you have? What was the traffic around you? Ramps? Restriced speed hills etc.

I recall Donner had signs from DOT that gives specific commands to drift her, the result would have been idle at 34 or so in whatever gear for a few miles and so on in spots on that hill.

Most truckers are NOT allowed to run Donner in the USA, not until they have proven themselves on smaller hills. For a lack of a better word, you and those few Jedi are lucky to have your virgin cherries broken properly on Donner. You will be fine everywhere else except for a certain number of passes that will make donner look like a walk in park.

 

Nothing like pulling a big hill and some dude goes by and that o so familiar stench of burning brakes as he passes. Have a safe tri.........

 

I second that, the 18 is the same as the 13 but you can split gears in the low range which helps a lot.

I won't buy or order a truck without an 18 or a convertible 13 - that is one that can be made into an 18 speed. It makes no sense to buy a 10 or even a 6 (yes I had one with a 6) when an 18 does the same job,