10 speed to 18 speed

It’s a rhythm that you hear and feel. You develop your timing from the rhythm, not by watching the tach. It’s like jumping rope or hitting a speed bag. Once you learn the rhythm of a speed bag, you can hit it all day with your eyes closed.

Downshift has a different rhythm than upshift. But if you can downshift your 10, you can downshift an 18 also.

 

Yup. You can feel your truck bogging down. It will be different on different grades. When I ran dirt out of the SF port I would head UP Broadway with a full load. The game was to keep it going to try to make all the lights to the tunnel. One bad shift and you would miss a light. Lots of fun.I don't think I could of done that looking at a tach. Same with coming down Lucas Valley road up in Point Rays (Grade. Avg Grade: 8% Max Grade: 23%. per some website) You can't watch the curves if you are looking at RPMs. You'll enjoy getting the feel of things. And you'll miss a gear once in a while too. We all do.

 

The feel is the biggest thing when hauling liquids. If you see/hear you reached your upshift point but you’re feeling the liquid start to hit the rear of the trailer you hold tell it hits other wise if it hits in the middle of your shift you might as well stick it right back it that hole after you regain your RPM’s

The biggest thing the OP is gonna have to learn is not going back to “low/6th” gear when he goes to the high side in the 18sp. He’ll do fine. I went from an 18 to a 10 for 6 years then back to an 18 for the last 2 years. Just dont over think it and the truck will end up telling him her sweet spots.

 

New generation engine should be up shifter at about 1500 overall maybe a little higher depending on load and grade I would say 1700 max. But the engine brake can be wound up to 2200 for max braking, just don't try to down shift from there. Remember to slow down before you down shift.