10 speed to 18 speed

So when I learned to shift on my 10 speed blutec freightliner I was told up shift and down shift at 1500 and I can always know what gear to go to by adding the double digit speed I'm going like single numbers. example:35 mph=3+5=8th gear
And so on and forth how do I know what gear to goto or that I'm in with 18 speed and what the sweet rpm is for upshifting and down I have a drive test coming I need tips
Thanks

 

This post sounds like your getting ready to learn to drive. It depends on the gear ratios ordered, not a big difference on technique between them.

Drop by utube lots on videos on both.

 

I can drive 10 speed fine no problem but what I'm saying is 18 speed is different YouTube has no videos of what rpm the guys are shifting at through the gears

 

Forget about the gears and just drive the truck, you don't use the exterme low range much unless your doing heavy haul.

 

Just drive it as a ten and don't use the splitter on the side if you are just road testing empty.

 

Yup, just drive forget the lowend till you learn to drive it.

 

Forget about stopping the earth.

PAY ATTENTION to whatever cautions exist on your transmission plate.

No need to split if the engine is happy and the tractor is purring without that horrible bounce house HOPPING.

In time you will become for lack of a better word become intimate and one with the 18 speed.

 

Yup for sure guys I'm going to be hauling construction equipment here in Seattle for a paving company and driving transfers all the trucks are 18 so thanks for advice

 

Do you know what engine is in the truck? Find that out. You can see the serial number and specs on a plate either on top or on the side of the engine. Then look up the rear end ratio. Those two pieces of information are more important to me than the type of transmission.

I drove hundreds of trucks on a drive away basis for the oil industry, with a wide range of specs. Almost always the rpm's to upshift were north of 1500, sometimes around 2000 rpm's. Try shifting at 1500 and you end up lugging it and having to drop a gear or two.

If you are hauling construction equipment in the Seattle area the trucks are likely going to be specced like an oilfield truck, since you have a lot of steep hills to contend with.