13 speed - why splitting gears when downshifting?

wellllll....

You could just be like me when I first drove a 13(untrained on and alone first run) and not be able to get the selector down and coast through a red light and stall the engine at the same time. Oops.


or you can be smart and put your splitter in direct and be able to put your range selector down...

I like telling that story to people. Entertains the both of us and we shoot stupid memories.

Occasionally I'll catch myself flicking the side of my 10. Prefer the 13 definitely.

 

Generally split on down shift is not nessiary , unless as was said you are just need those gears due to terrain, my self , when coming to a light or turn split down the gear you are in first ,then,i think it easiest to use all gears in the low side , (I suppose some may say u should use every one every time , and you could but most don't), that way if say I want 4 or 3 ect to take a slower turn its already set on the low side and ready for the low range if needed, after you run it ten thousand miles or so it will be second nature , depending on gearing , split adds/ takes away approx 250 rpm , so When not splitting is approx 500 rpm example running 7 low @1100rpm while slowing ,want to change to 6 low will be approx 15/1600rpm, which is well within range, hope this helps

 

Well, if you anticipate having to downshift to the point where you're putting the range selector into low, you have to put the splitter in low in order to be able to do that, so if I'm rolling along in, say, 9 high, my first downshift will be into 9 low, then I'll drop whole gears, skip shift down, etc. I do it with 13s and 18s alike, since I just don't want to let myself get complacent on not having to do it with an 18, then end up forgetting to do it with a 13.

 

Always remember the basic rule of thumb for why you shift gears in the 1st place....it is to match the speed of the trans w/the speed of the engine....oversimplified? Perhaps but..it is a good place to start....quicker you decelerate...more gears you will have to drop...so you quite possibly will be able to skip a few at a time....gently decel...a long off ramp perhaps you may need to gently split your way down....either way you want to match both....w/out stressing either....