Auto Shift Transmissions

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by FredW, Jul 17, 2014.

  1. FredW

    FredW Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2008
    Warrenton, VA
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    Thanks so much for your exceptional insight. That is great information! I truly appreciate you taking the time to reply!

    All the best,

    Fred
     
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  3. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    Fred ,do let us know what you decided.
     
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  4. FredW

    FredW Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2008
    Warrenton, VA
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    Sure will! Thanks again to all who contributed!

    Safe Travels,

    Fred
     
  5. Cowpie1

    Cowpie1 Road Train Member

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    Kellogg, IA
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    Yeah, I used a truck with an Allison in it for a while when I was driving up in Alaska. I really liked it. If the new TC10 they have come out with for OTR work is as good as the other Allison products, it ought to be a real killer deal in a OTR setup. The one thing that I really liked was the supplementary braking that can be had in an Allison. When you have the engine brake running, and the additional braking of the Allison also, by God, you can really control a truck on a big hill.
     
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  6. FredW

    FredW Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2008
    Warrenton, VA
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    Hi,

    Great! More good input. Thanks, Fred
     
  7. Tjackson4

    Tjackson4 Bobtail Member

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    May 15, 2014
    Chicago, IL
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    fred do you know any good dealers in DC, VA and Md area?
     
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  8. FredW

    FredW Light Load Member

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    Aug 11, 2008
    Warrenton, VA
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    Hi,

    I would not know any in the DC metro area. I would know some on the Eastern Shore. Would you be interested in any dealers over there?

    Fred
     
  9. freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

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    I would highly recommend the Allison TC10. But, I think it would be best if you test drive the TC10 and get a feel for what it really is. The response and the feel is a delight to drive I'm sure, as its just like an HD4060 Allison 6 speed automatic.

    The Allison transmission does not lose speed when accelerating or climbing hills. Add in the fact with the torque converter you have a lot better take off too in snow/ice. The ALlison TC10 wins hands down in my book. An auto shift is nothing to get excited about.

    What about when you back up and you have that violent rocking when the truck is at an angle? No more with the Allison, the power is smooth.

    Let's not forget, when you use your jake brake with the Allison TC10, you can probably stop a lot faster and smoother. When I was a bus driver, we had a Series 60 and Allison B500 6 speed automatic, it would drop two gears during initial jake engagement and RPM's would be 2,100 plus. It was amazing stopping for traffic and rarely using the service brake.

    The Allison should out accelerate any automated truck from a traffic light. PLUS, you shouldn't have to worry about the cab rocking from all the torque, since the power is continuous like driving a car with an automatic, unlike an auto shift. Then, for city driving it will be a lot smoother starting up on a hill and turning. There is no hesitation.

    Final thought: If your 'auto shift' malfunctions going down hill when it up shifts or down shifts, how do you plan to recover from that when your engine is free wheeling? At least the Allison with the torque converter, you can up shift and down shift and I don't know why would have to worry about a run away truck with a torque converter.


    You will wish you bough the Allison. Forget the Mack Mdrive, Volvo IShift, Detroit DT12, Eaton Fuller this and that, or Meritor Freedom line. Get a real automatic.

    I rest my case, Allison all the way. Why would no one date Allison? Because she was a tranny. If anyone wants to counter why the other transmissions are better, I'm all ears.
     
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  10. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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    Lets see,you mention it drives like a car.
    I know 1 thing,you put a automatic in a car and the MPG go down,drasticly.

    And why is it that having so long a time develop automatics ,they still haven't made automatics that will last without breaking in cars?
    And you want it in a truck?The more weight you pull the longer the automatic will last??????

    The faults you claim a autoshift will make............none off those have ever been know to happen.

    And your remarks make it clear you have not driven a I-shift or Meritor Freedomline the way they should be driven.
     
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  11. freightlinerman

    freightlinerman Road Train Member

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    You're comparing apples to oranges. The Allison automatic is not like a car transmission. Case studies show MPG up with the Allison, there's all sorts of videos. You have to realize that on the highway the RPM's are pretty low too. Today's automatics in cars are doing just fine, as long as you maintain it. Some companies have bad transmissions, IE the 4L60E for GM, etc.

    What faults haven't happened in an auto shift? It hasn't malfunctioned and gotten stuck in gear while driving? It hasn't up shifted by itself going down hill rendering the jake brake ineffective?

    The newer auto shifts have supposedly improved, I haven't driven them. But, I'll take my Allison automatic any day. You need to elaborate in detail what points I made are wrong and why. Lots of talk, but not any good answers.
     
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