but i thought it was easy

Redskin, Practice, Try the plunger thing at home it does work, big thing I have found is shifting( up or down ) is all about rythem find a rythem. Back when I was in school not all that long ago, an instructor gave me this advice about rythem but added in think of the Adams Family song sing it in your head when you get to the part where they snap. Snap Snap that is your rythem to shift to, clutch and hand working together. Practice this in the truck when at home, go over gear locations. It will come to you I do not know why hey had you bobtailing, sound counter productive to me but what do I know. You will ee a difference in the mirrors once trailer is behind you, at least you will have a point of reference. Another good piece of advice given to me in school was ( slow down take your time) learn to work through the gears up and down, again practice, when coming up to a stop, single down to 4th or 3rd, do not just coast up, assuming you have enough room to do so, after a few weeks of this going from 9th or 10th down to 4th or 3rd plus all the upshifts to get to 9th or 10th you get real familiar with the gear pattern . It seems overwhelming know but you will be amazed at what you can do wait till you start the anglebacks do not know what is required in your state, that is a whole new wrinkle in the armour, again slow down and practice. Big John and a few others will give it to you straight, they have many years of experience so take what they say serious IMHO they aint bullshi-- anyone, me I only have about 1 year in and will only give advice if I can not sound like an idiot. Good luck and keep us posted o how it is going.

 

Three words of advice Redskin....practice, practice, practice. On another subject....good ridance Donovan! I also bleed burandy and gold.

 

Watch your tach and time your shifts to it. I shift a 250rpm upshift and a 500rpm downshift. Not rocket science just practice. Once you acquire a high skill level maintain it. Some drivers get burned out and there skill level shows it. They just don't care anymore.

 

Let the clutch out slowly and do not give the truck any fuel untill you have the clutch out all the way then ease into the fuel, if the truck shutters and shakes when you let out the clutch you are not starting in the right gear. Take your Time you will get it...good luck!

 

To remember what gear you are supposed to be going to when downshifting it is just some simple math. 5th gear is 10 mph, 6th is 16 mph, 7th is 25 mph, 8th is 35 mph, 9th is 45, 10th is 50. Basically add the two numbers of your speed together and you get the gear you should be in. That helped me a lot.