Double clutch or Float. You decide.

I've got to agree with that. I don't do the same thing two times in a row either. Just depends on what feels right and the given terrain. The trucks that I'm in generally float pretty good in low range; you can slowly gain speed smoothly without much buck jumping which is hard on the trans and drive shaft / drive axles amongst other things. Once you've got some speed built up and in high range, it's just almost easier to single clutch (to make sure you break it out of gear) and float into the next. I think we're all striving for the same thing; a smooth ride without the cab jumping 8 inches each time to change gears and having a healthy drivetrain and not doing damage to it.

It's a great question and I wish I had a better answer. If you're worried about taking your DOT driving test; you better know how to double clutch, upshift and downshift using the clutch. The state examiner will be watching to see what's going on. I double clutched 3 or 4 times while we left the facility and floated and single clutched the entire rest of my test. He never said a word to me. They want to see that you're in control of that vehicle and understand the relationship between your gear selection / ground speed / and what you the driver kicks the RPM up to in order to achieve the desired gear selection.

Here's something else that was handed to me and I still use to this day when I downshift;

Let's say you're in 10 gear and need to gradually slow down for a toll both way up ahead. OK, you're in 10th gear with foot off of accelerator; you've slowed down to 45mph. 45 (4+5 = 9)...time to head to "9th" gear. You double clutch and grab 9th and it slows some more. Now you're slowing to 38 mph now 37 now 36 and now 35. (3+5=8)...now is time to think about double clutching and grabbing 8th gear. Now you're in 8th and letting it slow more, the toll booth is getting closer. Ground speed is 29, now 27, now 25. (2+5=7)...time to start to think about double clutching and going to 7th gear. I personally don't downshift into low range.

If you use the above simple relationship to of 45 mph (4+5=9th gear) for example and reduce your ground speed by 2 to 3 mph below that, when you double clutch and slightly raise the RPM's it will go right into gear very smoothly. Most of these road tractors have similarly geared rear ends which creates another variable amongst tractor brands but they're all pretty much the same from my experience.

Just my two cents and it's a great question. I'm learning everyday myself, don't think you can ever perfect any trade or profession anyhow.

Drive safe!

 

If by "crefiefical" you mean "servo operated by computer" you would be right....but if you meant to spell "centrifugal" you would be wrong.

 

Ive never tried to float gears even on the lil experience ive had driving on road. The way I learned was double clutching and on one day. But im the kind of guy that learns from seeing and learning then doing some practice on my own to get ahold cause its easier for me and that is the way learn from right and wrongs. So might as well give it a try sometime to see how I do. So far still ive never seen any driver double clutch around besides certain speed freaks that like the feel of double clutching thinking they're on a rice racer on a quarter mile. But of course from what Ive seen most do use double clutch when going up or down a hill when needed or stopping but besides that no.

 

Yes spelling is not my best subject. But it doesn't change the facts. And typing on phone in moving truck.