Downshifting for a 90 degree turn

My truck has a 10 speed. I will slow in 10th gear until the engine lugs (usually 25mph), clutch, then neutral, then let clutch out. Continue braking down to 10mph, raise RPM to 1400, clutch, then 4th gear should drop. You should only need to be out of gear for about 4-5 seconds using this method.

Empty, I'll do the same but maybe a bit faster in 5th, depending on the requirements of the particular turn. When deciding on speed for the turn, you've got to consider turn angle, traffic spacing, up / down grades before and after the turn, etc. Your gear selection will be dependent on what speed you choose for the turn.

Choose your speed first, and know what gear you need for that speed.

 

Coasting is not smart!, doubling downs ok, I've done it a time or two, every gear is ok as well, If you know your going to need to make a 90 degree turn, you will need to slow early, Just my opinion

 

Every truck is different...

 

I double down to 3rd loaded and 5th empty with tanker.

 

You'll just have to learn to find a gear that fitts the circomstances, it won't be easy at first but you'll learn..!!

I remember when I was young (is a lomg time ago) and I was driving with my dad beside me. I hoped the traffic light would stay red untill I would have stopped completely because when it would turn green, then just like you, I had to find the right gear to continue...

Just practice a lot, shift up, shift back, try to get the feeling..!!

Good luck..!!

 

4th gear sounds appropriate. but it depends on what you are dragging behind you.

common sense is the name of the game. Slower is better

 

All turns should be made in 3rd gear or less. The sharper, the slower if that means going into 2nd or 1st, so be it. Watch a few youtube video's about trucks overturning on sharp turns (especially 90 degree ones) and you'll quickly see why slower, is better. Especially because of your lack of familiarization with a manual transmission again.

Good Luck

 

I agree with crzy. Slow down early. give yourself time to downshift, and watch your revs. all you're going to need is about 400 RPM for a little rev to grab the next gear down. You've got more of a chance of missing gears if you try and skip shift, at least at first. To start with, try going every gear. There's only going to be 4 of them since you can usually deal with getting it down to 4th to make most city turns. Just get a feel for the truck at first and don't be "that guy".