DT12 vs 13 speed

TC-10 is basically a real 10 speed manual trans, BUT instead of using a clutch, (air, spring, or centrifugal) it uses a lockup torque converter, so there is NO lag between gears, on a hill a down shift loses almost no rpm.

I drove a proto about 3 years ago at MATS and I thought it was hands down the best big truck tranny I have ever ridden in, period, I am really that high on it.

Would have gotten one sooner, but International had a 2 year exclusive contract on them and I wasn't going to buy an International, Paccar production starts in May of this year, I should have one of the first ones installed.

 

All trucks coming onto choice will now be required to have a collision mitigation system. No system, no contract.

 

If I leave the DT12 in auto mode I have been told I can leave it in cruise control downhill, in fact recommended to do that. But my experience is that as it creeps past the IPM max speed, it downshifts 2-3 gears and goes max jakes and runs the rpms up to 2200.

If I kick it out of cruise in auto mode downhill, of course it will stay in the highest gear even when you try to manually downshift it it will auto upshift (sensors thing).

What I have been doing is selecting Manual mode just before cresting, manually downshifting and engaging the jakes to whatever appropriate setting. In this way it is locked into the proper gear and the proper rpms.

I would rather have a manual transmission than worry about switching all the time from Manu to Auto to Manu.

Just driving around the truckstop the thing will lurch from 2nd to 5th back to 3rd as you roll your foot on and off the go pedal. I find myself locking it in Manu 2 or 3 for slow rolling like that.

City streets I will often lock in in Manu just to save it from lurching from gear to gear.

Stop and go traffic this AM, empty the computer figures we can go from a stop in 3rd gear which is fine, but not fine for stop and go. Lunge forward and have to stop quickly. Rather put it in Manu and 1st and creep along like a true manual transmission.

This thing is a pain in the tail but that's OK the truck will eventually be driven by the drivers I hire to drive it who will love it lol.

 

I can put you in touch with a safety manager who will tell you all about trucks that didn't like their parking spot and decided to move of their own volition.

I also believe a dog drove a truck into a tree in Egan MN last spring.

 

Those are still drivers fault ie forgot to set brake, or buckle up lassie..

 

Besides I always blame your dog...

 

How do you know that you prefer to be in control? Have you ever gotten your CDL even?

 

The past couple of days I just got her up to top speed and set it to Manual mode, so digusted with Ecoast slowing me down 8-10 mph less than what i was doing to pass that last truck then see him gaining on me hard. Creates unecessary hopscotch passes where we spend too much time side by side. Set it at 70 mph and manual and it stays there like i am used to....until I hit a bunny hlli and have to bump it down to 11, and back up to 12 for the flat.

Have to go down a steep grade I-17 tonight going to Phoenix I will video what it does in Auto mode/jakes.