First time on road trouble shifting 3to 4

I would not follow advice of, "When you hit this many RPM's, or do not go over this many RPM's"

I have 2 trucks, and they are TOTALLY different when it comes to shifting and the RPM level.

Listen to the truck, they're all different. Going up or down hills you need to do things a little quicker, especially loaded.

 

To get used to where the clutch catches, start the truck and with the brakes still on put the truck in gear. When you 1st mash the clutch note how far your pushing it in til you can get into 1st gear. Then don't go to the floor but continue pushing the clutch. Then slowly release it and note where it catches. Play around til you are familiar with where the clutch catches and releases. Might help too I do this everytime I get in a new truck. Each truck is different some catch right on top some a little farther. If its almost to the floor have it looked at it may need adjusted.

 

I was wondering that too. FWIW I start from 3rd when empty on level ground but that's driving a Lightning (super 10) and having the shifter in the 2nd lever position/button down.

 

They have you start from a stop in third gear?

Every single stop you come to no matter what gear you stop in they have us put back in 3rd. So yes they do. When backing in the yard when doing a pull up or even going around the track its always 2nd.

 

Your clutch brake works?

 

Right car/trucks shift different than rigs. Maybe rev just a little higher before trying 4th. And yes you can start in 2nd or 3rd empty but don't try it loaded. good luck

 

I was told here at roadmaster the reason they have us start in 3rd is because they use to have students start in 2nd and they would screw up sometimes and accidentally put it in Reverse thinking it was 2nd. So 3rd is just safer for students from my understanding.

 

Wait a few years out on the big road, then you train yourself too float gears, thats a trip in itself, when empty trl i never started out on low side, i just stayed up high, its a trick you have too learn, as each truck is differnt, mostly i was just using the pedal and quik shift, that city smoky , over in lacross , wondering how i got up too speed so fast i had only top side i was shifting, almost got a speeding ticket, i was just shifting like my car running thru the gears

 

if i have even a empty trailer on i start in 1st or 2nd only time i start any higher than that is if im bobtail. then i just hit 4-6-8-9-10. seems to me even with an empty trailer on its hard on the clutch in 3rd but whatever they want you to do while your in shcool. on the low side there is no reason to rev it very high just 12-1300 rpms should do the trick just fine also very seldom do i down shift into the low side for a stop now if im rolling into a crouded truck stop where 6th is too fast but im not comming to a stop or simular situations to that i will downshift into the low side