How to get a smooth take off

Telling him to just be easy on the clutch isnt gonna cut it.

Op, you need to find the friction/engagement point on the clutch (they should be able teaching you this). 1st bobtail, then with a trailer. From a dead stop, slowly ease up on the clutch until it starts to grab. Push it back in and stop. Repeat. Do it until you know where its gonna grab. As it does this, watch your rpm's. The engine/ecm will compensate a bit as the rpm's drop. If you're in a low enough gear (1st or 2nd on a 10spd) you dont need any throttle. Once your comfortable knowing where that engagement spot is, keep easing up and let the truck roll.

It all comes down to repetition. That clutch is going to engage in the same spot every time. Its not a switch that is on/off. You have to get a feel and learn how to slip it.

 

Yep, keep your foot off the foot feed.

 

In first gear you just let the clutch out no need to step on the pedal for power. The trick is to shift at 1,000 RPMs or less. Because at 1,000 RPM you don't have to match the gears. You can go from gear to gear with being very good at shifting. A truck engine has lots more torque then car engine and you don't need at that power just to get rolling.

When you shift into high range bring the RPMs up to 1,600 and shift. Because now you need the pulling power to keep going. Truck have about 400 RPM set between gear so if you fist at 1,600 RPM it will go in the next gear at 1,200. If you miss the gear let the RPMs drop to 800 RPM it should go in gear 1,200-400 is 800 RPM. That kinda low RPM but if on flat ground or light load it can probably pull.

 

Just start off in the lowest gear you have and let the clutch nice and easy, if you need to give it throttle to take off you're in too high a gear. Once you have a handle on taking off in low you can move to first or second, I wouldn't ever try taking off in any gear higher than third, but that's just me.

 

Are you the only one having trouble taking off smooth, or is everybody?
Sometimes a loose motor mount will complicate things.
What tranny are you using. A lot of trucks it is actually easier and smoother to take off in second, than first, but do it in a gear you can idle off with, be it first or second.
And like said above, find the point the clutch starts to engage and just slow and easy from there .
Some trucks need the clutch adjusted, If the engagement point is to low, or right at the top with no free play, it also complicates things too. It is also somewhat important to have the seat adjusted to fit, so your leg is in a position to work the clutch smooth, especially while you are learning.

 

Billy big rigger has an 18 speed and he splits every gear lol

 

Every time lol

 

No point in having an 18 if you want drive a 13.

 

It was a joke.... However there are places where 18s are desirable. I pull allot of hills in my job. I have one farm in particular I split lower gears on a daily basis. I took a 13 speed up that hill and yeah it worked but it wasn't ideal.

 

I seldom split the lower gears unless taking off on a hill, myself.