How to Properly Float Gears?

Hays floating gears what's that all about. It has limited applications. If there is one skill that separates drivers it going backwards.

 

Ya! What he said

 

To float, it depends on the trans and engine. Knowing how long it takes to drop the rpms is crucial. i drive a 13 speed. On the high side, i need to drop 200 rpm between gear changes. To float, i get to the rpm i want to shift at. i then put a little pressure on the stick pulling it out an to the next gear. As soon as i relice the throttle, the stick slide right out. Out is the easy part. Getting it in can be tricky. If you time it right, the engine will have dropped the right rpms as you pass through neutral and it will slide right in. This of course gets screwed up if your going around a turn or up hill since the road speed will drop to. If you do it right, the stick should slide form one gear to the next as soon as you relice the throttle. If you go to fast or to slow you will grind and damage the trans.

Note the stick will only com out of gear while the truck is pulling the engine, not the engine pulling the truck. (when the truck is coasting) To down shift you get to you min rpm and rev and relice to slide the gear out. it will come out as the truck starts coasting. as you slide through neutral hit the throttle again an reach your required rpm to slide it into the lower gear. If done smoothly, the trottle just get tapped twice with the second tap being harder and slide right from one to the other. If there is any grinding, you are damaging the trans.

 

What the h*** are you talking about?

 

Wow ! Bunch of haters!
Engine brake off as said, Cruise off, in correct rpm range.
Then just enough of a push on the gas to 'release' the trans from the engine . . (As you eggshell that shifter out)
When shifting up, slot in when revs drop, or you'll have to rev a little and repeat.
I personally DC downshifting, - just habit.
Different trucks, different feel, keep it up, you'll get there.
Good place to practice is stop and go backups.
Nothing wrong with learning new tricks buddy!

 

Just remember, practicing poorly will damage the truck. If you get good at DC first then you float practice will be smoother and not as damaging

 

If trucks were meant to be floated, the bean counters in the front office wouldn't waste money buying clutches and clutch pedals......j/k

 

1100 rpm for low
1400 for high

-400 for downshift float

Don't like the rpms getting that high so I just use the clutch. Its there for a reason and my mpg shows.

^
That's on a 10

 

12 and 21 rpm.