How to shift 18 speed? When And how do you Drive it as A 18 speed, 13 speed and 9 speed

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Catrachotrucker, Jul 26, 2020.

  1. speedyk

    speedyk Road Train Member

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    One thing to learn at first, when you normally go over to your knee for 6th, just go up to where 7th would be on a 10.

    Use the throttle to keep the drivetrain loose when splitting, you can preselect going up, but doing it going down might result in an unintended downshift.

    "Down for up, up for down"

    Splitting the low end is really useful in stop and go traffic, you can find a perfect speed to keep moving.

    You will not miss anything about a 10, and you will likely regret every second you had to use one.
     
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  3. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    Am the only on to say, It shifts like a manual transmission reguardless of the amount of gears. Just different pattern.
     
  4. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I drove a 13 for a long time. When I started in tankers I was put in a 10 speed. Never had been in one before. When I went to high range, I was so used to the 13 I wasn't going over by my knee to hit 6th. Kept trying to go straight to 7th. I had to concentrate when I changed lo to hi and back for a few hours until it became normal. Never liked the 10 either.
     
  5. Kyle G.

    Kyle G. Road Train Member

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  6. LameMule

    LameMule Road Train Member

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    RTO vs RTLO
     
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  7. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    I would start out by driving it like a 9spd, unless you are heavy beyond a legal load, you can start splitting when it starts to bog down or in the hills.
    You'll be fine, just takes some practice.
    I agree.
    And just because you can split gears doesn't mean you should, or need to.
     
  8. jamespmack

    jamespmack Road Train Member

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    I agree with that too.
     
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