New driver with shifting issues

1,700 makes it harder, not easier. From 2nd to 3rd, it falls in because the rpms are close, needing it to drop 500 rpm, you have to have your timing. If it isn't there yet, it is easier to blow the shift.

 

Had you read my earlier posts, you'd have not quoted me.

 

I have read all of your posts. I disagree with you. Besides manufacturers recommending progressive shifting, I see it myself and other drivers. A friend asked if he could spend an hour practicing because he hasn't driven for a little while. He wound it up like you say to do it, and he couldn't shift. I showed him to shift at lower RPMs, he was in like Flynt.

 

So, because "He" couldn't do it, it must be impossible. Got it. Again, I mentioned unloaded starting in third or fourth gear, like the OP stated. You're insisting I'm talking about lower gears. What else can he "not" do? I don't want to waste my time trying it if it is impossible.

 

You're welcome to your opinion, and if it works for you, whatever. There is simply no reason, except starting uphill with a heavy load, to turn 1,700 in the low range.

Starting an unloaded truck in 4th gear? You don't own the truck you drive, do you? If you did you would be concerned about the strain that puts on a driveline.

 

No strain at all. And I'll refrain from answering your question, as you'll find fault with either, and I don't feed the lions.

 

Starting a hill with a heavy load at 1600 rpms in low gear ? Really !!!! Are you referring to revving the motor up while releasing the clutch ? Or did I miss something. @x1Heavy said the same thing. I guess the hills I have started up loaded and heavy weren't steep enough because I have never ever taken off from a stand still, on a steep hill, revving the motor up at 1600 and releasing the clutch. Doing so will eventually burn the clutch out or break something in the drivetrain. But go figure, what do I know, I'm just a truck driver.

 

Also what others havent mentioned is that the rpms you shift at depends on how heavy you are.
Basically the tranny is not synchronized, meaning that you have to match the rpm of the tail of the trans to the engine to put it in gear.
So to know what rpm to push it in the hole at you need to know how fast you are going, then you put it in nuetral and adjust engine speed then put it in gear.
So if you ride it up to 1500 and then upshift, it will probably go in at 1100ish.
At 1300, about 950ish, so on and so forth.
The reason why rookies ride it up to 1500+ is because the gap is larger
and they shift like they have arthritis.
Trucks may be slow, but you need to be superhuman fast at shifting to shift at low rpms or with heavy loads.
At any given speed there is an rpm thay it will shift into any gear (although the engine will only run a small band between 1000 and 2000, keep it under 1500) and you just do math in your head. Just memorize the low end and top end speed (mph) that matches 1000 and 1500rpm for each gear. Then do a quick guess. Lets say that 9th gear is 40 to 55mph in your truck and you are doing 45mph in 10th and wish to go to 9th. 45mph is a little past 40mph at 1000rpm so guess about 1100 rpm and make the engine get there and put it in gear.
You see, its not a fixed number that you always shift into like a robot, bit a variable number determined by yoir speed.

You get to the point where you do it by sound, we dont stare at the tachometer.
Someone should make a special tach with 2 extra needles to point out the rpm required to both downshift and upshift. That would teach rookies better than anything.
Instead of guessing wrong or shifting at the same point everytime they would just match the tach needle to either the down or up needle and put it in gear.

(hard to type on a phone with such large fingers)

 

also, when heavy just start in first and then rev a little and jump to third. DO NOT EVER REV THE ENGINE AND RELEASE THE CLUTCH just to start in a gear higher than you are supposed to.
That clutch will die.
You don't have to ride in the lower gears to 1500, you can just "touch" them and shift at like 1200 or less just to get it rolling and then skip a gear or two.
I prefer to use every gear when heavy even if it means shifting twice a second.
Its smoother and your truck doean't twist like you are trying to break it in half.

 

The rpm at which on shifts, not winding it up before dropping the clutch!

I've looked at some of the other threads that @swaggerjacker has posted and I see he has more experience than I gave him credit for. I think that not winding it up in the low range is a better way to go, but if he has made it work for him, well, whatever works, can't be wrong.