Panic situations/Downshifting

the only way i know to explain it is,watch your RPM's while you are up shifting,watch where they are as soon as it goes into gear,( low side) and then where they are just before you shift again (High side)that is the engines operating range,just remember those numbers and put them in reverse for down shifting when the engine RPM's hit the (low side)push in the clutch,take out of gear,push in the clutch,add engine RPM's until they get to the (high side)and put in the next lowest gear. hope that helps some,sounds confusing but it only takes a couple of time and you will be shifting like the pro's

 

sorry but there is no right answer for that ?
there are too many things involved with that kind of ?
degree of curve,type of weather,type of trl,weight....just too name a few
the problem that comes into play here is if you are in the corner already and you are going too fast most of the time its too late too do anything about it but ride it out and hopefully you make it through.Just remember you can make it around all the corners you want too slow, but it will only take one too fast to ruin a good day.

 

I would have to say coming to a stop, leave yourself enough timeto bring the truck to a safe stop without using the downshift at all, just the brakes. That way if you miss a down shift and get excited/confused you still know in the back of your mind that you can still safely stop the truck.

When I first started driving, I used to paractice down shifting all the way to first gear, and left myself enough space and time to do so. Sure, some people behind you might not care much for it, but will you ever see those people again? Now I take it down to the splitter and brake only after that. In your case with an 8 spd, take it down to 5th gearride 5th with the jake below 1000 rpm, push in the clutch, and brake only to a stop.

As for what speed to be in for a turn, depends on the turn, the truck and the load. If you are having to ask, you are going to fast. Untill you know the truck and the load, if you take a turn any faster than 5-10 mph you are a danger to yourself, and everyone around you. If you are afraid of the truck, the turn, the speed, the downshift, and the supervisor beside you, are you really concentraiting on the traffic around you? Enough that you want to just go rolling into that turn and or any merging traffic/ pedestrians that may be in the area ??

I have only seen maximum speed limits for turns and off ramps, never have I seen a minimum. It would be best that you remember that until you know what you are doing out there. You can go too fast, but you can't go too slow. Which one will get you into an accident/rollover? Answer that question, and you have the proper answer.

 

WahlbergCasket,
I am a new driver myself. Just out of school and driving for 2 weeks now. First of all do not worry about the traffic behind you. If you are going too slow they will wait. And second, go slow. The hardest thing I had trouble with my first week in school was that I was not driving a car. I found myself waiting untill the last minute to brake, downshift and the make the turn or stop sign. Once again go slow and start to think about what you want to do well ahead of time. If you are in the city and know your route, then 2 or 3 blocks before a turn start setting up for it. let the truck and load tell you what it needs. And once again untill you get a real good feeling that you know what you are doing, dont worry about the guys behind you and go slow. Hauling liquid is additional skill you need to master. The surge is one thing that will push you right through a stop light but the evil stuff will also crawl up the side of the tank in a turn causing your center of gravity to change and you can tip a tank very easy on a exit ramp. Those posted limits are the max limts and not the speed limits for trucks.

As for downshifting here is what works for me. There are far more experienced drivers that can do majic things with their trannys but to start somewhere try this. But first let me restate to you to start setting up well ahead of the stop or turn. Say I am running in 8th and I know a stop sign is 3 blocks ahead. If I want to drop a single gear I would use my brake to slow the truck down to 1000 rpms and use the clutch to pull the shifter out of gear, let out the clutch and rev the engin to some where between 1300 and 1500 rpm and slide the shifter into 7th with a nice easy motion. And I will continue to down shift one gear at a time untill I get to a gear that will let me lug to the stop. Then after I stop I select a gear that I need to pull away from the stop. If I want to drop 2 gears I break down untill the rpms are at 800 then clutch to take the truck out of gear, release the clutch and rev the engine to 1300 to 1500 and slide it in.

Each truck is a little differernt but the concept is the same. If the owner of the truck is ridding with you why dont you ask him to take you out for half a day on a slow highway and let you do some pratice. Once you do it a few times it will become second nature.

And once again, dont worry about the traffic behind you, go slow, and liquid can be evil at stops, starts, and in turns.

 

Iam sure you will do just fine!
GOOD LUCK and let us know how you do!