Quick questions about a 13-speed trans

So, back to the 13 speed...

I noticed there is quite the gap between 4th and 5th-dir. How do you guys cope with that? I found the hidden/cheater/funny gear today(high range low), and L-dir seems close to 4th, but L-od fixes the gap quite well. Is this gear safe to use or does it put too much stress on the box?

 

Oh oh no, you miss understand;It's where is my check.

 

i figure to use the low gear if you are fully loaded, on an up hill from a stop

 

Hey excellent comments, I can't add much except you'll find once you get used to the 13/18spd it is a pleasure to use. With so many variables such as weight, hp, gradient, especially off hwy there is no hard and fast rule on gear selection. On my current op skipping 2 or 3 slots shifting down is the norm especially when operating in undulating terrain and 100,000+lbs. For those that know the days of 2spd diffs, well a splitter is essentially the same, instead the reduction gear mechanism is located in the main transmission.
Oh yes, when split shifting up half a gear without using the clutch remember to first disengage Jakes,,, that will avoid a not so cool performance

 

I too am wondering how hard that is on the equipment. I used to use it all the time at Central on my 9-speed so I wouldn't have to get out of high range to make turns, but in the month off between jobs and then moving up to a 13 I broke the "bad" habit. I now use "super secret 4th" on rare occasion when I think of it, and am excited about the new option of splitting it now that I have a 13, but that whirring sound in the tranny is a bit disconcerting!

 

I can say unequivocally NEVER, EVER, NEVER use 1-13th gears. And use high reverse to get down the road backwards. That answers the question about what high reverse is used for

 

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This is referred to as the forbidden gear, some mechanics will tell you not to use it and some will tell just watch your trans temp while in that gear.