switching trans to low side when slowing down harmful?

That's not what he asked. He asked if it was harmful to switch to low range while slowing!

 

Will not be harmful that's called idling into gear.Having trk in neutral will not hurt the tranny.Hit neutral and ride the brk down about 2 mph then ride it into gear.

 

I know that now and have a different answer.

 

Quit slamming it into the low side.Pretend its a female and be gentle.

 

Tell your dad to quit yelling at you!

 

Well according to many, if not all cdl tests you should only be out of gear a truck length. That being said, what I do is slow down to 6th gear, where you should be going about 15mph... Put it in neutral, flip it to low, then as you slow to a stop slide it back into 3rd

 

Preselect range before shifting, up or down.
In your quoted hypothetical situation, I'd stop at the light, but shift gears and range select down as if I had had the time to slowand stop ccorrectly ( as Patty said ).

 

Best option is to continue to downshift as you approach a light. low side or high side makes no difference. If you keep down shifting and the red goes green, you are already int he right gear for your speed.


If however the light changes to red and you dont have time to downshift, leave it in gear and use your brakes. If you can grab a down shift or 2 great, but dont worry about it. If the engine gets a hint of lugging, step on the clutch and continue to brake. Before moving you need to put it in the proper start gear. If it turns green before you completely stop select a gear fo the road speed you are traveling and go.

DOT sayd no more then a truck length in neutral. It is good practice to never use neutral unless your stopped. Keepingin gear gives you some control if brakes fail. you should no coast to the red in nutral, but can step on the clutch if going to slow for the gear you in.