To 10 speed to 13 speed or not?

I don't either. I like them. But 13 will get most every job done. I will say I help build one wrecker with a 13 speed and a built Cat. Against my beliefs the boss said it be fine, well it was driving, towing a tractor, or tractor trailer empty. But with a loaded tractor trailer it was a PIA to take of with the slightest incline. I mean it would, but splitting low gears made less work. My dad pulled 8 axle most of his life on 13.

 

Because sporting an 18 with a single frame is just asking for trouble.

1st- people want and 18 ( or even a 13 for that matter) who don't really know how to shift them. Parts are more expensive, clutch's are more expensive. I've rebuilt plenty of both over the years.

2nd- when you have an 18 speed, people start thinking they can drag around heavy when the rest of the truck is not set up for anything over 80k. I saw a pretty sweet stretched out COE a while ago pulling an 8 axle asphalt trailer. We can put 105k on the floor of an 8 axle flat, so he's heavy. Left steer coming off the ground heavy. I see him at the TS by my house a few days later, so I stop to check it out. Everything is pretty mint. Start talking with him about the truck. It's a single frame, 15 speed, Detroit 60. Absolutely tearing his truck up. He said he did not think it through when he bought the truck. Just thought it would be cool.

 

And it’s his money and none of “your” business. “Your” opinion does not mean squat.

A guy can buy what ever truck he wants, with whatever setup, and doesn’t need anyone elses approval to do it.

Having an 18 in your truck doesn’t mean you’ll ever go over 80k. Likewise, just because you have a 10 doesn’t mean that truck can’t break 80k.

Untill you pay a mans bills, you don’t get to run his business.

Edit:”your” is generalized

 

How so?

Most every truck I've been around has had an 18 speed, hauling 120-140k daily with a single frame. ZERO frame issues even after 5-6 years of 50/50 mix of highway and bush. Of course you've gotta spec the trucks with tall rails 3/8" thick. Double frames are crap IMO. They get rust-jacked and then spread. Truck's pretty much useless then. I'd rather have single, heavy duty rails.

 

The thing about a 18 speed, you have the option of shifting it like a 9, 13, or 18 speed. I agree that for most legal weight loads, a 18 speed isn't really needed, but it sure won't hurt anything.

18 speeds really aren't that more expensive either. One thing that will cost you more, whatever trans you choose other than what you already have, is the core charge. Most places won't take a core unless it is for the same trans. An exception would be if you had a desirable core that the particular rebuilder was short on.

I just swapped a 18 speed into a W900 that had a super 10. Cost $5,000, core charge and shipping included. I did the labor myself so no charge for that. While the 18 is 1/4" longer than the super 10, I left the driveshaft length alone, 1/4" is going to matter.

 

13 speed, definetley helps the Volvo being able to split the top when heavy and working . your transmission you have now is a fleet model and only rated to 1550.. when you drop in a new 13( if you get the right one) you can have your truck turned up to the d13 full potential of 500hp and 1850tq.. I’m just not a fan of a 10.. seems the gap between 9-10 is way to big when heavy..

 

I agree to an extent but the 10 speed is still too wide and that's why a 13/18spd will beat it in fuel economy every time. It's much easier to stay in the sweet spot and not best the motor with those huge RPM gaps between gears.

Modern motors are still narrow if you want to maximize MPG. For example the Volvo D13-XE 12spd iShift likes shifts at 1300-1400, falling back to 1000-1100 for maximum economy.
This would be even better if it was a 13,15 or 18 spd with closer gears.

I personally hate 10 speeds, they are a cheap.... Fleet transmission where a shortsighted cost saving makes the truck less desirable functionality wise.

In the same sense though... If it's still holding up, run it a little longer and when replacement is needed, upgrade to a 13....or 18 my favorite because of maximum versatility.

.

 

if i was replacing a 10 speed id put in at least a 13 i have a 13 and i wish i had a 18. but that being said general freight a 10 speed will get the job done just fine.

 

have to do the economic's on this one what would be the most practical thing to do? Buy a new gearbox for an old truck or just replace the whole truck with another newer truck with a 13 speed already in it.

 

I think the manuals are going to be getting more expensive. As they start to go extinct. With autos taking over.

I was told my 16 FL was more expensive and had to be special ordered. With it's 13. As compared to the rest of the trucks coming in with autos. As they replace the older models with 13s. Boss was on the england plan. Trade every 3 years. My truck has 8 more months with that company. It's the last of the manuals.