What gears for grapevine. 10spd

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Right. I knew I was missing something. See, I never worried about a target gear. When the rpms got low enough, I downshifted. Where i settled was where I settled, and I downshifted again at the summit.

Drive a 12 speed automatic long enough and you forget such basic things, I guess. Or at least, that sounds good, so I'm sticking with it.

 

Same, man. Same. The hill behind my high school was more impressive

 

10th gear off course

 

With experience you really tend to drive in the gear needed, which I agree is the point, And I am sure once he will do exactly that, just kind of saying what to expect, not necessarily what will happen, I ve probably been over that pass several hundred times, I still can not say what gear your going to pull or drop in, depends on everything, tractor, load, weight, weather, others in your way, etc.. So your exactly right really can not say, just give an idea to settle a new guys nerves.

 

Grapevine is 35 going down. Cops all over watching trucks speed.

 

We knew you could handle it. lol
When Mt Son in law decided he wanted to be a driver, he got his permit and went with me. He had never been anywhere.
I went to bed and turned him loose in New Mexico, when I got up he ask me why I didn't mention Flag. lol, the next night I was again in bed when he went over the grapevine, again he ask, why I didn't tell him about it. He needed to learn, and he did.
A couple of years later I sent him over red mountain, and he called and ask if I was trying to get rid of him. lol

 

Try to have the engine where she is in the sweet spot so you can climb all day if need be.

In my time we had Pyrometers and knew how the engine was doing against the mountain, liked to hold her at about 1000F give or take 100.

What you don't wanna do is force it against the hammer and beat it all the way up as fast you can go. You will only burn her out and find the other side a trip to remember.

 

My very first sure nuff truck driving job was in Texas pulling a 50 ton lowboy WITH a 318 DETROIT for muscle. The ship channel bridge on the 610 loop was a mountain with some loads. lol