Why Not Automatic?!

get a dead battery, and you ain't gonna pull start any electronic engine!

 

Most times, folks would have a problem finding someone who would pull them to start anyway. And it really doesn't happen that frequently unless someone has a lousy maintenance program going on. Not sure that argument is enough of an issue to make it a major deciding factor in which transmission or engine to buy. A pair of jumper cables can cure many issues. I can't pull start my truck with my Jeep, but I have been able to jump start it.

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...eelers/157871-truck-review-12-mack-cxu-w.html

So, I spent a week with a '12 Mack CXU, running a 10 spd M-drive Mack Auto trans, running Colorado's plains and Mountains, backed this truck into 8 docks over the course of a week. Not only did I not slam into any docks, I didn't have a single problem. Pressed the button, waited for the trans to engage in reverse, gently gave it throttle to get it moving, then let it idle back. When I got close, I lightly applied the brakes. Oh, well, guess that makes me better than you.

Oh, and the driver who bought this truck from Mack in March of 2012 (I drove it in the fall of 2011), according to the salesman, has only had one trans related issue, the truck was down for two days waiting for a steel braided air line to be fabricated to replace a hard plastic line that was poorly located. I see the truck running Denver to KC and Denver to DFW regularly, have talked to the O/O on the CB a few times, he still loves the truck and wouldn't trade it for the world.

 

seems every year my batteries go dead at least twice, neither the company, Mack or the battery manufacturer has been able to figure it out. Since it normally happens at 2 am, I jump it from my pickup or one of the other trucks.

 

Next time in your in Denver let me know, the cyanide will take me a day to mix up, but everything else is handy on a moments notice, as is the automatic equipped truck, your choice.

 

I've had the clutch brake go out on my auto shift a few times, very simple to get into gear. Since you only find this out when you are starting for a parking space or similar stop, you shut the truck off, wait till all systems clear. Turn the key back to the run position, push the clutch to the floor as hard as possible, with your left hand to the key to the start position while shifting into drive with your right hand, 99% of the time I get it in on the first try. Drove from Billings, Mt. to Denver once after it happened, drove a 13 hr shift in town once when it happened as well, running cans from the rail to customers and back.

Repair costs, well, an auto shift and a manual are the exact same trans, only one is controlled by electronically controlled magnetic X/Y motors. They typically have a lifespan of 350,000 to 450,000 miles depending on application. Got 355,000 out of the original set on my truck, about $700 for a new set. As for regular M-drives, ultra shifts, I-shifts. Apparently your not aware that Eaton, Freightliner, Volvo, Mack, etc. have engineering and testing departments. These are really great departments within a company, they test out components to make sure they will work before putting them on the road. International has an ultrashift equipped Prostar that pulls a flatbed with concrete blocks on it. They run it out of Denver, 360 days a year, 24 hrs a day. Some days it goes to Nebraska and back, sometimes it goes to Utah and back. According to the test driver that I know, it has over 2 million miles with 2 trans failures, and both were related to air lines breaking or failing, no internal failures. Service codes, fault codes, that's a way of life no matter what. Now, I will admit that my autoshift has had two won't start issues in the last 3 months. The first was an electrical connection that separated, the second was a torque lock condition. IN the first, I would not have been able to repair as I didn't know where to look, for that matter neither did my boss till Mack told him where to look. The second time, once I released the brakes and the truck was free to move, the torque lock cleared and the truck started just fine. Every so often I get a fault code for low electrical power, usually happens on really cold wet days, Mack and Eaton believe moisture has gotten into an electrical connection, but they can't pin point it. Once everything is fully warmed, the fault clears itself.

I notice though that in your criticism, you have overlooked the thread on the exp. drivers forum about how often do you grind gears.

 

the fleet i work for has a variety of trannys and sometimes you have a 10 other times a 13 then the next day you could have an ultra shift [thats a bad day] i been fortunate to get locked in on an volvo i-shift and love it . it seems to me that people that have an auto long enough love them but people that dont have a long term relationship with them dont.

 

Really!!! I drove am automatic for a yr and hated it !! The only reason someone would want one and companies going to them is because so many new drivers can not shift the gears and tear the clutch out!! If you Don't want to shift gears your in the wrong job!!!!they are awful for Driving thru the mountains and Ruff when you put a milk tanker ( You shift gears in rhythm with your load). I want to be In control of my truck ! They are not safe! That is my take on the Automatic Tranies.

 

I don't understand , what difference would a tanker make to an auto box? Would it start missing gears due to the surging of the load? Never had that problem myself I can't say it worked any differently pulling tankers or pulling 300,000lbs+ loads over the alps or Pyrenees , they are much more accurate, faster and less temperamental in extreme conditions than this 18 speed eaton I'm driving now! Unless it was a first generation dinosaur you were driving in which case maybe but modern ones can change faster and better than a man, in Europe you can't have a manual in anything over 700hp because its the man that's too rough! I've said this before ; there is no control issues with an auto, to say that means you can't drive one!

This old argument that your not a real trucker unless you drive a manual is false, a real trucker can drive any sort of transmission and get the best from it without blaming it for his shortcomings !

 

Times change, equipment changes. I am sure some "REAL Truckers" said anyone who has a sissy "Air Conditioner" is not a "REAL TRUCKER" How about air ride? Air suspention seat?
What about when you didn't need to use clutch when going thru gears?
Then came GPS. Real men use maps?? What driver worth his salt uses POWER STEERING?????
Personally the next truck I buy likely will have a automatic trans. IF it does not cost too much more. I just bid on one yesterday. With a manual. If it had a auto I might have bid a little more.