Dear Smart Shift/Ultra Shift Automatic...

[all18wheels]

Frankly, im tired of shifting gears. i drive a 13 now and i would trade it for an auto anyday.

[Malaki86]

You can get auto's with 10, 13, 15 & 18spd tranny's. A Volvo 880 with the 650hp Volvo engine and an 18spd would be a sweet combo.

[Scottt]

You can get auto's with 10, 13, 15 & 18spd tranny's. A Volvo 880 with the 650hp Volvo engine and an 18spd would be a sweet combo.

My autoshift is a 12 speed

[Gunfighter]

So why is it a joke?

Because there are many times that because of load/road conditions you may need to shift early or late. My 18 speed gives me that option an auto does not.

Gunfighter

[Malaki86]

Simple solution to that problem:

Step 1 - Push "M" (for manual)
Step 2 - Push "Up" or "Down"

or, if you need the truck to downshift faster (for emergency stops):
Step 1 - Push "L" (for Low)

Wow - that was hard...

[Gunfighter]

Look I have driven auto's and you do NOT have the same positive control that you have with a stick. I will admit that the slush boxes are getting better but they still have a long way to go. Try pulling 100,000 + in a set of double tanks through the mountains in the middle of a winter storm and then get back to me.

Gunfighter

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Look I have driven auto's and you do NOT have the same positive control that you have with a stick. I will admit that the slush boxes are getting better but they still have a long way to go. Try pulling 100,000 + in a set of double tanks through the mountains in the middle of a winter storm and then get back to me.

Gunfighter

Slush boxes ? ...pretty sure the auto is just like the standard but with a bunch of electronics doing the job of deciding when to clutch ...plus i'm pretty sure the system is pneaumatic not hydraulicy actuated...so no slush to be had ...you drove an auto b4 ?

[Malaki86]

The only part of the transmission that is shifted by air is the range selecter, same as in a standard transmission. The only difference to that is that it has an electronic module to activate the air on it. The shifting itself is done by 2 electric motors.

I can GUARANTEE that if there were 2 tranmissions sitting on the ground, one autoshift (with the electronics removed) and one manual, there's no way you could tell the difference. Why? Because they're the SAME transmission.

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

The only part of the transmission that is shifted by air is the range selecter, same as in a standard transmission. The only difference to that is that it has an electronic module to activate the air on it. The shifting itself is done by 2 electric motors.

I can GUARANTEE that if there were 2 tranmissions sitting on the ground, one autoshift (with the electronics removed) and one manual, there's no way you could tell the difference. Why? Because they're the SAME transmission.

That's what I figured ,but never had one ...Well werner had 8spds with auto 8-9 ,but never had a full auto , but you would figure a person who really drove an auto would know that it's not a hdraulic trans like a car .

[Roadhog]

My right shoulder is getting worse with arthritis. Actually, I'm considering shoulder replacement surgery for this winter...maybe. Going in for an MRI in 3 weeks, and then discuss further with my Doctor. Downtime is going to be a couple months, and I'm not too happy about that, but what can you do?

I guess I wouldn't mind finishing out the next 10 years of driving with a automatic.
But I'll miss my old love...13 speed Eatme Fuller. Ahh..baby, you were so sweet to me. You kept me interested all these years, and I loved the way you submitted yourself, when I needed you so badly! Yet you resisted and made me work for your love, and kept me on top of my game. Sorry for the times I felt I had to manhandle you...and you could have reported me for abuse.
I'll never forget all those moments we shared...you right by my side...I'd caress you tickling your g-spot until you gave me the hole, then I'd slip us into gear, and take control of the moment, yet you did all the work, and I just watched. When I was a young driver, I'd be so impatient with you, and you made me learn to take it easy.

................you know what. No...I'm gonna get that operation. I'll still feel like a man, even though a part of me will be missing. Wait for me baby.

[Gunfighter]

Good God --- I have called automatics "slush boxes" since I learned to drive back in the damn 50's.

Yes I have driven an auto --- one trip of about 1500 miles return while my unit was in the shop and I was happy to get back in a real truck with an 18 speed.

You can call them what ever you wish and you can drive what ever you wish, that is why there is more than one kind of truck, engine, transmission and rear end.

I will stick to my 18 speed thank you.

Gunfighter

[Kranky]

Good God --- I have called automatics "slush boxes" since I learned to drive back in the damn 50's.

Yes I have driven an auto --- one trip of about 1500 miles return while my unit was in the shop and I was happy to get back in a real truck with an 18 speed.

You can call them what ever you wish and you can drive what ever you wish, that is why there is more than one kind of truck, engine, transmission and rear end.

I will stick to my 18 speed thank you.

Gunfighter

Amen!!!!!!

[Kranky]

While we're on this subject, here's a shift pattern diagram for the transmissions we had back when I started out:


Once you got used to shifting one of these it was possible to shift it just as smoothly as any automatic.

2 hand shifts were required to keep the engines of that time in the proper RPM range of 1500 to 2100 RPM (yes, you put your left arm through the steering wheel and shifted the compound with your left hand while shifting the main with your right hand, without using the clutch of course).

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

While we're on this subject, here's a shift pattern diagram for the transmissions we had back when I started out:


Once you got used to shifting one of these it was possible to shift it just as smoothly as any automatic.

2 hand shifts were required to keep the engines of that time in the proper RPM range of 1500 to 2100 RPM (yes, you put your left arm through the steering wheel and shifted the compound with your left hand while shifting the main with your right hand, without using the clutch of course).

Sounds very well thought out by the engineers ,as I can't see anything wrong with needing both hands off the wheel to shift ...

[partssman]

I just bought an '01 Freightliner Condo and had my doubts about the auto...but this one has the clutch and I drove it from Greensboro to Roanoke for the company inspection and man I'll tell you....I flat love it.

Opinion is subject to change in the future, but that tranny is slicker than blowing your nose between 2 cubes of ice

[ct77]

really have gotten to love my auto, only time i miss it is offroad jobsites and in the winter. but if you use your brake to control wheel spin when the trans engages you can keep your drives from digging in.

[Malaki86]

Something that cracks me up about people who don't like autoshifts because "they don't have control over the transmission" arguement - when was the last diesel engine built that was purely mechanical? Everything on today's engine is controlled by a computer. The driver can work the throttle all they want, but if the computer decides to set the max rpm to 700, the driver has no choice. If the engine changes the torque curve, the driver has no choice. If the engine changes when/if the turbo wastegate opens, the driver has no choice.