I know the last time I tried driving a standard-shift dumptruck (International), the gears were to freakin' close together. I'd go from first and literally try to shift straight up in to second, but it almost ALWAYS goes into fourth. (I think the main problem is when I'm in first gear, I'm scared of accidentally shifting it into reverse, because then I would have a serious problem.)

Are the gears a bit more spaced out in a tractor-trailer? (Note: I don't really know how to drive a standard-shift yet)

 

I have driven a dump and don't recall there being any difference in how they shift. They have the same transmissions and engines to dumps as they do OTR trucks. It could be just the type of transmission.

 

IF it was a reg. truck tranny like a 8LL or 10spd etc. it will be the same. But you might be talking about a single axle with a 2 speed rear(don't have to double clutch) with the red button. They are a son of a bitch to drive.

 

It was a 5-speed. (The truck I was driving was a short 6-wheeler truck.)

 

Dump trucks don't shift any differnt than tractors the shift pattern may be differnt but that would be it.

 

i agree that the 2 speed rear is a son of a bitch lol

 

Here for last several years I've been thinking that driving a T/T with a 10 speed or some other tranny would be tough. The 5X2's are mostly what I've driven. There's nothing to them. There's different gear patterns but nothing that's tough. I drove around Southwest WI in the the very Hilly country on gravel and dirt roads and in pastures and fields that are about straight up and down. I was hauling fertilizer. I think alot of people follow that chart on the visor above the drivers head and shift low/high every gear. That doesn't work very well. From second to fifth I usually only used the High/ Low button a few times.

 

There should have been a spring loaded "gate" that you had to overcome to get to reverse and low. That should make it hard to accidently hit reverse - when you shift out of low it should shove the shift over into the middle gate where the next two gears are. Some old ratty equipment will have the spring gate broken and that's a b#tch to find the middle gate. Also if the shifter is really loose it's hard to find gears. I've driven both problems - you kinda get used to it but it's so much easier to shift when it aint broke. :lol: