Go/to from automatic transmission
 

For those that have gone to or from an automatic transmission truck.

I have heard many stories on how going to an automatic makes you lazy about checking the trailer on the turns.

I've also heard that it tends to turn drivers into "big car" drivers.

For those that have gone through this what has been your experience?

Oh once you have driven one have for a while (year or more) have you had problems going to a non-auto?

I was always against using an auto, until a buddy of mine made the point (he drives and auto for trans Am) that turning is easier. the truck shifts during the turn when a standard truck can't. also likes it for city driving. I am not saying i would trade mine in for one. but them points do make sense to me. the only problem he had was in the snow as far as rocking out of a hole, makes it a lot more difficult. I don't see the point in the issue you mentioned about turning. if a person is not checking the trailer during a turn with and auto don't know why he would be doing with a standard. just don't see how that would effect being aware of your truck. I think we are going to see alot of the autos around more and more.

I own a 2006 Pete 387 with the Ultrashift ( no clutch pedal ) and I love it. I also own a Century with a 13 speed and when I drive that from time to time, and it's like riding a bike, you never forget how to grind gears.

I just had my road test for the company I am going to and it only took about 10 minutes to realize that this was a whole lot better as far as city driving. You could concentrate on your turn and not worry about shifting.

Originally Posted by :
the truck shifts during the turn when a standard truck can't

I downshift quite frequently while cornering.

I don't notice any difference in how the truck pulls or operates. The only thing I don't like is shifting in tighter turns because I pull a smooth bore tank and it kinda makes it rock a little. All in all though I like it. It does make me kind of lazy though.

I myself don't like the autoshift trucks after driving a few as a local driver - but that's just my personal preference. One of my best friends swears by them.

What I can tell you, is that many a company who's gone to an automatic has seen a drastic reduction in accidents related to shifter distraction. When we miss a gear, be it a new driver or seasoned veteran, we are almost pre-programmed to look at the darn shifter. We steer to what we look at, and that causes cutting early (or driving like a car), which causes off-tracking accidents (a leading cause of rollovers).

So I guess you could say, someone who doesn't get a manual transmission into the correct gear BEFORE getting into a turn drives more like a car than the automatic driver because the guy in the auto can focus all his attention on the trailer.

i do know my suprt 10 eaton trans will not shift if i am in a turn especially if i'm on a hill while makeing the turn. i looked at the eaton websight & it said to be in the gear you want before the turn & not shift during the turn.

When my company switched my truck on me this January from an autoshift into a straight 10 the only problem I have had was that I had to remember to shift gears. I'd come up on a upgrade with the cruise set and couldn't figure out why the truck was lugging so bad. Pretty much the same (opposite) when I'd roll up to a red light.

Other than that, like it was said - shifting manually becomes second nature to you. You won't forget.

Originally Posted by heavyhaulerss:
i do know my suprt 10 eaton trans will not shift if i am in a turn especially if i'm on a hill while makeing the turn. i looked at the eaton websight & it said to be in the gear you want before the turn & not shift during the turn.

Your truck has issues.

Engine mount problems or cab mount problems allowing the engine/trans, or cab to move around during an uphill turn and bind up the shifter against the opening in the floorboard where the shifter enters the cab.

Other than the usual driving instructor recommendation to never shift while in a turn, there is no reason for that transmission to be "unshiftable" while cornering.

well my truck has a lot of issues.. lol. but as far as this one.. i got this off the eaton websight. i dont remember exactly what the sight is. i know i stumbled on it searching thru google. i will try & find it. but hey maybe the eaton websight has issues too. i do recall though it said when inbetween 2 certain gears to be in the lower one before the turn or the next gear & do not shift in the turn.

Originally Posted by :
"unshiftable" while cornering

cornering is fine. turning is where the trans does not want to cooperate. as far as the cab moving or anything else moving, having an affect on the shifter, i dont think that is it, cause if your in low & want to upshift. you dont move the shifter anyway. you just flip the button.

Originally Posted by :
How to get the most from your Super 10* Button only upshifts. BE PATIENT! The transmission will only complete ashift when the engine RPM decreases to the level required for the next highergear.* 1st to 2nd upshift. Perform the button shift to 2nd gear just after thevehicle has started in motion. This shift from 1st to 2nd gear can be accom-plished at approximately 1000 RPM - even if fully loaded.* 3rd to 4th Button only shift on tight right turns. Because of vehicleresistance created during the turn, either stay in 3rd gear through the turn, orshift into 4th before the turn.* Select the best starting gear. If on level ground or lightly loaded, trystarting in 2nd gear rather than 1st.* Use the vehicle tachometer. Because newer vehicles and engines arequieter, it is harder to shift by “sound”. Use the vehicle tachometer todetermine when a shift completes.
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Originally Posted by :
http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache...lnk&cd=1&gl=us

and here is the eaton websight i got that from

I have never had a problem shifting a manual transmission in a turn. I drove an auto-shift for a few months. It took me about 3 weeks to get accustomed to not shifting gears. I jumped back into a manual and didn't have any problems readjusting to the gear shift. That is the only auto-shift I have driven for any length of time. I think they are great if you are in a lot of heavy stop and go traffic on a regular basis. I don't care for them in mountains. I still prefer a manual. I am sure you will find more companies going to the auto-shifts or automatics in the future. I don't see them as being any better or worse than a manual as far as safety is concerned. It is the driver who makes the difference. A bad driver will not be safe regardless of the type of transmission he drives.

Originally Posted by heavyhaulerss:

Originally Posted by :
How to get the most from your Super 10* Button only upshifts. BE PATIENT! The transmission will only complete ashift when the engine RPM decreases to the level required for the next highergear.* 1st to 2nd upshift. Perform the button shift to 2nd gear just after thevehicle has started in motion. This shift from 1st to 2nd gear can be accom-plished at approximately 1000 RPM - even if fully loaded.* 3rd to 4th Button only shift on tight right turns. Because of vehicleresistance created during the turn, either stay in 3rd gear through the turn, orshift into 4th before the turn.* Select the best starting gear. If on level ground or lightly loaded, trystarting in 2nd gear rather than 1st.* Use the vehicle tachometer. Because newer vehicles and engines arequieter, it is harder to shift by “sound”. Use the vehicle tachometer todetermine when a shift completes.
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Page 17 ON ALL COPIES.

I can see what they're saying, that due to driveline torque wrap during a tight turn you may not be able to break torque and let the air shift do it's thing, but that instruction deals only with an upshift from 3rd to 4th.

Why would anyone be wanting to upshift while making a tight right turn?

i hear ya g- man. i thought is was me too. until i got to the eaton websight. but it is true. i doubt they would have it on their websight if it were just a prob with just a few of their trannys. but like it says if i'm going into a sharp turn to stay in 3rd or shift to 4th before the turn. if i shift from 3rd to 4th in the turn it just does not work.

Originally Posted by :
Why would anyone be wanting to upshift while making a tight right turn?
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well my truck is at a crawl at 3rd & 4th gears. ya ever geton on a get on one of those get on ramps that are 1/8 mile long ? a constant hard curve? at 3rd my truck is whinning at 16-1700 rpms & the speed is really needed to go up. even light loaded. it has the same effect long curve especially any type grade like a ramp & it will not shift. mine in 3rd is like most trucks in 1st.. i guess one cannot really understand unless they have driven one with the specs i have. now i can be wrong on why it does what it, but i dont lie or make stuff up.. :D

Forgive me for the ignorant question.. but BigDiesel mentioned that he owned a 2006 Pete 387, and that it was an auto. Does this transmission come standard on that truck? Or would any transmission come standard on other trucks?

I just hope to avoid an auto right off the bat out of school, driving for the man..

Originally Posted by RunNGun:
Forgive me for the ignorant question.. but BigDiesel mentioned that he owned a 2006 Pete 387, and that it was an auto. Does this transmission come standard on that truck? Or would any transmission come standard on other trucks?

I just hope to avoid an auto right off the bat out of school, driving for the man..

I ordered my 387 with the Ultrashift..... You need to start on 9sp, 10sp, 13sp etc... to get the experience, better for you in the long run.