Shifting during Turns..

Just because you shouldn't shift while turning doesn't mean you can't get 3rd or 4th gear before you start to turn the wheel. You don't have to take that turn in 1st gear

 

I like the old hands that stand out on the running board watching their tail while backing up...thinking safety would not approve,,,lol

 

I hope you are NOT applying power when letting the clutch out. What exactly is loading the clutch up? You do not apply power to the truck until the truck is rolling. I hope that everyone knows this. If not here's why, You start the truck at the slowest engine speed that will move the load. Select a gear that will permit starting the load without slipping the clutch. If you can not move the truck from an idle then select the next lower gear. If you are slipping the clutch like you would a car you're applying too much torque and your drive line will come into question. In other words sooner or later you're going to twist that drive shaft right out of the truck. Years ago Cummings came out with a small pamphlet showing their "professional driver techniques" because their new low RPM high Torque engines were just coming out and the old timers had problems driving these trucks because they were set in their ways.

About shifting while turning. I didn't do that and I had no problems. Sometimes I'd even get into high range and make the turn. If you're hauling a truck that was loaded with a high center of gravity and you shift you just may help the trailer go over on it's side. Sorry to the old experience drivers for this old information but if one driver did not know this and he or she got something out of it then it was worth it on my part.

 

Those look like they work really well when cranking that wheel really fast. Reduces the friction. HaHa, always love your sarcasm and humor.

 

First of all don't try and shift during the turn, try and make sure to be in a proper gear before hand. If you are empty which I suspect you are being in school. Start out in about the third or fourth gear whichever one does not cause the clutch to chatter, or truck to jerk on that truck. You can make your turn in that gear nice and slow and safe, once you are out of your turn then proceed with the upshift. By trying to jam it into a gear on a turn you may end up in the wrong gear, put the driveline in a bind and end up dropping the whole thing on the ground. I have had two drivers do the same thing and then try and blame it on the truck. Missing a gear in a turn is when drivelines and other parts end up on the ground. I am surprised your instructor has not told this to you already, but they most likely don't care as long as they crank you out of their class. Good luck, glad to see you are starting to get the hang of going through the lower gears. You are doing fine Red, just keep at it.

 

Before you get in the truck and while the rig is not running put your hand on the clutch and press in. When you feel resistance that's the friction zone. That's as far as you need to press it in to change gears.

As for loading, release the clutch until you see the front of the truck twist then press the clutch back in just a tad. I mean just enough to stop the twist.

You'll hear and see what I'm talking about.

 

@GasHauler When I first started out I had a tendency to do that, and to some point I still do it. It was how I was taught to drive a manual 4-wheeler. Now you've got me extremely curious if balancing out the clutch and gas is a bad thing in these even if you're not twisting the hell out of it on take off.

@RedTheTrucker Soo..uhh...did you search the forums for topics related to shifting? Because...you know...if you had you'd realize that the only reason it "looks easy" is because someone who's used to it is showing you.

 

I was always taught to not shift in turns (I do it now though since my skills have progressed some since driving school. Most trucks in my part of the world are 18 speed but truth be told, you don't have to split every gear, especially when empty or light loaded. When making a turn, I'll typically lift off in 2nd direct if empty and depending on the size of the intersection I'd usually hit 3rd or 4th direct just pulling into the intersection before actually turning the steering wheel. Once the truck is straight I'll gain more gears if conditions permit. Taking off on hills is all about feel. I'll typically watch the traffic lights to try and predict when mine will go green. As the other light goes from yellow to red, I'll start lifting the clutch up until I can feel it lightly grab. Once mine is green and the intersection is clear, I'll release the brake and smoothly let the clutch out the rest of the way. If you have to use the throttle to keep from stalling, you're in too high of gear. Never touch the throttle when lifting off, it's hard on all driveline components. If the truck lugs or hops/shakes, again you have it in too high a gear. Just practice and you'll get the feel of it. (Sorry about the smilies, I tried quoting someone and now I can't delete them)

 

I see where that could be used like on a hill you're trying to get off of. Be real careful for doing this. I see no need to use it in day to day driving. When you stop at a light you make sure you stop back far enough so if you do roll towards the truck it's too far to hit. If you can not do it that way use the trolly brake handle or if it's not there you need to learn yourself how to use the brakes to hold the truck. I must say that these technics are my way of driving and may not apply to another truck or driver. The point of the reply is to let new drivers know if this type of technic is use, applying power when starting off, you will not be aware of how much torque is being loaded up on the clutch and you'll sooner or later twist that drive line off or other parts of the drive line.