Share Pics of People Hauling or Towing Something Wrong

[3 Horse Ranch]

Lots of companies are going automatic (not automated), mine has been for about 6 yrs.
The government here still insists on manuals and I agree, but yeah, it's nice not having to put your coffee down to run through gears leaving a light. Other than that, I would prefer a manual. Even in the city.

Ours were automated, but had a fluid coupler, you put your foot on the throttle and the computer did the clutching and shifting, it felt like a standard shift on a 10 speed transmission , but I didn't touch anything. This was in a dump truck and trailer so, it was usually only a few miles from pit to job site. The only caveat was you had to remember to lock the transmission in 1st or 2nd when doing a spread job or transmission would upshift and thin the spread out as you went.

 

[California]

... only caveat was you had to remember to lock the transmission in 1st or 2nd when doing a spread job or transmission would upshift and thin the spread out

That reminded me of a job that I watched, fascinated, as a little kid. Many truckloads of fill moved about a mile. The dump trucks did something I had never heard of: quick acceleration through first and second gear then a near stall hitting a too-high third gear, and again for fourth.

These were early Hydramatics and apparently had the same ratios as that transmission used in Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs.

Years later I owned a '50 Olds 88 and what I had heard suddenly made sense. The Olds was well suited to those gear ratios. And some trivia - the early Hydramatics had a lockup, direct drive, fourth until about 1953. 20mpg in a model that had been used for CHP cruisers! Per Popular Mechanics they were the quickest and fastest American car when introduced.

 

[paulfun9]

Weren't the first Corvettes Powerglide only?

Yes and a I 6 cyl

 

[ultrarunner]

Blue Flame 6 with 2 speed automatic at roll out...

I use to tow the outboard with my 57 Ford with mileage maker 6 and auto... this was not a small car and many times carried 8 inside.... 20mpg was no problem...

 

[Yogi05]

Ours were automated, but had a fluid coupler, you put your foot on the throttle and the computer did the clutching and shifting, it felt like a standard shift on a 10 speed transmission , but I didn't touch anything. This was in a dump truck and trailer so, it was usually only a few miles from pit to job site. The only caveat was you had to remember to lock the transmission in 1st or 2nd when doing a spread job or transmission would upshift and thin the spread out as you went.

We don't refer to automatic or automated. It's either manual or automatic, so I'm not sure which I drive (and frankly, don't care).
It will leave a light in 3rd, then 6th, 8th, 11th. Relies on the torque at lower RPM.
I hate the way it skips gears because if anyone is watching it looks like I don't know how to shift. Lurches etc.
In snow storms the engine brake will cut off, and RPMs drop to nothing so no deceleration braking like the manuals had. Un-nerving at times.
If you are trying to go through a small snow bank and the wheels spin it takes throttle control away from you. Literally.
Then you're stuck because the truck will stop.
But.... I don't have to put my coffee down to leave a light.
I was the last hold out to keep my manual trans tractor out of around 50 drivers at the time. Until I had no choice. They just took the truck away.
Gave me a brand new 2019 Volvo VNR. It's OK. Has a satellite radio subscription LOL.

 

[plowhog]

Dude is also carrying wrong....

Choosing to showcase and display what could, and should, instead be a concealed handgun is the height of stupidity.

You lose the advantage of knowing you are armed while others do not. And you turn the gun into a magnet for trouble-- maybe the least problematic is someone trying to grab it from you. Stupid!

 

[California]

Choosing to showcase and display what could, and should, instead be a concealed handgun is the height of stupidity.

Nobody ever said he is bright ...

 

[goeduck]

Blue Flame 6 with 2 speed automatic at roll out...

I use to tow the outboard with my 57 Ford with mileage maker 6 and auto... this was not a small car and many times carried 8 inside.... 20mpg was no problem...

I used to do that. Some of them were alcohol infused and I always hoped that increased my mileage.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

He also has all the computers and digital tools he needs to work on them. That's probably a bias. I just changed fluid in my F250 for the first time and was shocked when I dropped the pan how many wires and sensors were inside the dang transmission! More plastic than metal was visible.

I can rebuild an automatic if I had to but much easier to rebuild the G56 in my 06 Ram3500 though it’s unlikely it will ever need more than a bearing or synchro.

That said, rush hour stop and go traffic isn’t but fun. Automatics are for commuter / consumable vehicles that won’t be around forever. This especially applies to the newer models, almost none of which have a serviceable filter.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[TMGT]

I can rebuild an automatic if I had to but much easier to rebuild the G56 in my 06 Ram3500 though it’s unlikely it will ever need more than a bearing or synchro.

That said, rush hour stop and go traffic isn’t but fun. Automatics are for commuter / consumable vehicles that won’t be around forever. This especially applies to the newer models, almost none of which have a serviceable filter.

Just my opinion of course.

Have to disagree, there's a reason the manual versions of Cummins have limited their output lower then the autos. Also the majority of the medium duty trucks are auto and have been for a while now, I wouldn't consider those consumer or disposable. I owned a 650 with an auto and would say it was much nicer to operate then any of my manual trucks and I grew up only owning manual vehicles (except for my 72 Cutlass which I converted to manual).

Honestly I would rather rebuild an auto then some of the newer manuals.