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Update: I used to hate OTR trucks with auto-shift trans, now I get it
For years I swore manual was the only way to go. I figured auto-shift was just for guys who couldn't handle a stick in traffic. Then I helped a buddy out on a run from Denver to Salt Lake last month. His '22 Freightliner had a DT12. I drove it for about 400 miles and honestly, it shifted smoother than I can on a good day. It kept the engine right in the sweet spot for torque on the grades and saved us almost 2 hours on fuel stops. I still think a manual gives you more control in weird situations, but for straight highway cruising the autos are way better than I gave them credit for. Has anyone else switched over and found they actually prefer it for certain routes?
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anna4917d ago
Manual drivers act like it's some sacred art form until the DT12 makes 18 perfect shifts up a steep grade without breaking a sweat! I remember my first auto trip through the Oregon mountains and felt like I was cheating or something. Still keep a manual in my old Pete for local stuff, but for those long hauls across the plains the computer definitely earns its keep.
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jakeb816d ago
Whoa wait, hold up. You're telling me that DT12 can make 18 perfect shifts in a row up a steep grade? That's crazy talk to me, @anna491. I've been driving manuals for twenty years and I still miss a gear once in a while on a tough climb. My old 18-speed will skip a shift if the load's heavy and I'm tired. That computer does sound like it earns its keep on the long hauls.
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ray_williams5d ago
Jump in with a DD clutch brake and see how fast that perfect shifting computer saves your old knees. I had a 2005 Pete with a 13-speed that would start grinding on a 6% grade after a long day, switch to the DT12 and it just finds the gear like it knows the hill. Set the cruise control at 62 and watch the computer do all the hunting for you. The adaptive shift logic actually learns your route patterns too, so on repeat runs it gets even smoother. It's not cheating, it's just the next level of the game.
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