For Manual Drivers, I thought this was funny!

NO.
But on a coast to coast rig, steer tires are swapped out regularly and placed on trlr axle.
Only one steer axle blowout at high speed. Tore left front fender off and damaged Texas bumper. Had a few drive axle double blowouts at varying speeds. None in the triple digits that I can recall.

I've seen enough of my counterparts laid on their sides, or run through the woods, or saw the holes in the earth/woods sometimes days or weeks later. I can name the hands and mentally view their rigs as I pass hallowed grounds til this day.

Its been a while, but I remember the mile markers and hiways of those that didn't make it.
If you think that AGO has great comraderie, our net work back then was even greater because we were living the lifestyle. We crossed paths regularly.

Plenty of bullrack dogwalkers who wouldn't give a chicken hauler the time of day when the sun was out, would run your front door by the light of the moon and the chatter of Sesame Steet through Montana. And vice versa.

But to get back to the thread starter, or focus of the thread anyways, it won't be but a few more years until ALL big rigs are all fully automatics. Back in 02 I was pushing semi-automatics hauling Kodak specialized film (refer trl contract ) east of the Mississippi. Clutch to start, engage the selector...clutch to stop. Even had a push button feature for "manual shift"...what a joke. These trannies were air driven/assisted and were plagued with issues one might expect from airlines.
Read last month where Peterbilt is doing the test program for steering axle disk brakes...sponsored by the Insurance industry and grants from the NHSA. Ramping up production as I type.
Pete standardized air disc brakes in '11.
 
My foot has a love/hate relationship going on with the clutch pedal.

Thin sole shoes are a must have!
 
BillE said:
OH WOW!!!!

I'm all but speechless. So many memories. Watching that vid, you have removed about 50 years from my life.

THANK YOU!

Bill
Click to expand...

I'm with you Bill!

Luckily I didn't have to drive one like that but knew plenty that did. We (my future wife and I) used to run with a bunch of CB/trucker buddies in the 70's. Had a tube type linear under my seat that'd key up at 350 watts! Holy $hit *&^!(%$#@$ We would go sit at night up on a local small hill behind a church and 'skip' to Texas and beyond. Ahhhh those were the days.


Vegas Transplant said:
NO.
But on a coast to coast rig, steer tires are swapped out regularly and placed on trlr axle.
Only one steer axle blowout at high speed. Tore left front fender off and damaged Texas bumper. Had a few drive axle double blowouts at varying speeds. None in the triple digits that I can recall.

I've seen enough of my counterparts laid on their sides, or run through the woods, or saw the holes in the earth/woods sometimes days or weeks later. I can name the hands and mentally view their rigs as I pass hallowed grounds til this day.

Its been a while, but I remember the mile markers and hiways of those that didn't make it.
If you think that AGO has great comraderie, our net work back then was even greater because we were living the lifestyle. We crossed paths regularly.

Plenty of bullrack dogwalkers who wouldn't give a chicken hauler the time of day when the sun was out, would run your front door by the light of the moon and the chatter of Sesame Steet through Montana. And vice versa.

But to get back to the thread starter, or focus of the thread anyways, it won't be but a few more years until ALL big rigs are all fully automatics. Back in 02 I was pushing semi-automatics hauling Kodak specialized film (refer trl contract ) east of the Mississippi. Clutch to start, engage the selector...clutch to stop. Even had a push button feature for "manual shift"...what a joke. These trannies were air driven/assisted and were plagued with issues one might expect from airlines.
Read last month where Peterbilt is doing the test program for steering axle disk brakes...sponsored by the Insurance industry and grants from the NHSA. Ramping up production as I type.
Pete standardized air disc brakes in '11.
Click to expand...

There is a lot of lingo there brother. ;) I honestly can't remember the last time I heard "bullrack dogwalkers", thanks for that SMILE! :D

I got luck in my old age (40~46 when I retired) and stepped down to almost exclusive 25995 gvw. Of course I over spec-ed them all with 26K rears, 8500 front running a 19'6" bed with CAT power. I miss those CAT's! (I'll roll down the window when I'm next to one to this day, not like the firing order has changed. ) :laughing:

Had a buddy break his clutch pedal in Alabama in his Freightliner hauling my load (darned things had a clutch you had to stand on with two feet). He was such a woosie that he spent the night to get it fixed. I told him I didn't know what his freaking problem was, it was stuck on the floor, the neutral safety switch/clutch switch thought the pedal was pressed, (because it was on the floor), stick that puppy in first, crank it up in gear, and hit the freaking road! I drove home from Miami that way with bad linkage one day. Good Lord... the only time you need the clutch was starting off, and unless you were 'heavy' and on a hill I've yet to have one that wouldn't start moving in gear.

I'm glad to see disk brakes all around, now THAT is progress. Then again, at least air shifting is out there, could be worse. Can you say Allison? ;) Funny thing that. On our last trip to Europe I was totally surprised, and didn't even notice till the 3rd day on the bus (school trip with my daughters German class) that all their nice tour busses are sticks. The drivers are magicians! I've never in my LIFE been in a vehicle like that shifted that smoothly. He could also twist that thing around corners that required multiple backing maneuvers that'd make you pucker so hard the seat would get smaller and it still felt like an Allison. (Whether in the city or on the side of a mountain!)

OTOH, I did have a steering tire go out one day and it wasn't on flat road. I was climbing, double loaded, up over what we call "spaghetti junction". Your typical in city perimeter interchange where 285 and I-85 cross. Was going 85 south to 285 east, next to the tallest bridge, about at the top and that puppy let go. Thought I was going over that day. Ended up changing it against the wall!

Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end... do do de da de da, da da da, de de de. :laughing:
 
Flash Gordon said:
Is there no clutch on one of those things. I never saw his left foot move
Click to expand...

To add a little bit to what VT said...An example...When you are driving a 'car' and you shift from 1st to 2nd, you are turning (say) 3000RPM and when you shift up, the tach is now reading 1500RPM. Now, get moving and run up to 3K, without using the clutch, shift into neutral, when the RPMs drop down to 1500 ease it into 2nd...off ya go.

The 'trick' is to match RPMs with going to what the next gear requires for the speed you are traveling.

Got it?

Bill
 
cardaddy said:
I'm with you Bill!

Luckily I didn't have to drive one like that but knew plenty that did. We (my future wife and I) used to run with a bunch of CB/trucker buddies in the 70's. Had a tube type linear under my seat that'd key up at 350 watts! Holy *&^!(%$#@$ We would go sit at night up on a local small hill behind a church and 'skip' to Texas and beyond. Ahhhh those were the days.

When I was driving (late 50's,early 60's), CB's hadn't yet appeared, all communication 'tween trucks was 'flashing.' I missed all the fun (LOL).

There is a lot of lingo there brother. ;) I honestly can't remember the last time I heard "bullrack dogwalkers", thanks for that SMILE! :D...
Click to expand...

The lingo leaves me in the dirt, really don't know it at all.

Bill
 
I'm certainly no trucker but the passion you guys have is addictive! I feel that some C.W. McCall is in order when we pull up this thread:-)

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
 
hernandez.art13 said:
^my lady knows how to drive manual and I don't :(

Lol :)
Click to expand...

Ok, you've admitted this to the class, that's the 1st step, now take the 2nd step....have her show you what you've been missing. Anyone whom calls themselves a gearhead should atleast have a go rowing the gears!

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
 
I've driven manual before around the block a few times, I just don't have a car to learn on lol :D
 
Get a friend to teach you.... I've found in the past that having the significant other teach you never goes well.

I learned by my ex taking my car keys and hiding them. The only available were his (he drove a standard transmission) and I had to leave for work.

I got in and drove his car that entire week. My commute consisted of highway driving and stop and go through town. It was a sink or swim scenario.

Next car I bought was a standard transmission.

Giddy up :xyxthumbs:
 
hernandez.art13 said:
I've driven manual before around the block a few times, I just don't have a car to learn on lol :D
Click to expand...

Cavaliers are pretty cheap these days, LOL! Doubles as a great winter beater...unless you don't need one where you live.

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
 
I got a chance to drive a Ferrari F430 around a race track this weekend and let me tell you the "flappy paddle gearbox" is just unreal! I would take it over a manual any day on a car like that it was so smooth and shifted a lot faster then anything I have every been able to achieve.

It also felt like a manual which it technically is.
 
nsx-r said:
All my cars that I have owned have been manual, I am not a fan of automatics.

Speaking for owners of sports cars, if one is going to own a sports vehicle, they should at least experience the joy of driving it with a standard transmission [at some point in their lives]--automatic makes me cringe :/ ...unless you have a disability that does not allow you to do so, that's another story.

Long live manual!


Sent via iPhone
Click to expand...

Nice cars you got there, i got a 06 GPW AP2 myself, i use to own a FA5 ASM 07 but sold it :(
Next car gonna be that NSX though.
I love both transmissions, i love my S2K on the weekends and i love my automatic when im stuck on bumper to bumper traffic on the freeway
 
MajinAl said:
Nice cars you got there, i got a 06 GPW AP2 myself, i use to own a FA5 ASM 07 but sold it :(
Next car gonna be that NSX though.
I love both transmissions, i love my S2K on the weekends and i love my automatic when im stuck on bumper to bumper traffic on the freeway
Click to expand...

Guess that now I understand the passion and the fervor that you car guys and gear heads have...even though it's all foreign to me. I did google the terms and it made sense...but it's your world.

Happy detailing...


One last post and I'm out of you guys 'n gals hair.

cardaddy said:
I'm with you Bill!

Luckily I didn't have to drive one like that but knew plenty that did. We (my future wife and I) used to run with a bunch of CB/trucker buddies in the 70's. Had a tube type linear under my seat that'd key up at 350 watts! Holy *&^!(%$#@$ We would go sit at night up on a local small hill behind a church and 'skip' to Texas and beyond. Ahhhh those were the days.

Way cool!


There is a lot of lingo there brother. ;) I honestly can't remember the last time I heard "bullrack dogwalkers", thanks for that SMILE! :D
10-04 :props:
I got luck in my old age (40~46 when I retired) and stepped down to almost exclusive 25995 gvw. Of course I over spec-ed them all with 26K rears, 8500 front running a 19'6" bed with CAT power. I miss those CAT's! (I'll roll down the window when I'm next to one to this day, not like the firing order has changed. ) :laughing:

The beauty of over spec'ing your rigs is that you could easily handle payload in the bed and one on the hook I and have peace of mind that the Cat would tote the note, the axles could readily handle the weight, and the rig is readily to roll for the next call.
I'm sure that the Ga. DOT would just sit back scratching their heads when you shagged by with two large SUV's...;)

To me, Cats are as distinct as Harley's...no bout a doubt it.

Had a buddy break his clutch pedal in Alabama in his Freightliner hauling my load (darned things had a clutch you had to stand on with two feet). He was such a woosie that he spent the night to get it fixed. I told him I didn't know what his freaking problem was, it was stuck on the floor, the neutral safety switch/clutch switch thought the pedal was pressed, (because it was on the floor), stick that puppy in first, crank it up in gear, and hit the freaking road! I drove home from Miami that way with bad linkage one day. Good Lord... the only time you need the clutch was starting off, and unless you were 'heavy' and on a hill I've yet to have one that wouldn't start moving in gear.

It's all mind over matter...if you don't mind, it don't matter.
One thing for sure, can't get paid til the load comes off...load can't come off if you're lounging in the hotel bar :props:

I'm glad to see disk brakes all around, now THAT is progress.
True.
I think it was 09 that the NHTSA mandated 355' breaking distance ( not total stopping distance, mind you). Went into effect in fall '11. Now it's either 310', or soon to be.

Then again, at least air shifting is out there, could be worse. Can you say Allison? ;) Funny thing that. On our last trip to Europe I was totally surprised, and didn't even notice till the 3rd day on the bus (school trip with my daughters German class) that all their nice tour busses are sticks. The drivers are magicians! I've never in my LIFE been in a vehicle like that shifted that smoothly. He could also twist that thing around corners that required multiple backing maneuvers that'd make you pucker so hard the seat would get smaller and it still felt like an Allison. (Whether in the city or on the side of a mountain!)

I've seen the videos...awesome.

OTOH, I did have a steering tire go out one day and it wasn't on flat road. I was climbing, double loaded, up over what we call "spaghetti junction". Your typical in city perimeter interchange where 285 and I-85 cross. Was going 85 south to 285 east, next to the tallest bridge, about at the top and that puppy let go. Thought I was going over that day. Ended up changing it against the wall!

One of my fave all time interchanges...The Watermelon 500. Kinda like dropping the flag at a Nascar Event...Boogity, boogity, boogity.
Knowing you, you were probably in the inside exit lane.
In the same spot only heading N./285 jumping on 85 N., we would the gouge on it in the inside exit lane going up that high overpass...had to jam your brakes just before the apex due to the curve in the bridge, just to keep from rolling over that high span.

Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end... do do de da de da, da da da, de de de. :laughing:
Click to expand...

Yes they were...and so did I. Fun times indeed.
Now there are cell phone/camera Rambo's, traffic monitoring cameras, and automated ticket cameras everywhere.

OK...back to your regularly scheduled thread...:buffing:
 
I'm sure the flappy paddle gearbox is quicker, its been proven for sure but its not technically a manual as they've got a mode for automatic, my car on the other hand has no such mode but does have 3 pedals, which makes it a TRUE manual.

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
 
Klasse Act said:
I'm sure the flappy paddle gearbox is quicker, its been proven for sure but its not technically a manual as they've got a mode for automatic, my car on the other hand has no such mode but does have 3 pedals, which makes it a TRUE manual.

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online
Click to expand...

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ THIS!

OMG- we have a company car we use to go back and forth to NY for press checks. It's a 2010 VW GTI and has that weird, auto/manual transmission.
Long story short, the trans SUCKS! It's jerky and makes you look like you can't drive stick but you are in an auto??????

I've gotten into so many arguments here about it NOT being a manual... the fleet manager insists it's a manual because "it has a clutch"..... um, not one I can work myself! And where is the shifter?
Ultimately, you can use the flappy paddles, but the car WILL override your shifting.

It's NOT a manual!!!!! :mad:
 
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