Hi all! I have been lurking on this site, and others, for about a month now. I ordered a 2500 HO with six speed because of all the info I gained from this site. Thank you all!

Anyway -- I have never seen one of these trucks before and have not driven the manual. My question is about the shifting. I used to be truck driver, does this girl require double-clutching? My dealer said no, but I want to be sure. Also, I have read several posts regarding the "batteries." Does she come with two?

Nikolai

 

Congrats on your new truck. Get ready to enjoy!!!!!!<br>Yup, two batteries. <br>Technically I don't suppose there is any need to double clutch on the downshift as this tranni has synchros. However I nearly always double clutch going down as I want to put as little strain on the synchros as possible. Shifting up I never double clutch.<br>Hope this helps. No doubt there will be others chiming in soon with their .02c.

 

Stupid question I know...but I never really have fully understood what double clutching is. Someone care to elaborate??

 

Sure, when you get ready to shift you press the clutch, take the transmission out of gear and let the clutch back out for a split second. Then you push it back in and continue the shift. Drivers do it in big trucks without sycronized tranny's so the gears dont clash, but some dont. If your good in a big truck, you can shift without the clutch, but the well seasoned trucker who tought me how to drive a car hauler with a 400 cummins and a 13 speed told me, &quot;dammit, they put a clutch on the floor for a reason, so use the dam thing&quot;.

 

Of course, his logic for pulling out into traffic was just to pull out if no one would let him out, he would say&quot;what are they gonna do, run over me?&quot;. So I wouldn't tkae anything he said to seriously :

 

I guess I qualify as one of those &quot;good truckers&quot;....back in the days of driving the International 4700 lumber yard trucks (12 speeds if I recall correctly) none of us ever used the clutch except when starting off. Heck...I even carried that over to my little Chevy S-10. ;D One that was hard to shift without the clutch though was a big Ford tandem axle truck we had. As I recall it was an 18 speed. I don't think anybody we had could drive that thing without grinding the gears. Then when you put a 30K frame load on the bed it was like riding a bronc bareback.... :

I'd heard of double clutching...just never knew what purpose it served.

 

The bottom line purpose is to synchronise the speed of the gearbox input to the speed of the output shaft for the gear selected prior to actually putting into that gear. Does that make sense?

 

Double clutching really helps in a Big Truck when heavy, close to the GVW. If on level ground, the clutch can be skipped, but you still have to time the shift the same way. <br><br>BTW -- can you skip-shift the six sooter?<br>Nik

 

[quote author=Nikolai link=board=17;threadid=16006;start=0#150354 date=1055889470]<br> <br><br>BTW -- can you skip-shift the six sooter?<br>Nik<br>[/quote]<br><br>Yes. It is a bit hard on the starter but with that really low first gear and no load it is possible to even start out without using the clutch. (but why would anybody want to do that?)

 

The NV5600 is a very tight trans from the factory. Pain to shift with or without the clutch. Mine has loosened up nicely at 17k I rarely use the clutch other than starting off. Downshifting I blip the throttle and it pops right in. I shift at 1700 empty and 2300 with the trailer on. Get the ebrake... ;D

 

I am planning on getting a jake-brake within the near future after I get the truck. I was driving a Pete with a 425 Kitty, 15 speed. The Jake saved me more than I can count. As far as I'm concerned, it's almost &quot;required&quot; equipment.

 

Nikolai, congradulations. I think you will be very happ with your new truck.

 

I hope so, this is the FIRST vehicle I ever bought that was speced out the way I wanted (needed) it. I am very excited. My wife is a little nervous about driving it, but ... oh well. As soon as I get it I'll post a pic!

 

Nikolai, I have only had mine for about a month, and everytime I drive it I love it. I too want a j brake, but from what I have seen around here they are pretty expensive. I waited 17 years until I bought another new truck, and I am very glad I did. These pickups are definately the nicest and stongest (stock) pickups I've ever driven. I was looking at the Nissan, but the salesman talked me into looking at the Cummins when I told him what I was going to do. At first I couldn't believe that he talked me out of buying a Nissan, but now looking back I really owe that salesman. Maybe I will swing by and buy him lunch. I haven't regreated by the Dodge at all. Good luck waiting for your Christmas gift it's worth the wait. <br>

 

Hey Teeth, I too was talked out of other trucks by dealers, both Ferd and Ch**y. Both of them said that the Cummins had more power and the Dodge was a heavier vehicle. I originally went into the Dodge dealer looking for a 1500 Hemi, but after describing what I needed the vehicle for, I was quickly talked into the truck I ordered. Of course my wife said, &quot;It's awfully big&quot; but I told her it was just a &quot;little thing&quot;. My oldest son was disappointed because he can't shift yet, but he's gonna hafta learn!