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Vallance · 03-14-2016, 04:24 AM

This is probably a silly question but I'll ask anyway.
This spring we are going to a site that can only be reached by going up a steep,
[approx. 10 degree] hill with no run up. I have only pulled trailer on level ground. With truck in [load], will the transmission change from 2nd gear to 1st
automatically or should I start hill in 1st gear ?

lynnmor · 03-14-2016, 06:41 AM

If you already know that it requires the lowest gear, put it in low before starting up the hill. It would change on its own, but with a harsh shift under heavy throttle.

wingnut60 · 03-14-2016, 07:22 AM

As mentioned, truck will take care of itself for gear, but putting it in lowest available gear manually will handle it also. Assuming the angle/length of climb isn't too much for your truck/trans....

timetogo · 03-14-2016, 09:17 AM

If 1st gear is called for, I select it.

Vallance · 03-14-2016, 09:19 AM

Thanks - that's what I figured would happen. I want to avoid the harsh change of gears.
I'll try starting in second gear on a smaller hill to see what happens.

D Lindy · 03-14-2016, 02:14 PM

If the road is gravel (and it sounds like it might be) definitely shift to 1st before going up. A hard automatic shift from 2nd to 1st might cause the tires to hop or spin thus loosing traction.

Starbreaker · 03-14-2016, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vallance

Thanks - that's what I figured would happen. I want to avoid the harsh change of gears.
I'll try starting in second gear on a smaller hill to see what happens.

There is no real "starting" with an auto tranny from 2nd. It will start in first, then dump into second. It jsut wont shift PAST 2nd gear from then on if you leave the selector in the 2nd gear hole.

Mr_D · 03-14-2016, 11:25 PM

Well, if the truck was 4WD and you had a low range I might try that too.

Mr_D · 03-14-2016, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbreaker

There is no real "starting" with an auto tranny from 2nd. It will start in first, then dump into second. It jsut wont shift PAST 2nd gear from then on if you leave the selector in the 2nd gear hole.

Not true with our Honda's, they actually do start in 2nd when selected. Great for icy conditions, don't know about others now since we've had only one non Honda (a '97 Jeep GC AWD) since 1988.

Vallance · 03-15-2016, 04:08 AM

Thanks, Starbreaker - what you say makes sense. If the hill is steep from the get go then the trany will stay in low gear.

dustyone · 03-15-2016, 08:38 AM

I drive a 2002 Chevy 4 wheel drive. If you were to try to do that in 2nd gear it would literally start and stay in second gear. It does not shift to low and it will pull out literally in second . As was said above. If you think it needs to start out in in first gear then stay there.

Starbreaker · 03-16-2016, 09:13 AM

Of all the Chevy, Fords, Dodges, Oldmobiles and currently trailblazer I have owned I have never seen and Auto do that. Put it in second and it will pull away in first but will NOT shift past second. just put the gear into 1st and leave it there.

lynnmor · 03-16-2016, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Starbreaker

Of all the Chevy, Fords, Dodges, Oldmobiles and currently trailblazer I have owned I have never seen and Auto do that. Put it in second and it will pull away in first but will NOT shift past second. just put the gear into 1st and leave it there.

Every Chevy, Pontiac and Ford that I owned, in the last 20 or more years, did pull away in second. My current Ford says this:

Second (2)

Transmission operates in second (2) gear

only. Use second (2) gear to start-up on

slippery roads.

wingnut60 · 03-16-2016, 10:28 AM

All the Ford trucks of recent manufacture have the shift designed that if you select a gear, it will start in that gear and stay in that gear... in other words, in a 5-speed Torqueshift, try to start out with the selector in 3rd and see how that works; same in 2nd and 1st. There is no way to select 4th in the 5-speed Torqueshift unless the transmission itself decides to downshift from 5th (OD). You can select 3,2, or 1 but not 4. Quirky, eh?
I think it is the same for the 6-speeds from '11 up.
I have had an '01 150; '02 250; '05 350; '07 350; '09 450; and now a '10 450--all the same as to shift patterns.
There is an aftermarket gadget that allows all the gears to be selected...
Can't speak to GMs or Chryslers at all.
Joe