6-speed guys: at 35mph, what gear are you in?

^ I go from 3rd to 5th a lot. I find shifting from 3rd to 4th barely changes the RPM at all. My uncle is a truck driver with an 18 speed freightliner and he always says "just use what you need" for gears.

 

To the guys that run 35mph in 3 or 4 gear, is this your first manual? Just curious

 

I'm 41 and have been driving manual transmissions my whole life. I learned to back up a trailer with a MT helping the old man get firewood when I was 12 or 13. I've only owned 1 auto in my life - 1985 Buick Delta 88 4 door. Had it for about 2 years as a kid.

So..no.

I am on load E 33s on stock gears though, and live in the mountains. Also, my truck weighs over 5K pounds for DD.

 

I curious why you're curious. This may change the way I drive. I've had seven vehicles in my life, all MT. I would be in fourth gear in this scenario.

 

54 years driving a standard gear selection is done by the driver has nothing to do with the truck other than it will teach you when it needs shifting.
The truck is capable of doing 30 or more in first and on the flat maybe be fine in 6th eventually you'll figure out what works best for you.

 

In general, I try to keep my RPMs close to 2K. For most of my driving , at or a hair above 2K yeilds the best MPGs. I get 18 MPG tanks all summer long, with the exception of long drives where I'm traveling through the mountains in excess of 70 MPH, then I get about 16.5.

 

I'm the same way. Always try to keep it around 2,000. I've found that it's a nice balance between MPG and not having the engine struggling.

 

Usually 5th for me, unless in traffic..... Have about 3 miles of 35mph roads on my commute that are regularly patrolled, and 5th keeps me between 35-40, even on the downhill grades.

Like 58 Siesta, I turn tanks of 18-18.5mpg regularly throughout the summer running a DC with E load 31" BFGs

 

4th or 5th

 

3rd normally sometimes 4th here. Under normal circumstances I stay between 2-3k RPMs. Why make the engine do work in an RPM range that it puts out shit for power? Gas mileage has more to do with how far you press the gas pedal than RPMs anyway. Plus being in 5th or 6th at 35mph would make me feel like a sitting duck... sure you can just shift but I'd rather have the engine "cocked" at all times... it's one of the beautiful things that a manual allows you to do that you basically can't with an automatic.

 

1500 rpm if city and flat-whatever gear it takes. 6th by 45mph. Highway 6th gear is 2450 rpm and 67 mph, again mostly flat. Fuelly shows about 19 city and 21 highway with summer gas over the last 2 years.

 

If it's a 35 zone, I'm typically driving 40-43 mph. If I can maintain that speed, I'll cruise in 5th gear.

 

1st and just past 3k.

 

Never in my life have I gotten 18 MPG I came close once lol The worst I've done is 14.5 mpgs but I was driving between 80-90mph going up on elevation

 

Whatever feels right, usually 4th or 5th. 17 to 18 mpg is pretty easy in this truck, when I drive it nice I break 19.

 

I will probably be in 3rd or 4th but I have 4:56 gears..

 

In a 35 zone I just drive five over in 4th gear at 2,000 RPM.

 

This.

Driven manuals all my life. I try to keep it at 2,000 RPM most of the time. No desire to lug the engine.

 

4th or 5th. 6th sometimes depending on terrain. Truck seems happy at around 1500 revs. It'll accelerate from 35 in 5th or 6th if I'm not in a hurry. Which I never am. Like previously mentioned, use the gear you need. I jump all over the place.

 

If I am cruising at a consistent 35mph, then I will shift to 4th. But if I am in California traffic and I am slowing down and speeding up from 35mph down to 15 or 20 mph then I stay in 3rd.