How to Get a Truck Out of 4th Gear

Shifting gears can become second-nature.

Getting a truck out of fourth gear and into either third or fifth gear is nothing like upshifting or downshifting in an automobile. The ability to smoothly shift gears in a truck is crucial for the safe operation of the vehicle. Getting a truck out of any gear and into another requires skill, coordination and a feel for the truck in question. Taking a truck out of fourth gear --- or any gear for that matter --- seems like a challenging task at first, but once mastered it becomes second-nature to most drivers.

Instructions

Taking a Truck out of Fourth Gear to Upshift

1. Start and operate the truck according to the truck, engine and transmission manufacturer's instructions. Progress from first through fourth gears by following the procedures in the transmission manufacturer's driving instructions, ensuring that engine RPMs do not fall out of the optimal operating range. Refer to the engine operating instructions for the optimal engine RPM range.

2. Move the shift button to the rear position and break powertrain torque. Breaking powertrain torque is accomplished by releasing pressure on the accelerator pedal with the right foot while simultaneously slightly depressing the clutch pedal with the left foot and pulling the gearshift lever back until it reaches the neutral position in the middle shift gate with the right hand.

3. Move the gearshift into fifth gear when engine RPMs have fallen to the low-end of the optimal operating range by slightly depressing the clutch and pulling the gearshift lever to the rear position of the center shift gate.

4. Remove the left foot from the clutch pedal when it reaches the top of its travel and depress the accelerator to build RPMs in preparation for shifting up to the next gear.

Taking a Truck out of Fourth Gear To Downshift

1. Start and operate the truck according to the truck, engine and transmission manufacturer's instructions. Shift the transmission, progressing from first through fourth gears by following the procedures in the transmission manufacturer's driving instructions. Ensure that engine RPMs do not fall outside of the optimal RPM range. Optimal RPM range can be found in the engine manufacture's operating instructions.

2. Move the shift button into the forward position and break powertrain torque by releasing pressure on the accelerator pedal while, simultaneously, slightly depressing the clutch pedal.

3. Release the clutch pedal and wait for the engine RPMs to drop sufficiently in order for the transmission to synchronize with the road speed. The transmission will automatically fall into third gear.

4. Depress the accelerator sufficiently to maintain the legal speed limit.

Tips & Warnings

• Always shift gears within the optimal engine operating range for better fuel mileage.

• Always wear a seatbelt when operating a motor vehicle.

References

• Eaton Fuller Heavy Transmissions Driver Instructions RTLO-10/top 2 models