Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) starting in 2nd?

[THenningsen]

Is it okay to start from a stop in 2nd gear? It makes take offs so much quicker. Will that do any damage to the transmission?

 

[Todd T]

all it might do is make first gear envious of the others or vise-versa

 

[rfcom]

You only need to start in 1st when you're loaded (truck - not you :-laf ), otherwise use 2nd. I think it evens says this in the owner's manual.



Jim

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

I've been starting in 2nd since the truck was new - sometimes even with the 5er in tow on level ground - no problems at all...

 

[lsenus]

No problems starting in 2nd with 4k lbs of horses in my gooseneck on level ground. Been starting that way since it was new.

 

[JGK]

They used to call 1st the "granny gear" in most trucks geared like ours. Only use it when towing or crawling up a gnarly trail.



Am I sounding dated by using that term (oops!).



-Jay

 

[tURBOdIEZEl]

my truck is geared really low, i always start off in 2nd gear unless i am under load or pulling a trailer.

 

[Augie]

When Bow Tie or Blue Oval want to play, if you don't start in 2nd you finish 2nd

 

[willysrule]

I use 1st for the first few pull outs I do in the morning or if my truck sat for a while or so... then after a few pull outs I use second all the time (unless towing)... doing this seems to keep first synchronized a little better... . I use to never use first unless I was towing... now that I do what I do I notice that first gear seems to go a little easier now...

 

[slo-ryde]

AS long as you're starting out on level ground second gear is cool. Sometimes I start off in fourth to impress passengers!

 

[Jeremiah]

Starting out in 1st

Maybe I'm the only one, but my owner manual says start out in 1st. So I do it even when I am solo. I've also learned how and when to shift so there's no jerk or excessive use of the clutch. Infuriates my wife, but to be fair I drive the truck a lot more than she does.

 

[bnbrown]

my '99 owners manual said you may start off in 2nd on level ground and no load (for the 4. 10 rear)...

my left foot says I start off in second unless i am sitting on a hill (big un) or have a loaded trailer, and with the 01 6speed... 2nd gear also... I only use first if I am loaded, just to get the mass moving. although i recently found 1st useful for traveling excesively slowly with a trailer along I80 in a wind and snow storm... from an iced bridge to the next rest stop to clean out my shorts...