Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) What gear do you start off in 6speed 4:11

[Leathl_WS6]

I have a 6 speed with 4:11's The tires are 265/75's so they are 31 inches tall. It seems that starting off in second gear is usless. Your only in it for about a half a second. I have been starting off in third gear. It creeps right out I don't give it any gas.



Am I hurting the clutch by doing this.



I am looking for some taller tires right now. I'm thinking about switching to a 315/75 thats about 35" tall. Should help it out. I don't do alot of hauling or towing. Just a 9000 pound boat and only 5% of the time.



Thanks Rob

 

[Hohn]

I have a 6 speed with 4:11's The tires are 265/75's so they are 31 inches tall. It seems that starting off in second gear is usless. Your only in it for about a half a second. I have been starting off in third gear. It creeps right out I don't give it any gas.



Am I hurting the clutch by doing this.



I am looking for some taller tires right now. I'm thinking about switching to a 315/75 thats about 35" tall. Should help it out. I don't do alot of hauling or towing. Just a 9000 pound boat and only 5% of the time.



Thanks Rob

The short answer is, yes it's more taxing on the clutch. I wouldn't say your hurting it, per se-- BUT, there's no doubt that the clutch will wear much faster if it's requried to slip more by starting in a higher gear.



I have the 3. 54s, not the 4. 10s, but I start in 1st most of the time. I'll launch in 2nd if I'm already rolling, but from dead stop I use 1st. This is based on the advice of Peter @ South Bend Clutch. It's been good advice, as my clutch is holding up very well, and it is holding more HP than it ever was supposed to.



If I had the 4. 10s, I'd probably still start in first, but I'd use 2nd gear launches more often.



I think you'll find that a 34"-35" tire is a good match for the 4. 10 gears. MOst guys report slightly better mpg with a taller tire on the 4. 10s, provided the tread pattern isn't a Swamper or something.



Since you DO have something to tow, I'd suggest you stick with an E rated tire in perhaps milder range. There are more and more really good towing tires in the 285/75r16 size right now. In that size, Toyo makes an E-rated M55, and an E-rated M/T. In a 305/70, you can get E rated A/T tires from Nitto and Toyo.



If you're happy with a D rating (which usually has enough weight rating) in the 285 size, you have a lot of options, including the excellent Bridgestone Dueler Revo and the Michelin LTX M/S, both rated around 3300#, so they're close to the E rated 265s on your truck now (which are like 3430#).





You'll have a lot more options in tire selection with a 285, and they will perform better towing. But a 315 size will probably be more to your liking in day-to-day usage, given your gearing.



The 4. 10s with a 315 tire is about the same overall gearing as a 265 tire with a 3. 54 gearset.



Justin

 

[Leathl_WS6]

Thats Kinda what I figured. I have considered keeping my 265's for towing when I do. Usually I am not towing very far.



I couldn't imagine starting off in first. I think max speed in first would be like 2 or 3 mph. Or so it seems. I'll try it and let you know.

 

[Leathl_WS6]

1st gear = 5mph at 2100

2ed Gear = 10mph at 2100

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

According to the handy dandy gear ratio chart in my signature the speeds would be as follows



First @ 2100 - 8. 39

Second @ 2100 - 13. 98

Third @ 2100 - 23. 16



For comparison, my truck has the 5 speed and 255/85's (33. 2") and I usually start in second but sometimes first if I have weight on or if I'm pointed up hill.



First @ 2100 - 9. 02

Second @ 2100 - 16. 64

Third @ 2100 - 30. 29



Now to be honest, when I start in both first or second it's usually not in either very long when driving around town, probably 17-1900 shift point. It doesn't look like our two situations are that far apart and personally I don't think I'd make a big habit out of starting in third. While your third is alot better than mine it's still not very good on the clutch like Hohn said

 

[NVR FNSH]

I have 4. 11s and 315s AND tow a 36ft/15K# 5th wheel. When not towing I start in 2nd - currently have ~80K miles on the truck - the 315s have been on the truck since it was new. Clutch is holding fine. When towing I start in 1st/granny to get it rolling.



Brian

 

[trqmnstr]

I couldn't imagine starting in first with 4. 10's!!! My first with 3. 55's is too low for me... unless I'm towing.

 

[TJSHOTROD]

I start in 2nd with 3. 55 gears and I run 37/13. 50 tires. I would think I could start in 3rd with 4. 10 gears. If I had your set-up I would be starting in 3rd.



T. J.

 

[Bob4x4]

The 24 valves are a bit deceiving,the electronics wil make you think the engine is not being taxed on launch. Your electronics will do everything possible to launch that truck giving it as much fuel as it takes to get her rolling. The question is would you rather wear a little clutch material or hassle with the extra shifting?



Bob

 

[DAWG-1]

2nd

I have started out in 2nd gear unless towing. There is no need to start out in first gear unless towing, you are just wearing out your clutch faster. I have 35X12. 50R18 Toyo tires. Sam

 

[Leathl_WS6]

Looks like the gear of choice is 2ed. I am just wondering if most of the people who voted are running 6spd's with the 4. 10's.



Starting in first or second seems like a waste of time. I'm only there fa a second then I'm working the clutch again. Seems to me if I didn't have to work the clutch for the extra shift it would even itself out. Plus all that shifting is a pita. I'll probably keep launching in third for now until I get a bigger tire on her.

 

[MMiller]

Has anybody actually wore out a pickup truck clutch? Now I don't mean pulling very heavy loads across fields where you assault the clutch. I myself have never wore out a clutch. I have slipped them truck pulling, slipped them off roading, and had failures from abuse.



I don't have a 6 spd, but I never use 1st unloaded unless I need to go slow. I always use second with 3. 55's, and 33" tires(unless towing). I have 140,000 miles on my clutch, have towed very heavy, and even drove through the clutch a couple of times trying to pull 3rd at a truck pull.



Michael

 

[Dane]

3rd is fine

With those diameter tires and 4. 10s starting in 3rd gear is fine. If you move up to 33" tires I would use 2nd.

 

[Leathl_WS6]

With those diameter tires and 4. 10s starting in 3rd gear is fine. If you move up to 33" tires I would use 2nd.

Thats what I was thinking. I am probably going to go to a 35. Not a lot of choices in the 315/75/16 arena.