Thread: 5th revisited

Fellow Drovers

More on the 5 speed box issue, but perhaps on a slightly different tack.
I am fully aware of the need to not labour the vehicle in 5th gear. With the Fender I usually try to limit 5th to 80kph and above.

However this does not always happen, due probably to the tractability of the setup. In 5th at 70kph I’m pulling 2000 rpm and at 60, 1700 rpm. 300 Nm max torque occurs at 1950 rpm and the truck pulls smoothly in 5th from as low as 60kph, which I try to avoid … not always successfully.

Is it fair to suggest this is not good practice, notwithstanding the lack of labour?

Or is it merely good practice to restrict high torque through the gearbox wherever possible, as good driving procedure. It would not appear to be an issue on level ground or down hill.

What’s the general consensus of opinion??

I don't think it's good to labour an engine in any gear in normal situations, not just for the engine sake but especially in mine, the gearbox.

More likely to break something with the wrong gear and huge torque load.
Not saying yours won't continue on for years being driven in that way, just making gearbox work harder than it would be in fourth for no real reason.

Wouldn't think there would be much advantage being in 5th in a residential area anyway. Leave fifth for highway sprints. :wink: