[marcus]

Can some one tell me. What is the best way to learn how to drive a standard shift truck. It's my first time ?

[Stonehenge]

Get someone who knows how to drive it sit in the truck with you and coach you. That's going to be the quickest way.

[cutntrim]

When my ex-partner and I had two stick-shift pickups, we sent new employees to a one-day course at a driving school for $80. They already knew how to drive, just needed coaching on driving a stick.

[Helios]

I think Stonehenge got it- a few hours with someone to patiently coach you will do the trick. You'll stall a few times and it can get frustrating, so choose your coach accordingly. I'll add this tip too- if possible find a road with a stop sign on a hill (light traffic) and practice there to experience the slight roll-back you get before engaging first gear. You don't want to be surprised by that the first time on a busy road with a car stopped right behind you. Good luck and welcome to the wonderful world of real driving.

[cutntrim]

You'll grow to love stick-shift driving. It's no fun to plow snow in a standard truck so I switched to auto, but I miss driving 5-speed.

[Busy Bee]

It's easier to learn on a newer vehicle with a stiff clutch than a clutch that has been really broken in. It's not hard to learn, just need a patient teacher and plowing snow will BITE with a standard trans.

[Pelican]

It might help to study a cut-away photo of a clutch assembly so you understand what you are actually doing. If you are mechanically inclined, visualizing what is going on while you are going through the motions of driving a standard transmission can help with performing.

A clutch is made up of 4 components, the flywheel, clutch disc, pressure plate and throwout bearing. The clutch disc is made up of friction material and is attached to the input shaft of the transmission. The pressure plate is a spring loaded plate that sandwiches the clutch disc between it and the flywheel, which is attached to the crankshaft. The throwout bearing depresses fingers on the pressure plate when you push the clutch pedal, which releases the springs that sandwich the disc and allow it to float between the plate and flywheel.

I think if you can see how a clutch works, you'd be less apt to abuse it. Clutch longevity will be determined by your abilities.

[cutntrim]

As Pelican says, take it easy on the clutch and it'll last longer. Try to avoid "riding the clutch" and grinding the gears. I remember the service tech at Nissan telling me how my old 1991 pickup (bought new) didn't come with "syncro mesh" reverse so I always made sure to come to a complete stop before putting it into "R" so as not to chip any teeth in the gears.

Everyone should be able to drive standard transmission, even if they only ever need to in an emergency.

[Greensmith]

I taught my old girlfriend in a beat up Toyota and she was so bad at it I needed a new clutch a couple of days later.

[dan deutekom]

The most important rule about driving a standard is: DON'T EVEN GET YOUR FOOT NEAR THE CLUTCH UNLESS YOU ARE USING IT!!!!!!

Every person I have taught to drive a standard has had the tendency to "ride" the clutch. Fastest way to burn one out.

The second rule is to watch the traffic ahead when in heavy traffic. Try to time things so that you can idle along in low gear by leaving space ahead of you and try to avoid excessive shifting. I always thought it was a fun game to try and see how long I could go in heavy traffic without stopping and using the clutch.

[4seasons]

I found that it was a heck of alot easier to drive a larger vehicle than say an s10 or eclipse. plus on the smaller cars my foot covers two pedals at once.

[Dale Wiley]

I am currently teaching my foreman how to drive a 13 speed Road Ranger in our tandem axle truck.

Ohhh mmyyyy....

[Hamons]

When I bought my first car when I was 16 a Mazda b2200 pick-up my dad said drive it home. It was about 45 minutes from my house -- I had never drivena stick shift before. Took me about 2.5 hours to get home -- but by the time I got home I was pretty good.

Don't know that I would reccomend this method however!

[Pelican]

Originally posted by Dale Wiley
I am currently teaching my foreman how to drive a 13 speed Road Ranger in our tandem axle truck.

Big trucks are actually easier than smaller vehicles. The torque in the big diesels allows dumping the clutch at idle and then accelerating. No need for a clutch then once you are moving. Your leg would be sore at the end of the day if you did, lol!!

[chesie]

My brother taught me.....he parked the car facing up a hill with the street behind and said "drive up the hill". Needless to say the clutch took a beating but the thought of rolling backwards down the hill convinced me learn and learn I did.