Plowing with the dial shifter

[fastfreddy]

Anyone else find plowing with the dial shifter incredibly annoying? I was much more efficient with the column shifter. Any tips for adjusting?

 

[mwalsh9152]

I saw a guy on Plowsite that put a piece of velcro on the front of the knob, and the other piece on the top of the handheld fishstick. He could be working the controls, and changing gears at the same time.

I havent put a plow on mine yet, but aside from it being different than you're used to, I think the shifts are actually faster because of it being a flick of your wrist instead of throwing the shifter back and forth.

I am going to try and get another year or two out of my current plow truck before retiring it. By that point, I am hoping that we will have grown the family business from part time to a full time gig, and I the company will have its own Ram the same as yours for plowing commercially again.

 

[farmallboy]

Never ran a plow before but I’ll say this.

When I bought the truck. I thought “we’ll this looks slick and futuristic.”

And general usage is fine. But backing a trailer in a tight spot where I’m watching mirrors, it’s incredible how *lost* I feel trying to change direction with the knob. The “up twice for reverse/down twice for forward” muscle reaction is strong.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Never ran a plow before but I’ll say this.

When I bought the truck. I thought “we’ll this looks slick and futuristic.”

And general usage is fine. But backing a trailer in a tight spot where I’m watching mirrors, it’s incredible how *lost* I feel trying to change direction with the knob. The “up twice for reverse/down twice for forward” muscle reaction is strong.

I have the column shifter and when plowing i sometimes revert back to running equipment and start hitting the blinkers or ill go for the clutch after plowing for years in my manual trucks…. Funny how muscle memory works

 

[fastfreddy]

Thanks for the velcro tip. I may try that for the next storm.

 

[Truckman]

I don't plow, but I find the rotary know annoying and awkward for any operation that requires backing and forward continuously . Agree the column, (or console) mounted shifter is much better.

 

[Lary0071]

I must be the anomaly. I had a 2017 1500 with the dial and a 2019 2500 with the dial, then I had a 2021 3500 with the stick and now a 2022 with the stick. I hate the stick. I learned real quick to love the dial shifter and I honestly miss it and can't wait for the 8 speed ZF Powerline for the diesels to come out so I can trade for it and get back to the dial that you all dislike!

 

[DammitDave]

Here is a tip I learned from my Uncle who taught me how to speed plow big giant empty lots. Hit them long stretches fast and hard and when you start getting close to the end stab the brakes locking up the drivetrain but skidding with the plow down, shift gears and when you hit the parking curb and come to a stop you are already to go the other direction just lift the plow and hammer down. Only takes one or two swipes to get your skid distance figured but you could do it going forward and backwards. TIME IS MONEY !

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

Here is a tip I learned from my Uncle who taught me how to speed plow big giant empty lots. Hit them long stretches fast and hard and when you start getting close to the end stab the brakes locking up the drivetrain but skidding with the plow down, shift gears and when you hit the parking curb and come to a stop you are already to go the other direction just lift the plow and hammer down. Only takes one or two swipes to get your skid distance figured but you could do it going forward and backwards. TIME IS MONEY !

Yes but i know guys who do that and have lots of vehicle issues also you cant stack the snow very high at all

If you dont have time to plow all your contracts properly and not beat your equipment you need to drop a few in my mind

 

[mwalsh9152]

I have the column shifter and when plowing i sometimes revert back to running equipment and start hitting the blinkers or ill go for the clutch after plowing for years in my manual trucks…. Funny how muscle memory works

For years I would hop in my truck and randomly stomp my left foot on the imaginary clutch.

 

[gpattikjr]

For years I would hop in my truck and randomly stomp my left foot on the imaginary clutch.

I do that often. Main vehicle is a fj with a stick. Work truck is auto. I stomp the floor and grab for the shifter in the work truck and step on the brake and grab for the column shifter in the fj.

 

[H3LZSN1P3R]

For years I would hop in my truck and randomly stomp my left foot on the imaginary clutch.

Its bad in my wifes car i feel like i am going to stomp through the floor as i have much less leg room when i do it lol

 

[mwalsh9152]

I do that often. Main vehicle is a fj with a stick. Work truck is auto. I stomp the floor and grab for the shifter in the work truck and step on the brake and grab for the column shifter in the fj.

Every once in a while i will still reach for the column shifter in my Ram.