just doing a bit of thinking - anyone got any experiences using I-Shift
which would you have if you were thinking about a new truck ?
Denis F:
just doing a bit of thinking - anyone got any experiences using I-Shiftwhich would you have if you were thinking about a new truck ?
I’ve used I-shift and both DAF and MAN’s equivalents. A lot of it comes down to personal preference but in summary, I would probably decide based on the work I was doing. I’ll explain.
I’ve done some work on I-Shift wagons for Tradeteam trunking beer at max weight up and down the country. For this, I think I-Shift is great as it saves you having to worry about changing up and down the box every time you get to a little hill as you often do with a manual at 44t.
I’ve also done a fair bit of artic bulker work in DAFs and a MAN with the auto boxes, and also in a DAF with a manual box. I think on balance I would take the manual (although it’s a close call) as the automatic just doesn’t give you the same degree of control when you’re trying to edge around in tight farmyards and onto awkward weighbridges. You get the problem that you’re gently squeezing the throttle with nothing happening then all of a sudden the computer decides you want to move and you lurch off only to have to stamp straight on the brakes to stop it going too far/fast. As soon as you’re back out on the road through the automatic comes back out as favourite, especially when you’re loaded.
Paul
I have to agree with Paul.
It all depends on what type of work you’re doing, but IMHO the I-shift is the best auto box on the market.
I’m currently using a Merc with the Telligent auto box and it ■■■■■! The one saving grace of this system is that there is a “manouvering” switch on the dash that keeps it in either first or reverse gear. That’s it. The rest of the system is pants.
repton:
. I think on balance I would take the manual (although it’s a close call) as the automatic just doesn’t give you the same degree of control when you’re trying to edge around in tight farmyards and onto awkward weighbridges. You get the problem that you’re gently squeezing the throttle with nothing happening then all of a sudden the computer decides you want to move and you lurch off only to have to stamp straight on the brakes to stop it going too far/fast. As soon as you’re back out on the road through the automatic comes back out as favourite, especially when you’re loaded.Paul
can you lock it in manual for the manoeuvring stuff ?
Denis F:
can you lock it in manual for the manoeuvring stuff ?
You can, and the DAF and MAN boxes (and no doubt some others) have a crawler mode, but whilst that does help by keeping it in the lowest gear it doesn’t stop the computer having different ideas from you about when and by how much to lift the clutch and as there isn’t a physical clutch pedal there’s nothing you can do about it.
Paul
I drive a Volvo with Ishift and originally I was a bit cynical about auto boxes, I’m now a complete fan. On the road it give you more time to pay attention to the outside world, In town it takes away the constant gear changes and it’s great for manourvering.
When we park up at a race track they want all the trucks parked in a straight line and this means a man comes along and stands at the back of the truck saying move 6 inches. And using Ishift this can be done, no lurching or sudden take off.
If you buy new get your dealer to send the training man down for the day, we got our local dealer to do this. He’s not there to teach how to drive, but just how to get the best out of your truck.and it’s amazing how much you learn, so much more than sticking in Auto. And it was free. 
Denis I run a volvo 8 wheeler on tipper work with a I-shift its brilliant. The clutch
control is as good as having a clutch pedal, you can use it as a manual as well by using the button on the side.
What i would say is check which software program its got, eco roll is good if you can get it. Also the later boxes are quicker, the ones fitted after 2006 when volvo started fitting the 13 litre as opposed to the 12 litre engine.
had one six month now ,i can not fault it .i still can notr get over how good it is
I have a i shift with the eco roll and it is superb, alot better than the scania auto box it is very quick.
We are nearly always at 44t and the fuel figures are 7.1mpg, the truck has only done 30,000ks so not even run in yet.
If you want stress free driving good mpg then the Volvo i shift is the way to go.
Forgot to say it is a 440fh w&d
had mine 12 months and i love it
I am a devout Scania fan, Scania is the only truck for me.
BUT!
There is only one auto box in the game, VOLVO I SHIFT. Superb. If i wanted an auto truck, it’d be a Volvo.
Driven one Scania auto, total disaster.
MR VAIN:
I am a devout Scania fan, Scania is the only truck for me.BUT!
There is only one auto box in the game, VOLVO I SHIFT. Superb. If i wanted an auto truck, it’d be a Volvo.
Driven one Scania auto, total disaster.
The mercedes powershift is up there with the Volvo I-Shift. At long last Merc have built a good fast box 
.
Check the review’s out .
I’ll agree with you there Ellies Dad, PowerShift is as good as I-shift, the ZFs in the Daf & MAN are not as good as the installation in the Iveco, they all use different software, I personally don’t like Opticruise because the shifts are not as good in auto as the others, the clutch is useful for manouvering etc but it doesn’t make up for it’s other shortcomings.
The simple fact with any full Automated Manual (to give them their correct title) is that you will have less control than with a pedal operated clutch in low speed manouveres, no matter how gentle you are with your right boot, this is, in my opinion, more than compensated for in the lack of effort required during regular driving, especially in urban environments.
From an operators point of view they make sense in terms of fuel consumption & driveline lifespan, like it or not, there are bad drivers out there & an ‘auto’ will level out fuel returns on a fleet as it removes the ability to rev the nuts off between gear changes, for this reason alone they will become more common in the next few years until there is no such thing as a ‘manual’ box anymore.
Saying that though, you’re all a bunch of girls with your fancy paddleshifts, I’ve got a constant mesh 18spd Eaton Fuller 
Saying that though, you’re all a bunch of girls with your fancy paddleshifts, I’ve got a constant mesh 18spd Eaton Fuller
Constant mess gearbox more like 
ellies dad:
Saying that though, you’re all a bunch of girls with your fancy paddleshifts, I’ve got a constant mesh 18spd Eaton Fuller
You’re not wrong there mate, I can now play the Star Spangled Banner on it
I had an I-shift with eco-roll in a FH 460 from new.
When it was working it was a great 'box and I even got 9.1 mpg on a run to Alicante loaded to 39t
Having said that in the UK at 44t doing the flat work I was getting 7.8 - 8.0 mpg an when it went wrong I was coming down Mount Pamplona doing 55ish on the exhaust brake when I tried to touch brake to bring the speed down it went into NEUTRAL I managed to get it onto the shoulder turned the motor off and turned the battery isolator switch off then on again (this seemed to be ■■■■■’s official repair all electrical faults remedy 
)
When I got back to the UK they drove 1/4 mile down the road, bobtail,round a roundabout and back to the dealer and told me “There’s nothing wrong with it”
As most of you know I had numerous problems with that vehicle and the customer service levels at ■■■■■ were non-existent
So I say buy a DAF
The last I-shift I drove when going up long steep inclines would get down to 4th or 5th then couldn’t make its mind up what to do and then often would either stall or give up altogether and let you roll back with full weight on. This was after a long run up to said inclines too. Also, when full weight again even crawling along and you had to make a sharp turn, therefore creating much drag pretty suddenly, it would also either give up or stall. Bloody auto rubbish.
MR VAIN:
I am a devout Scania fan, Scania is the only truck for me.BUT!
There is only one auto box in the game, VOLVO I SHIFT. Superb. If i wanted an auto truck, it’d be a Volvo.
Driven one Scania auto, total disaster.
this is my view entirely, i had a 07 plate 13litre 480 with i shift for about 3 months and loved it, b4 that i had a 03 plate 420 scania topline with opticruise, nice to be incontrol but far too slow up and down the box gets confused easily. IMO the iveco and daf cluch control lets them down and puts them out the question.
Looking at it from the other end. I have driven tankers for almost 30 years and was very sceptical about the autobox being able to cope with a slack liquid load.
However as I was given an I Shift. I can promise you that it is the best auto box in the world and does everything a manual will do but even better than a manual with a mandraulic clutch.
anyone used a Renault auto box ?
I’m told it’s an I shift with different software - is that a load of bull ?