TIL it is possible to downshift.

[u/Stritch313]

When going up a hill or when the engine is struggling in a high gear, tap L1 on the controller and it will change to a lower gear. (More precisely it will change to the optimal gear for the current speed so this works for quicker upshifts as well)

For keyboard users L1 is the button to hold to shift between gear ratios and AWD. Don't know the button on keyboard.

[u/omaGJ]

You can also use this to upshift quicker when on flat ground. I abuse this mechanic pretty much every chance I get lol, just a quick tap and it will either upshift or downshift based on terrain and speed.

[u/Bobisburnsred → u/omaGJ]

When I first set off, I'll go into high gear as soon as I can (especially when using the highrange gearbox) to get going quicker, then switch to auto to get up to the other gears faster.

[u/Maliwan77 → u/Bobisburnsred]

That’s the way. The moment I start rolling i put it in high til it gets the maximum speed from it. Then I put it in auto und clutch bump til max gear. Works like a charm and you get around so fast. Even with monstrous trucks

[u/IBIKEONSIDEWALKS → u/Bobisburnsred]

I go L to H to A and spam the "clutch" button for all the shiting fun

[u/No_Product857 → u/omaGJ]

Personally I feel it's a failing on the devs part that the auto transmission doesn't just handle this on its own.

[u/b_roll_offroad → u/No_Product857]

it’s realistic. if you’re spinning tires getting out of your snowy driveway the car doesn’t know it’s not moving that fast, it only knows wheel speed and thinks it’s going 40mph down the road.

obviously modern cars with traction control will know one is spinning faster than the other and apply brake to spinning wheel or deliver power to the slower wheel…

but a diff locked rig on ice spinning all at the same time can’t know that without some downward pointing ground sensor or something else like self driving cars have. it’s up to the driver to let off the gas and match the wheel speed to vehicle speed or in this case - L1 if you want to keep flooring it.

[u/No_Product857 → u/b_roll_offroad]

Sure but we aren't talking about that.

We're talking about how the truck insists upon winding the gears out fully before up shifting while on the flat even when the truck has the power to bang shift, or when climbing a hill it will keep up shifting even past the truck's ability to continue climbing and then grind to a halt. Irl automatic transmissions don't have either of those issues and most of the trucks in the game wouldn't have an automatic transmission irl. It's not unreasonable to ask that a videogame auto gearbox interpretation not be stupid

[u/b_roll_offroad → u/No_Product857]

oh yea, i was reading other comments and then thought yours was a response to that once i scrolled up. neither me in my manual or my other car’s auto trans shift at redline, carry on.

[u/RareThunder5814 → u/No_Product857]

Thats why you just tap ur bumper to shift accordingly or just leave it in high and go until you stall then drop in L+ and lock the ol girl up and cruise, plus its not a realism game so no need to have a 1:1 modeled gearbox altho that would be cool lol but youd need a wheel and shifter at that point lol

[u/Astro501st → u/omaGJ]

It's funny to do a drag race in the same vehicle and use this cause you end up with so much of a better launch than normal lol

[u/RareThunder5814 → u/omaGJ]

Same i abuse the absolute fuckin shit out if it xD and sometimes soon as im rollin ill drop ‘er inta high and just fuckin boggy on down the road lol

[u/deadeyese]

Yup, I use this all the time on PC (it's the Shift key). It also helps with upshifting faster!

[u/exmojo]

At first I thought you were just talking about shifting manually, but then I realized you were talking about tapping L1 (SHIFT) when in Automatic mode.

Thanks for the tip, I didn't realize you could shift to different gears while in AUTO. This has certainly helped with acceleration and proper gears in the mud.

[u/Notalianotalib]

Clutch kick it! Woo!

[u/TacoBell_4Life]

If found that if you hold break and gas at the same time, you will rapidly downshift and can pick a more accurate gear. I find this especially helpful when at high speeds approaching a corner and needing a quick decrease in speed.

[u/Lorkaj-Dar]

I find when unloaded the truck waits to upshift - theyre geared for hauling

As soon as i lurch the truck forward ill tap l1 and the trans will jump to whatever gear it can sustain with current traction. Some trucks jump into 3rd or 4th. Can also use it going up hill to drop a gear or two as you climb. Second and third climb like a champ but if you bog down in 4 or 5 and let the truck shift to 1 youre left crawling up the hill the rest of the way.

[u/TheMagicMush]

This works in all situations, not sure if it's a glitch or what, but it often will increase your speed and acceleration.

[u/TheGaynator]

I just slap it into highgear and let it trot along

[u/chinasorrows2705]

😎😎😎 You can shift up too

zoomies bro

[u/hoarsephlesh]

Yeah, this is a lifesaver when going uphill and not killing your momentum. Waiting for the truck to do it itself will often stop you in your tracks when it pauses for a full second to switch and won't get going again unless you roll back a bit.

[u/pxlrider]

Yeag you pressed the clutch button, this helps with up shifts up to one below top gear or to downshift when engine is struggling or wheels spinning free.

[u/Cannibale_Ballet]

Are you new here?

[u/MedicMac89 → u/Cannibale_Ballet]

Easy guy. I’ve been playing since release and this is the first I’m seeing of it. Sharing tips is what makes this community great.

[u/ColourSchemer → u/MedicMac89]

Agreed. I learned something new today after a few years of playing, just like I learned that mouse wheel moves the driver forward and back in the seat for a different vantage point.

[u/Dunkel_Hoffnung → u/Cannibale_Ballet]

Some people are. Dont be an ass.