we have a 26t erf on a “v” plate.it is incerdibly underpowerd to the extent that if you dont use all the gears it will make an absolute fool of you,the temperaure warning lights resemble a 80 s disco ball and the gear stick is that loose its like throwing a sausage in wembley stadium theres that much play in it.to drive this you have be completely on the ball and when approaching roundabouts you ve got to roll up to them and try your upmost best to keep your momentum up and be in the right gear ready to move off,once you ve got the hang of it its quite a good drive and keeps you on your toes.in my opinion you have to “drive” these type of vehicles as opposed to automatics etc that do all the thinking for you. ours will get to 56 eventually but much prefers to sit at 52-54mph,its not ideal but its only our spare wagon as we collect clinical waste and it has to get done everyday from the hospitals with no exception,so if any of the wagons are off the road we get that beast for the night.
Mate you’ve hit the nail on the head there, that asbolutely perfectly describes what it was like! I got caught out a few times at roundabouts, convinced the gear I was in should work and it didn’t… I’m sure you can see why someone inexperienced like me could think I was doing something horribly wrong 
You’ll get used to it chris.
in a fully loaded 26tonner, I’d normally go; 2,4,5678
There’s so many things that can change that though that no-one can tell you, you’ll just have to learn by experience.
darkseeker:
You’ll get used to it chris.in a fully loaded 26tonner, I’d normally go; 2,4,5678
There’s so many things that can change that though that no-one can tell you, you’ll just have to learn by experience.
Unless it’s got 400hp+ and the torque to match, you’re doing yourself (nor the truck) no favours by block shifting from 2nd to 4th.
Hmmmm, what I was trying to say is you suss it for yourself really; if the truck’s struggling with what I said then you need to re-think but every situation’s different.
Generally though, it’s as good a starting point as any.
I agree with Darkseeker. I regularly drive an up to weight 26 tonne Scania 
With 11 horses on it, and 240 horses under it! and I use the same method of gear change…I find if I go 2,3,4…I’m out the top of the green, and have no torque, whereas 2,4,5,6,7,8 keeps things nice. This may be a Scania thing!
drew30:
I agree with Darkseeker. I regularly drive an up to weight 26 tonne Scania
26t with a 240 lump? You must be absolutely screaming the nuts off it in 2nd then.
Not really, Rob. Because the trucks full of horses, you obviously have to be a bit more carefull when pulling away. What I tend to do is use 2nd to pull away from a standstill, while very slightly slipping the clutch, then as soon as she’s moving and we’re “in the green”, it’s up to 4th.
At my last company I used to take out the new guys, and teach them how to drive a horsebox properly. You’d be surprised how many people can drive a 'box really slowly but still knock the horses around! Its all about smoothness, and it can be quite an art, especially when driving through towns.
What I used to do was say to the guy (or girl) “imagine there is a full bucket of water in the back, your job is to get from A to B trying not to spill too much”. This seemed to work well as it was a good way of communicating what I was trying to teach. Obviously sometimes things happen, and you have to brake suddenly, or swerve to avoid an obstical, and that cant be helped.
Just a wee update on this. So I almost felt like nobody believed me about the wagon not being right since the fitter that came out to me on the M1 couldn’t ‘see’ anything wrong with it. Also kept getting the ‘jokey’ “Don’t break this one” comment. Anyway I was glad to find out that it needs 1100 quids worth of work, new radiator, waterpump and it’s leaking coolant all over the shop underneath.
chris_89:
Just a wee update on this. So I almost felt like nobody believed me about the wagon not being right since the fitter that came out to me on the M1 couldn’t ‘see’ anything wrong with it. Also kept getting the ‘jokey’ “Don’t break this one” comment. Anyway I was glad to find out that it needs 1100 quids worth of work, new radiator, waterpump and it’s leaking coolant all over the shop underneath.
Yes but it was fine before you took it out 
lol! I’d love to know how you break a radiator just by driving it
chris_89:
lol! I’d love to know how you break a radiator just by driving it
Block changing can cause that. 
I was waiting for that 