allisonauto vs eatonautoshift

truckwife · Aug 21, 2004

tenten
My husband and I are considering buying a Class 8 expediter. When we were specing one the dealer told us the allison fully auto would run about 18000 compared to 6000 for the eaton autoshift. This seems a little high for the allison. Does anyone know if this price range is about right or no?
Thank Each of You in Advance
P.S. We are very happy to have found this site. It has been very helpful in making a decision as to whether to go into expediting or not. My husband drives a big truck now and we havent seen a site like this for people doing that type business. Guess they dont have time. I know my husband doesnt. Greattttt Site

Doggie Daddy · Aug 21, 2004

truckwife, i cant give you any price differences on the allison versus the autoshift,but i can say from my own experiences that the allison is way better in ease of operation. it only took getting stuck in one traffic jam to know that the allison is worth whatever the extra expense would be to purchase it. by the way, a great site for where the t/t drivers are is www.truck.net DD.

davekc · Aug 22, 2004

18,000 just for the auto seems on the high side. Is it a 6 speed or something higher?
Davekc

truckwife · Aug 22, 2004

tenten

Dave
The one we were specing is a 10 speed. Thanks

Glen Rice · Aug 22, 2004

Why not spec the no clutch pedal by Merritor best of both worlds? A real transmission and automated technology where the pedal use to be. Everyone I know that has it say it's the best of both worlds. With a Allison you have high maintenance costs. The trans has to be service at low mileage intervals. Just another option to help you with your decision. Good luck! And keep us posted on what you go with.

davekc · Aug 22, 2004

Hey Glen,
Any idea on the cost? The 10 speed would certainly give you better fuel economy. Can that be mated to any engine or just the larger 350hp plus motors.
Davekc

bluebird · Aug 22, 2004

I have the eaton 10 speed auto and didn't like it at first but you'll love it in the mountains and the bad traffic sometimes i wish i had a stick but i like the auto too plus you get a little better fuel millage like i said a little

geo · Aug 22, 2004

i have had both fl60 had 6 speed allison and at 1st you had to change
tranmission every 24,000 miles than they came out with a new tranmission fluid and you could go 100,000 miles before changing it
western star
eaton autoshift is also great less cost in maintence and
using the clutch only for stop and go

have drove other one metriot but at time ordered my western star
it wasn't out yet in a star also a good choice

also get engine exhuast brake to and you will really enjoy
what every one you get

main thing is the different's in price
of all three tranmission the allison is most , other's are lower in
price

also look in want add's here and you may find the right truck
i did

Bob_Sheaves · Aug 22, 2004

>Hey Glen,
>Any idea on the cost? The 10 speed would certainly give you
>better fuel economy. Can that be mated to any engine or just
>the larger 350hp plus motors.
>Davekc

FYI- the "ULTRASHIFT" series from Eaton is a 2 pedal system, much like the original CEEMAT that I worked on for the military in the mid 1980's. See " http://www.roadranger.com/products/trans/trans_ultrashift_10sp.htm " for the details on the 10 speed version or " http://www.roadranger.com/products/trans/trans_ultrashift_O6sp.htm " for the OD/6speed version.

Either of these transmissions can be installed behind any engine with the proper outputs from the ECU. Needless to say-the ECU is only on an electronically controlled engine. This page " http://www.roadranger.com/products/trans/trans.htm " has all the product specification info from Eaton on their transmission lineup. For the record, Eaton invented the automated mechanical transmission with the AMT of 1982. ZF (Meritor) copied it and added some "less than desirable" changes, in my opinion, as did Mercedes. The mentioned Allison WT series started out as a poor copy of the ZF "Ecomat".

Best regards,

Bob