Best Gear for Parades/Continous low speed?

[JasonTL]

Last year I was part of a parade with floats and after reading some talks about the different gears on vehicles got me thinking: Would there be an optimal gear for a parade?

The Scenario I'm thinking of is about 1-5 mph consistent for an hour or so while pulling a 15ft trailer-float. People walking in front a ways and behind a bit of each float.

Would First or Second gear on idle be best? I'm looking at most efficient and easiest. Most cars idle around 5 mph I think. A low speed idle would probably be better than giving it gas every few minutes. What do y'all think?

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Manual or AT?

I would say.. If you got enough torque.. Use the highest gear that will keep it movin, mayeb they even call that "lugging" a trans.

When I had a sports car, it had so much torque I used to shift 1-2-5. Never really had need for 3 and 4..

 

[jrustles]

Wouldn't use 2nd on an AT. You'd be heating up the TC/ATF and wasting energy at those speeds. 1st gear will reduce the torque differential between the TC input and output, and multiply torque using the gears, not the TC.

If it's a manual/diesel perhaps second can be suitable, moving the vehicle on idle alone. Unless the engine starts to buck/bounce on the mounts, 2nd could work.

 

[TechnoLoGs]

Actually, if I wanted to, I could release the clutch somewhat slower than normal and build speed without touching the gas at all on that car.

jrustles, are you talking about manually selecting the "1" position on OP's vehicle shifter, and not 2?

 

[DrDusty86]

1st, and just idle it. We do it that way in the fields.. works well.

 

[Astro14]

1st. That's what 1st is for...and I've been in several parades...

Though, I will add, that the Packard has so much torque that I usually start in 2nd to avoid the double-clutch shift to 2nd...but on hills, or in parades, 1st.

 

[The_Jeff]

First all the way. If you go over idle RPMs your belt driven fan will really help cool things off.

 

[exranger06]

Something with 4 wheel drive and low range, with manual locking hubs so you can drive in "2-Low." Or and old truck with a 4 speed manual with a granny gear.

 

[JasonTL]

Automatic(2wd), sorry, should've stated that.
Mine is an auto and I imagine most of the ones I'd be working with in the parade would also be auto.

 

[morris]

just my idea. if its an auto trans i say run a transmission cooler with a big fan. cause 5 mph will not put much air throu the the rad and and fans to the rad.