shifting gears on bumps

[john112deere]

This is something I have a vague memory of talking about once, but can't remember any details, and has recently become something I wonder about almost daily.

When driving a manual-transmission vehicle (say my Ranger, though I think it should be a pretty universal answer) should you avoid changing gears while driving over bumps?

Reason I ask is that when I pull out of the parking lot I park in every day, there's a pretty significant frost heave that happens to be exactly the distance from the exit that it takes me to be shifting into third gear, and I think I once heard that is a situation you should try to avoid, but can't remember quite why.

 

[surewhynot]

You might spill your beer?

 

[john112deere]

Spilled coffee all over my right leg pulling into the lot on Tuesday. I knew the cup was tipping, but making a sharp turn while shifting gears didn't leave me any free hands or feet to catch it.

No...seriously- it was something about extra weight hanging off the input shaft when the clutch is disengaged or something...but I can't quite make sense of it. I'm not really worried about it so much as just curious...

 

[tomtoc]

No...seriously- it was something about extra weight hanging off the input shaft when the clutch is disengaged or something...but I can't quite make sense of it. I'm not really worried about it so much as just curious...

it does seem like if i have the clutch in and my hand on the gear shift while hitting a bump i can feel a lot more shaking than it seems like i should

 

[1985 Ford F-150]

I always throw the clutch in when I go over a bump and need to shift. Theres really no way to put more wieght on the input unless your trans mounts are garbage or your motor mounts are garbage. I just do it so it dont buck when my foot moves on the gas pedal and that helps keep your u joints good and your ring and pinions in good shape.

 

[Blue Bomber]

i really dont pay any attention to bumps in my truck. but my dad has an '89 'yota, and you can feel ever bump you go over in that truck. i dont shift on bumps in that truck because it makes my feet slip a bit, that and it made me miss a gear once.