Many of us who grew up on trucks probably have fond memories of being knocked in the knee by a transmission on the floor. Others can remember riding happily in the middle seat of a truck and having a blast. Truck manufacturers are always trying new tricks to make their trucks unique, more spacious, or more useful, and as trucks became more convenient, each manufacturer did what they could to maximize interior space. But for the new, Chevy is going old school and adding a shaft shift option for the Silverado HD.
What is a shaft shifter?
A is a gearshift lever that sits on the steering column, along with the stock turn signals and windshield wiper controls. You simply move the shifter up and down to shift between P, R, D, and L. In older cars and trucks it was common, even for cars with manual transmissions. They’ve fallen out of favor because people tend to prefer floor- or console-mounted adapters.
. Many have embarrassed him into putting it on the console.
Why would Chevy bring back the transmission?
One of the bonuses that made column shifters popular (and probably will again) is that they moved all of the heavy shifting gear out of the way. They are simply freeing up space which is why Chevy put it back on the pillar. In the 2024 Silverado HD, by moving the shifter from the console to the pillar, it made room for a wireless charger and downstream console. This means you can get a console if desired, which adds a couple of cup holders, hidden storage space and more.
Many prefer the simple up-down action of the column-mounted shifter to the easier-to-use of today’s confusing console shifters. But, many prefer a good old shaft shifter to the shift because they are easy to carry and feel sportier.
Are column adapters better?
Ram bucked the trend for any type of transmission years ago when it decided to add a disc transmission to its trucks. By moving the transmission to the dash, it frees up the console for storage. Ford’s F-Series trucks use a transmission in five-passenger versions and one of its pickup trucks. Also, on its two-door vans, you can order one.
Although Ram has done its best to avoid console or shaft adapters, the brand has relented. If you order a Ram 1500, you’ll get a console-mounted transmission lifted from the Challenger.
