starting in 1st on a 2007, 4.0, manual Ranger

[Mike Tonon]

So I'm riding in my truck with my grandfather yesterday and he was a truck driver for decades. He tells me I'm riding the clutch to much to start off. I tell him if I don't, I'll either stall the engine or chirp the tires. Then he says he doesn't like the way the clutch is grabbing, seems chattery. My 87 Ranger was about the same, possibly worse. Is it me? Is it the design of the vehicle or is there a problem with the clutch, etc.?

 

['99 EB Explorer]

lol...I'm a truck driver too. On most rig's, the clutch doesn't grab until about 3/4 of the way up the pedal stroke(sometimes more). Not to mention all the weight that it has to move...it smooths it out a bit more. Trust me, I find it hard as hell to get back into a regular vehicle with a stick shift and not stall it out on the first shot. I wouldn't worry about your truck.

 

[adsm08]

Hard to say without driving it myself. I would guess that the 6 some liters of difference between your engine and what your grandfather drove for years would account for some of his opinion.