Gearbox

A side view of a DAN 96320 displaying its gearbox.

The gearbox(also more commonly referred to as a Transmission) is a gameplay mechanic of the Spintires series.

Description

The gearbox is a vital component that provides the wheels power produced by the engine while also providing increased torque and speed by using a wide number of gear ratios. The gearbox is located directly behind the engine and is mated to the engines flywheel or flexplate. A gearbox multiplies torque and power output by using gear reduction in low gears while also giving a vehicle better speed and fuel economy by using a direct drive range and overdrive range at the cost of reduced torque.

Simplified explanation

For a simplified explanation a 5 speed transmission will be used as an example

Note: this is not based off a 5 speed gearbox featured in game but rather a practical example that could apply to a gearbox in reality.

• 1st gear provides a low gear reduction by converting 5 engine rotations into 1 transmission output shaft rotations.
• 2nd would provide a reduction of 3 rotations while
• 3rd would provide 1.5 rotations to get a single output shaft rotation.
• 4th gear is a direct drive gear, in direct drive 1 engine rotation will be exactly 1 output rotation thus providing speed and fuel economy.
• 5th gear is the highest gear and the overdrive gear, an overdrive gear can provide a full output rotation with a 3/4 turn of the engine. Overdrive gears result in great loss in torque and it is not uncommon for many heavy duty trucks to lack overdrive .

Gearboxes in Spintires and Mudrunner

Gearbox's in Spintires and Mudrunner feature a different number of ranges depending on the vehicle. Lighter trucks typically will have around 5 gears while larger trucks like the D-535 and E-7310 only feature 3 gears as they are spec'd for max torque output with little care for efficiency and speed.

Every vehicle also features:

• Low gear
• Low + (also referred to as High)

Low gear

Low gear locks the vehicle in a high reduction gear to prevent the vehicle from upshifting automatically and cause a loss of traction and wheelspin. Low gear is vital in hardcore mode because switchable differential locks can not be engaged in auto mode or high. Low gear does have some adaptability and can be adjusted with a slider to lower speed or increase speed as needed.

Low + gear (High)

High gear is also used to lock a vehicle in gear to give it higher speed while also avoiding potential upshifts. A vehicle can not start in high gear as this will result in the engine stalling, this can also occur if the vehicle slows down enough in high gear.

Customization for the Gearbox

SnowRunner adds customization for the gearbox giving players options to choose to fit certain roles.

The 3 main options for most vehicles include:

• Stock
• Offroad
• Highway

The stock transmission provides a decent balance for driving on paved roads and in mud but lacks a high gear option and only 1 low gear.

The offroad gearbox features 3 low gears and a high gear but fewer gears overall greatly affecting speed and fuel economy.

The highway gearbox features a high gear and more gears overall providing impressive speed while also still providing a single low gear.

Locate & Deliver introduces 3 new gearboxes that are modified variants of existing ones. The new Finetune gearboxes are identical to the off-road gearboxes but with 2 key differences. The overall speed in each gear is lower and fuel consumption is slightly higher. Fine-Tune gearboxes also have a specialized low gear range that allows for far more precise throttle control making them incredibly adaptable.

Special gearboxes

Heavy class trucks like the KOLOB 74760 and Pacific P16 feature a special gearbox and advanced special gearbox. The special gearbox provides 4 main gears with a low and high gear, the advanced special however features 5 main gears, 3 lows, and a high gear giving them great adaptability and a decent speed increase. Some vehicles like the Voron D-53233 and Ford F 750 have unique gearboxes exclusive to them.

Damage

Gearboxes are able to be damaged in SnowRunner. This is most often caused driving on hard surfaces with a switchable differential lock engaged but direct hits to the gearbox from obstacles like rocks or barriers can also damage it as well. As the gearbox takes damage, chances of it automatically shifting into neutral will also increase. A fully damaged gearbox will become stuck in neutral, essentially immobilizing the vehicle until it's repaired.

Gameplay characteristics

SnowRunner

There are 2 main values that affect a gearbox's performance. "AngVel" is the modifier that adjusts the speed of the vehicle while "Fuel modifier" simply affects the engines fuel consumption, both function much akin to how an actual transmission functions in reality by using gear ratios. Statistically speaking, the Freeway and HighRange gearboxes both provide the highest possible speeds and lowest fuel consumption while the Special gearbox provides the slowest possible top speed and is tied with the worst fuel consumption with the TUZ 166's archaic gearbox.

For additional information and detailed ratios and multipliers please see the chart below.

List of gearboxes

• Scouts
  • Stock - stock gearbox. Includes 5 gears and low gear. It can be installed on all scouts.
  • Freeway - gearbox that can be unlocked by exploring Smithville Dam in Michigan. Includes 6 gears, low and high gear. It can be installed on all scouts.
  • SnowRunner - gearbox that can be unlocked by exploring Black River in Michigan. Includes 4 gears, low, low +, low - and high gears. It can be installed on all scouts.
  • Fine-tune - third variant for fine-tune gearbox that added in Locate & Deliver expansion and can be unlocked by exploring Grainwoods River in Wisconsin. Includes 5 gears in auto gear, also includes the low, low +, low - and high gear with a fine-tune gearbox. It can be installed on all scout trucks.
  • Archaic - unique gearbox that by default installed on TUZ 166. It has 3 gears and low gear.
  • Custom - unique gearbox that by default installed on Ford F 750 and cannot be taken off. It has 6 gears, low, low +, low - and high gear.
  • Stock - unique gearbox that by default installed on Burlak 6x6. Unlike other scouts' stock gearbox, Burlak's gearbox has Low+, Low- and High gears. There is no fuel penalty for using AWD with this gearbox.
  • Highrange - unique gearbox for Burlak 6x6 scout. It has six gears, high gear, and has no Low+ and Low- gears, unlike the Burlak's stock gearbox. It can be unlocked by exploring By the River in Scandinavia. However, its AWD fuel penalty is 22%.
  • Special - unique gearbox for AAC-58DW scout. It has 5 gears, including high gear.
  • Special - unique gearbox for Rezvani Tank scout. It has 8 gears, including high gear.
  • Sport - unique gearbox added in Compete & Conquer expansion, which can be unlocked by exploring Burning Mill in Tennessee and being installed on Azov 43-191 "Sprinter". It has 6 gears, low and high gears.
• Trucks
  • Balanced - stock gearbox. Includes 5 gears in auto gear, also includes the low gear. Can be installed on all trucks, including BOAR 45318, Derry Longhorn 3194, Derry Longhorn 4520, Navistar International heavies, Pacific P512 PF, Western Star X-series trucks and Western Star 6900 TwinSteer heavy trucks and International Loadstar 1700 scout truck.
  • Highrange - gearbox that can be unlocked by exploring Mountain River in Alaska. Includes 8 gears in auto gear, it also includes the low and high gears. It can be installed on all highway, heavy-duty and offroad trucks, including BOAR 45318, Derry Longhorn 3194, Derry Longhorn 4520, Navistar International heavies, Pacific P512 PF, Western Star X-series trucks and Western Star 6900 TwinSteer heavy trucks and International Loadstar 1700 scout truck.
  • Offroad - gearbox that can be unlocked by exploring Drummond Island in Michigan. Includes 4 gears in auto gear, it also includes the low, low +, low - and high gears. It can be installed on all highway, heavy-duty and offroad trucks, including BOAR 45318, Derry Longhorn 3194, Derry Longhorn 4520, Navistar International heavies, Pacific P512 PF, Western Star X-series trucks and Western Star 6900 TwinSteer heavy truck and International Loadstar 1700 scout truck.
  • Fine-tune - gearbox that added in Locate & Deliver expansion and can be unlocked by exploring Black Badger Lake in Wisconsin. Includes 4 gears in auto gear, it also includes low, low +, low - and high gears with a fine-tune. It can be installed on all trucks that have balanced, highrange and offroad gearboxes.
  • Special Offroad - gearbox installed by default on Freightliner M916A1 and Voron D-53233 offroad trucks. It has 4 gears, High, Low, Low + and Low - gears. This gearbox is the only one that the Voron D-53233 can equip.
  • Fine-tune - unique version of the gearbox added in Haul & Hustle expansion, which can be unlocked by exploring Yellowrock National Forest in Maine and being installed on Freightliner M916A1. Unlike other fine-tune gearboxes it has 4 gears, low, low + and low - gears with a fine-tune. It has with no high gear, but the first three gears and the gears are faster than the standard fine-tune box.
  • Multipurpose - unique gearbox that by default installed on Mack Defense M917. Unlike multipurpose gearbox for Derry Special 15C-177, KOLOB and Tatra heavies, it has 5 gears, low and low - gear.
  • Highrange - unique gearbox that by default installed on Kenworth 963. Unlike the main highrange gearbox, Kenworth's gearbox has 7 gears instead 8.
• Heavies
  • Special - stock gearbox. Includes 4 gears in auto gear, also includes the low and high gear. It can be installed on all heavy trucks, including Azov 64131 offroad truck, Caterpillar TH357 telehandler and TUZ 420 "Tatarin" APC.
  • Advanced special - gearbox that can be unlocked by exploring Pedro Bay in Alaska. Includes 5 gears in auto gear, also includes the low, low +, low - and high gear. It can be installed on all heavy trucks, including Azov 64131 offroad truck, Caterpillar TH357 telehandler and TUZ 420 "Tatarin" APC.
  • Fine-tune - second variant for fine-tune gearbox that added in Locate & Deliver expansion and can be unlocked by exploring Grainwoods River in Wisconsin. Includes 5 gears in auto gear, also includes the low, low +, low - and high gear with a fine-tune gearbox. It can be installed on all heavy trucks, including Azov 64131 offroad truck, Caterpillar TH357 telehandler and TUZ 420 "Tatarin" APC.
  • Multipurpose - gearbox that available for Derry Special 15C-177, KOLOB and Tatra heavy trucks. It is added in Explore & Expand expansion and can be unlocked by exploring Big Salmon Peak in Yukon. It has 5 gears and low gear.
  • Advanced special - unique gearbox that can be bought in store from 3800 currency for ZiKZ 612H.
  • Fine-tune - unique gearbox that can be bought in store from 4700 currency for ZiKZ 612H.

Trivia

• In the SnowRunner game files all gearboxes have Angvel and Fuel consumption values for high gears set even on gearboxes not equipped with a high gear.
• Despite the Multi-purpose gearbox specifically mentioning it being equipped with a high gear it lacks any sort of high gear in game.