Floridian, you covered it. with 2 1/2 tons on a deuce, you just don't need 10 speeds. If I want to use a lot of gears I run 2,3,4 in low, then split to H 3,4,5. It gives me a split that works for the engine pretty good. In the M543A2, I run the same but start in 1 L and progress. That truck...