Convertible transmission system

A convertible transmission system for a vehicle comprising:

• a transmssion having an input shaft for connection to an engine and an output shaft for delivering power to at least one axle, said transmission having a plurality of gear ratios resulting in a maximum number of available gear ratios;
• a programmable controller for selectively controlling said transmission to operate in a first operating configuration utilizing the maximum number of available gear ratios and a second operating configuration utilizing less than the maximum number of available gear ratios.

A convertible transmission system for a vehicle comprising:

• transmission having an input shaft for connection to an engine and an output shaft for delivering rotational power to at least one axle, said transmission having a plurality of gear ratios resulting in a maximum number of available gear ratios;
• a programmable controller for selectively controlling said transmission to operate in a first operating configuration utilizing a first predetermined number of said available gear ratios that is less than the maximum number of available gear ratios.

A method of operating a transmission having a plurality of available gear ratios resulting in a maximum number of available gear ratios comprising the steps of:

• selecting a first predetermined set of desired gear ratios from the plurality of available gear ratios for establishing a first transmission operating configuration;
• determining a change in at least one operating condition that necessitates selecting a second predetermined set of desired gear ratios from the plurality of available gear ratios for establishing a second transmission operating configuration.