Towing with Cruise Control - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Towing with Cruise Control

azrving · RV-Dreams Family Member

I use cruise control but only on the interstate and only when the volume of traffic is low. I Use cruise pulling the TT 75% of the time.

They even had cruise control on the 26 ft diesel Penske truck that I drove cross country with my mini van in tow....and I used it most of the trip. It's like anything else, you just have to use common sense; no cruise in the rain, snow, secondary roads, heavy traffic, etc.

I know some will say you should never use it towing but if you’re comfortable, (and have had some driving time/practice with your new rig) go for it.

-- Edited by azrving on Saturday 10th of April 2010 09:12:23 AM

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

I use it all the time, traffic permitting. It even down shifts automatically on hills. I understand it reduces your MPG slightly, but it's worth it to me.

It really makes a long drive more comfortable.

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Like those above,I use it on Interstates with light traffic and good weather.Makes for a comfortable drive.

Hamshog · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hey Terry,

I use cruise control all the time! It makes for a great drive. Just towed our new Carri-Lite from the dealers to home, then up to storage around 30 miles away. Cruise is on whenever I can set a good speed. Whether it's 45mph or 65mph, anywhere, not just the freeway. I have cruise on my Harley and use it all the time too. I don't know why anyone would drive without it.. It's a good thing!!

Regards, Howard

dream reachers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, I use cruise control on interstates and good secondary roads. I do not use it when hyways are wet or slick or in heavy city traffic just use common sense about conditions. It makes it a little eazier on my legs and hips.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, another reason to use cruise control is the Torqueshift transmission in your truck. On cruise, when going down hill, it will downshift to retard speed. No need to step on the brakes to slow down (or maintain a safe speed). The only time I take cruise off is when the terrain is hilly. I typically allow the speed to increase a bit to prepare for the next hill climb. That way, the engine doesn't rev quite as much as it will on cruise.
Like others, never try to run cruise in wet or icy conditions. Don't bother asking how I know this. :)

Gandalf · RV-Dreams Family Member

I tow with a dually duramax and just had our maiden voyage towing our Cameo about 3000 miles home, and when I was at the helm, on interstates and uncrowded highways, I used cruise control. On hills, I needed to tap my brakes to downshift the Allison thereby disengaging the cruise control. And my DW doesn't like to use it, for her own reasons. No problems. I actuallly think it is safer as you are not always checking the speedo to a make sure your galloping steel horse isn't doing 80 MPH.

GeorgiaX · RV-Dreams Community Member

Cruise control only on Interstaes and light traffic. Just watch your mirrors to make sure nothing is wromg with what you are towing. Works every time...

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

53 Merc wrote:

Terry, another reason to use cruise control is the Torqueshift transmission in your truck. On cruise, when going down hill, it will downshift to retard speed. No need to step on the brakes to slow down (or maintain a safe speed). The only time I take cruise off is when the terrain is hilly. I typically allow the speed to increase a bit to prepare for the next hill climb. That way, the engine doesn't rev quite as much as it will on cruise.
Like others, never try to run cruise in wet or icy conditions. Don't bother asking how I know this. :)

Good answers, Everyone. However, because of Ken's statement above, I now have a couple of follow-up questions.

Being an ex-18 wheeler driver, I used to gain "additional" speed on downhill runs when I had an uphill climb coming up so as to not get slowed down as much. (By the way, that is how I got my ONLY speeding ticket in my life.) Anyway, in such hilly terrain, couldn't one just give the truck a little more fuel on the downhill without taking the cruise control off? That way, one could still "gain" a little more speed but still allow the cruise to take over on the uphill side.

Or, is there a reason that one shouldn't allow the cruise to do the climbing?

Terry

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry,we all have our preferences but for me I set the cruise and let it go downhill as fast as I set it and let it do it's thing,whatever it is going up. I don't worry about building speed on the downhill to gain anything going up. Today's trucks are more powerful and geared good enough not to need the extra boost.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry,

Yes you can goose it a bit on the down hills while it still is in cruise and it will kick in at the preset speed and downshift when necessary. It will disengage itself if the hill is really long or steep when it can no longer hold the preset speed.

Everybody learns to do it the way they are most comfortable.

53 Merc · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry and Jo wrote:

53 Merc wrote:

I typically allow the speed to increase a bit to prepare for the next hill climb. That way, the engine doesn't rev quite as much as it will on cruise.
Like others, never try to run cruise in wet or icy conditions. Don't bother asking how I know this. :)

Good answers, Everyone. However, because of Ken's statement above, I now have a couple of follow-up questions.

Being an ex-18 wheeler driver, I used to gain "additional" speed on downhill runs when I had an uphill climb coming up so as to not get slowed down as much. (By the way, that is how I got my ONLY speeding ticket in my life.) Anyway, in such hilly terrain, couldn't one just give the truck a little more fuel on the downhill without taking the cruise control off? That way, one could still "gain" a little more speed but still allow the cruise to take over on the uphill side.

Or, is there a reason that one shouldn't allow the cruise to do the climbing?

Terry

Terry, I normally "give it a bit of gas" on the downhill, maybe 3 to 5 more mph, then I help the cruise maintain speed until it decays to setpoint.

BTW, I don't like people that fib so much. One speeding ticket? Why that just has to be a big fib. I had mor than that by my third week of driving. LOL Of course, my dad made sure I learned the value of walking for a long time after that.

DagoRanch · RV-Dreams Family Member

Actually my wife Madonna has NEVER had a speeding ticket. Honest!

Me... I've had too many to count :) Actually they were non-existent for years until I got my Hot-Rod. Wooops!

Back to cruise control... I hardly ever use it, but I'm normally towing into the mountains, so that has a lot to do with it.

-- Edited by DagoRanch on Saturday 17th of April 2010 09:04:45 PM

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

I use cruise when ever traffic and road conditions allow. I think I get a little better fuel mileage useing cruise.

tntlowrider · RV-Dreams Family Member

I use when conditions permit. If hilly terrain, will not use much at all since it wants to shift down when not necessarily needed. Good going, I think it is great, helps reduce fuel consumption. I never use it in the rain, snow, or ice. Use good common sense. If you are not comfortable using it, then do not.

The Bear II · RV-Dreams Family Member

Like others I use it on flat and slight grades. On steep grades I will allow it to get to the point where the engine is lugging and then I will kick off the cruise and downshift. I won't turn it back on (resume) until we're back on level ground.

On steep hills where downshifts are needed I find the cruise controls sometimes try to upshift too soon or downshift too late and from time to time you get a quick rev before the gear changes.

On 6% or steeper downhills the exhaust brake and cruise control fight each other so I usually just use the exhaust brake and maintain the speed with throttle inputs.

-- Edited by The Bear II on Wednesday 21st of April 2010 09:42:16 AM

2fortheroad · RV-Dreams Family Member

Make sure you read your manufactures handbook. blankstare

You wouldn't want to confuse the cruise control for an auto-pilot. I read somewhere that a manufacture was being sued because of this issue. I'm sure its was probably one of those prank emails, but still funny.

A person going down the road in their new motorhome has to go potty, thinking that the cruise was the same as auto-pilot she sets the device and leaves the drivers seat to relieve herself. I'll leave it to your imagination what the result was.