RE: To Cruise, Or not to Cruise?

[Wayfarer]

 
Seems this was discussed on the old forum but I can t find it and am in need some input from those of you more experienced in towing.  My question has to do with using Cruise Control and/or Overdrive when towing.  What do you do?
 
 On last trip pulling the Rockwood Roo, which weighs about 250# more than the Coleman Utah but has way more wind resistance, in cruise control sometimes on long hills the TV would downshift and then RPM s sometimes would get up to 3,000.  I got out of CC and decided I could better control things by backing off on the hills.  Also wondered about using OD.
 
 Any ideas on whether to cruise of not to cruise?  And should I " OD"  (i.e., overdrive!) or not OD?  Those be the questions...  [8D]

[Papaso]

 Wayfarer
Hey how s it going, hope all s well. I use my cruise control most of the time, we live in a very flat State so very rarely does the trans downshift. If I see a small and I mean really small hill or maybe an overpass, I just help it along. I love my CC I even use it driving around town.[]

[mwh710]

 Wayfarer
I use CC in Drive.  My manual says NOT to use OD while towing.  Up a hill, if it is too long, it will come out of CC by itself, so if I think it will happen I just turn off CC going through mountains.

[tlhdoc]

 Wayfarer
I use OD if it is fairly flat.  If I am on a hilly road that causes the TV to come out of OD and down shift into D then I lock out my OD.
 
 You can use CC.  I only use it if the road is pretty much empty.

[Turn Key]

 Wayfarer
Cruise...yes.
 OD........no.

[champ521]

 Wayfarer
CC and OD on when driving on long flat highways. No CC and OD off in the hills.

[garym053]

 Wayfarer
Ain t no such thing as FLAT here in Vermont! I will sometimes use CC when driving near the Cape in Mass where it s flat, but of course there, the traffic barely moves sometimes so it s more brakes than CC. NO to OD. See Gas gauge fall. Fall, Gas Gauge, Fall!

[Steve-o-bud]

 Wayfarer
I shift down to 3rd most of the time when towing, unless the terrain is very flat. Then I put it into Drive, which allows it to go into OD.
 
 I occassionaly will use CC when towing. However, when it needs the extra power while climbing even a slight grade, the transmission kicks down to third, and won t upshift back to 4th/OD. It requires for some reason that I release the CC, (which apparently releases the throtle) allowing the transmission to upshift.
 
 This is one of the reasons why I will be trading in my SLX/Trooper, perhaps for an Expedition.
 
 
 
 

[Wayfarer]

 Wayfarer
Thanks for the input, guys.  Most of our towing in Central and South Texas is relatively flat, but have been into some hills which seem to put unusual stress on the TV so I needed to get your ideas and experience.  Appreciate your responses.  
 
 Peace be to all y all!
   
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