Towing Camper

[whitestar505]

All,
 
    I have had this in the back of the mind, what little I have left, for some time now. I have never seen a post anywhere pertaining to it. I am sure it is out there somewhere. The question is about towing with "Cruse Control" CC. How many of you  tow with Cruse Control turned on ? Should you tow with CC on?
 
Thanks

[AustinBoston]

It's been a while since this has come up.  In the past, it used to come up fairly often.

Some do, some don't.  

A lot depends on the terrain, probably more than all other factors combined.  If you are in hilly terain and the vehicle's transmission is shifting frequently, then it's definintely time to cut out the cruise control.  Frequent shifting under heavy load is the quickest way to overheat a transmission.

Some don't like the way cruise control handles even modest hills, because cruise can't look down the road and anticipate the need to adjust the throttle.  The result is significant speed drops at the bottom, where you need it most, and significant speed jumps at the top, where you want it least.

On the other hand, in flat terain, when you already have extra energy going into driving because of the trailer, cruise control can take over the task of speed control.

Of course, cruise control should never be used in heavy traffic where frequent changes in speed may be necessary.

Austin

[B-flat]

On flat land, cruise control seems to be ok.  With Hills and mountain land, it doesn't work very well.

[brainpause]

My situation may not apply, but maybe it will for someone:

We tow with a 5 speed-tranny, and I cruise in 5th gear. My cruise will kick off when the speed slows down too much below the set level. I then take over, if I haven't already, well before that happens.

Even in hilly Middle Tennessee, I can comfortably cruise on the interstates in 5th gear with a 4 cylinder. 70 mph really gets the revs up high enough that the 4 banger isn't straining.

Larry

[labontefan]

When I was towing with the Jeep Cherokee (6-cyl, dealer installed hitch but w/o towing package), I was leery of using the cruise control. However, with tbe Durango (V8 and full towing pkg), I use the cruise control a LOT. Just about anytime I'm on an interstate or other 4-lane highway without a lot of hills, I have the cruise on! (OK, guess I should also add "weather and traffic permitting".)

[gsm x2]

Pretty much the same as most others.  Towing a 10 foot bed PU with a 6-cylider engine frequently up the rolling terraine of Highway 101.  Keep cruise control on almost the entire trip with the transmission in "3", which is 1:1 drive.  Cruise at 65.

Going up I-5, will shift into overdrive for the flattest areas.
 
gsm x2

[SactoCampers]

Too many hills and traffic where we camp, so I never use cruise control.

[wynot]

I use cruise control most of the time, unless I am heading on roads with lots of ups and downs.  Since I don't like the camper driving the TV, I often downshift for steeper downgrades - obviously I don't like to do that with cruise control, too often.
 
Most times, if I know I am going to be running a route where the TV is going to slam downshift to maintain speed, I would rather let some speed scrub off and pick it up on the downgrade - obviously, this means without cruise control.

[tlhdoc]

I don't use cruse control often when driving, so I don't use it often when towing.  I don't see why you couldn't use it as long as there aren't a lot of mountains.

[rajones315]

We recently drove with our popup from Syracuse, NY to Florida and back.  I drove with the cruise control as much as I ever would if I wasn't towing.  The main difference is that in hilly terrain, I would turn overdrive off to minimize gear shifting, and give my engine a small acceleration boost.  As for the uphill parts (such as route 64 before reaching route 81) pushing the accelerator was fine.

Remember, when most cruise controls are engaged, accelerating with the pedal won't disengage cruise.  Only hitting the brakes willcut off cruise.

At least that's how most cars work.

[copcarguy]

Hey all!

rajones315 - you just wrote what I always do...  If I'm in cruise and I see a hill I know I will not make in overdrive with the cruise on, I'll just give 'er a little push on the go pedal before I get there, and build up a little speed...  Usually I will make it over without downshifting.  It is perfectly acceptable to push the gas down to gain speed / momentum while the cruise is engaged.