Cruise control while towing?

[DocBrown]

Cruise on most of the time. It's off for uphill climbs and heavy wind where I want to control what's going on. Also, it's never on in more than a light rain. I had an incident years back towing in the rain with cruise on, where my back tires hit a slick spot and the entire back end slid to the right. As it corrected itself the trailer started swaying violently.

Also I lock out OD, it's an 8 speed so I run in M6.

[Jagiven]

I say it really depends on your TV. How close to maximum payload, overall condition of your TV and travel conditions.

I very rarely use cruise control, one of the main reasons, I hate how it changes gears, and revs the engine. I like using my foot.

[AHW]

Like a lot of others have said, I use cruise control on mostly flat roads or small inclines/declines. I will turn it off when climbing a significant grade or descending.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by AHW

Like a lot of others have said, I use cruise control on mostly flat roads or small inclines/declines. I will turn it off when climbing a significant grade or descending.

If you have a tow vehicle with turbo or exhaust braking you are defeating the purpose and safety of that when you turn cruise of on a down grade. That is where they work the best. Set your speed and forget it.

[AHW]

Originally Posted by CAG

If you have a tow vehicle with turbo or exhaust braking you are defeating the purpose and safety of that when you turn cruise of on a down grade. That is where they work the best. Set your speed and forget it.

It's a Redhawk Class C. It's a naturally aspirated motor. Has transmission braking that will work with or without cruise control on (tow/haul mode).

Andrew

[bankr63]

I like to use CC in many situations, but with my current TV's gearing if I have both CC and Tow/Haul engaged at Interstate speeds (60-70 mph) the truck holds too low a gear all the time and my gas mileage plummets. In that situation I either switch off tow/haul or use my foot to kick up to a higher gear and restore gas mileage down from insane to only horrendous. Just be aware of what your TV is doing, it doesn't 'always' know best.

[CAG]

Originally Posted by AHW

It's a Redhawk Class C. It's a naturally aspirated motor. Has transmission braking that will work with or without cruise control on (tow/haul mode).

Andrew

If you do not have cruise set what sets the speed down hill? I have a Grayhawk and without the cruise set the vehicle does not know what speed you want to run. You can get on the brake, causing the vehicle to downshift I guess, but I would rather have the computer do it for me and be the oversight for it's safe operation.

[AHW]

Originally Posted by CAG

If you do not have cruise set what sets the speed down hill? I have a Grayhawk and without the cruise set the vehicle does not know what speed you want to run. You can get on the brake, causing the vehicle to downshift I guess, but I would rather have the computer do it for me and be the oversight for it's safe operation.

I set the speed with my foot. Just like I would on a city street traveling at 25 or 35 mph. On a downhill grade, I use the manual gear selection or leave in drive w/ tow/haul on so it will downshift when I apply pressure on the brakes helping to slow the vehicle down. The cruise control will not slow the vehicle for you. It may downshift but going down a decent grade, brakes will need to be applied at some point to avoid an increase in speed.

[CAG]

Maybe yours doesn’t hold speed downhill but the Grayhawk does. If I set the speed at 55 coming off on the Rim, or Sunset point it will hold that down a 6% grade. There is no need foe me downshifting or riding the brakes.

Check yours out there may be more there than you know.

[AHW]

Originally Posted by CAG

Maybe yours doesn’t hold speed downhill but the Grayhawk does. If I set the speed at 55 coming off on the Rim, or Sunset point it will hold that down a 6% grade. There is no need foe me downshifting or riding the brakes.

Check yours out there may be more there than you know.

I'll have to give it a try. Going camping this weekend. Whitewater grade in So Cal isn't a big one by any means but it's worth a try.

Andrew

[TCNashville]

Never.

[TxLoser]

Really depends. Open interstate… 100% of the time. Steep grades, I’ll leave it on, but lockout a gear or two on occasion. Primarily uphill stuff. It has downhill figured out pretty well. Side roads it’ll vary. Two lane twisty steep stuff, I’ll take over. Wide open two lane, it’s on again. I’d imagine most just use common sense and kill it when they feel like they need more control.

I learned this week, mine will kick off when the vehicle thinks I’m going to slam into someone. Was passing someone and must’ve gotten too close as I came out of my lane into the passing lane. It buzzed at me and shutoff.

[ShotgunZ71]

Hook up 5er, extend tow mirrors, turn on tow/haul and away we go. Once going, the cruise is set as much as possible. I let the truck and computer do most of the work. Only time I cut it off is when traffic gets heavy or in town/city.

[Radar57]

Cruise control and exhaust brake when towing. Get in the left lane, set it at 65 MPH and let her go. I'm stilling trying to get my head wrapped around how the exhaust brake works. Some times seems a bit aggressive on the braking going down a hill.

[Rongbrown]

GMC 3500. Use it most all the time. Turn it off in the mountains.

[gunafulltime]

Cruise control yes, mostly - I do not use it on hills.

Tow/haul yes always - keep the speed and rpm down, regular servicing = runs great, a good old truck. I really have no complaints. One of the best vehicles I've owned (includes four Fords, a Chevy, a Toyota, a Chrysler, Cadillacs, and a Volkswagon).

[Kim Gass]

One thing to watch for is the ALWAYS and NEVER . Neither work well. We use CC unless it is too hilly. We never use CC on the first two days of a haul Maine to FL as there is always snow or ice somewhere. For the last six years we have always had the first hundred miles on hardpack where cruise use is very dangerous.

[campersam9]

Yes. In mountains no! I have to pull faster before a long grade.

[CAG]

Get in the left lane, set it at 65 MPH

That is going to PO a bunch of truckers not to mention the rest of us in non-RV vehicles doing 75 (speed limit here).

[AllysonG-NY]

Likewise .. I use cruise control and just take over when I need that extra bit of acceleration.

Using tow haul mode the vehicle computer seems to handle well

I tend to set at 65 mph and go from there.