Towing with Cruise Control

[Barry Loos]

On long hauls on the Interstate, do you guys use your truck's cruise control when towing your boat? I never have but don't have a reason why I haven't.



Da Bear

 

[Reno G.]

I found that towing with my truck in cruise control used more gas than without. Not sure why, but it did.



Reno

 

[Greg J.]

I haven't towed with cruise control on either, and also take it out of overdrive.

 

[fatrap]

I have to sometimes as my knee just kills me if I keep my foot using the gas petal. I was told it's a no no but I gotta get there somehow.

fatrap

 

[Texas Transplant]

Yes, I use cruise control all the time - o/d off of course. I find it especially helpfull when having to go up long grades or overpasses.



Since I have a HUGE V8, I don't have the problem of it shifting into high to maintain a speed, hardly at all. That could cause you to use excessive gas.



Tex

 

[Max Neathamer2]

I tow mine with Cruise control all the time. I also have the "Tow Button" on mine to keep it from going into OD all the time. Like "TT" said, I also have a Huge V-8 but I also towed the same way when I had my Z-71 with the 350. But, I do release the Cruise and drop the speed a little when I go up long graded hills. Saves a little on the Gas Mileage.



Max <><

 

[Larry Harp]

I use it on long hauls on fairly flat terrian. I also keep it in overdrive in the same conditions. I asked my transmission guy about it and he said no problemo as long as it's not cycling back and forth. I don't use the cruise in hilly areas so I can get a good speed built up going down the hill so I can get farther up the hill without the trans kicking down.



The tranny guy also told me that stop & go city traffic is harder on the transmission than towing on the highway.



Harpo

 

[Bill Gintzel]

If the owners manual says "Do not use overdrive," don't use it. My friend just spent $1200 because he didn't heed my suggestion.



As to cruise, it will use more gas because it maintains constant speed. Better to NOT use it and speed up on the downhills and hold pedal pressure steady on the upgrades. Just watch the truckers. It can make a difference of two to three miles per gallon on my 4.7L Dodge Dakota.

 

[Greg Meyer]

Same as Sooner... I tow with cruise on level flat terrain... Most of Illinois! And, I tow in OD, just like the manual says as long as it doesn't cycle in and out of OD...

 

[al cannia]

I tow with the cruise on and the OD on unless very steep terrain and get fairly good gas mileage unless it is awfully windy. I tow with a 01 Explorer Sport Trac,has plenty of power for my Nx750 but does struggle a little bit if all the camping gear and loaded coolers get added.

 

[Mike Harrison]

I have a manual transmission on my S-10 with the 4.3ltr Vortec. Here in Missouri when you get closer to the lakes and especially down in the Ozarks I will drive in 5th gear but never with cruise. But, the main highways I travel like US71 or MO7 or MO13 that are 4 lanes and usually have nice grades I'll use the cruise control. Most of the time I can hardly tell my lil' tin boat is behind me except for the fact that I'm anal about checking all 3 of my mirrors constantly. I believe it all comes down to your towing vehicle, what you are pulling and the conditions/variety of the roads you're travelling.



Mike Harrison aka StanAramus the Great

 

[Bryan McDonough]

GM added a shift inhibitor on the Allison which sure is nice rolling thru East Texas hills.