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06-06-2013, 12:55 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: KAYAK
Trailer: 2007 casita freedom deluxe-2013 tacoma
New Hampshire
Posts: 297
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do you tow with cruise?
i think it isnt recommended...but do you? depending on traffic and road conditions.
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06-06-2013, 01:00 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Trailer: Escape 17 ft Plan B
Posts: 2,388
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Depends on the terrain. If i'm in hilly areas, no, but flat land or most interstates, yes. Again, if there are enough hills that the transmission starts to hunt, I switch it off. I've found that I'm willing to slow down a bit towards the top of the hill to keep the transmission in 4th; the cruise control insists on keeping the same speed (that's its job) and I end up using more gas, making more noise, and more wear & tear on the transmission as it shifts down to 3rd or even 2nd. More of a problem on the secondary roads I prefer to drive than on interstates.
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06-06-2013, 01:03 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1996 19 ft Scamp 19 ft 5th Wheel ('TOGETHERNEST' SLEEPS 8
Posts: 270
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I tow in cruise whenever I can. I modified my cruise so that it isn't as sensitive and will do most freeways without kicking down. Same as the tow mode that most newer tv's have. of coarse I also have a low speed rear end that I ordered when new. So my engine turns at 2200 rpm at 60 miles per hour in overdrive and 2800 when in straight high gear.
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06-06-2013, 01:09 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Frank
Trailer: 2012 ParkLiner #006
New York
Posts: 2,273
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I tow with cruise all the time. I have a 5 speed standard, and leave it in 4th, very rarely shifting, even on long trips. Once in a great while I may downshift to 3rd to make a hill, but that is very rare.
If I had an automatic, I would have to leave it in drive (not OD) to use cruise. I have to use cruise because of a medical condition, so it's not an option not using it.
We hope to get a new tow vehicle maybe next year, and it will be automatic. Not sure if I can buy new or not, so we'll just have to see. At the same time, we'll be looking for a 16' or 17' late model egg we can afford. Bed size is critical!
Frank
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06-06-2013, 01:32 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
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I have an automatic and I dont use cruise very often for the reason Jon in post #2 indicated.... way to much hunting up and down by the transmission, more noise and more wear and tear on the transmission.
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06-06-2013, 02:59 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Trailer: Trails West Campster 1970
Posts: 3,366
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Yes, also five speed. I tow in 5th with cruise; if I'm doing hills in 4th then I am not using it.
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06-07-2013, 07:10 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: Bob Ruggles
Trailer: 2015 Escape
Michigan
Posts: 1,537
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Jon's answer would be my answer with this in addition to what he said: I also find that towing in cruise is less tiring on long distances than not using it. I mention this because I'm an old fart and tire more easily than I used to and I take longer to recuperate. That said, I can fairly easily do a 600 mile day the first day. After the first the mileage length of my days gets shorter.
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06-07-2013, 07:59 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: Jim
Trailer: Scamp 13(sold!) & TDI tugboat
Ohio
Posts: 121
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Yes, I like to use cruise when possible. I don't use it in hills or heavy traffic. Uncrowded interstates or highways, no problem.
__________________
Cheers,
Jim C & a 1983 Scamp 13
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06-07-2013, 08:16 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: gary
Trailer: 16' 1998 Scamp
Minnesota
Posts: 677
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V6 Rav4 - I use it on the flats all the time. My wife NEVER uses it. I like it. She hates it. Go figure.
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06-07-2013, 09:25 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
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Yup!
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06-07-2013, 01:01 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: KAYAK
Trailer: 2007 casita freedom deluxe-2013 tacoma
New Hampshire
Posts: 297
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thx for answers...i was afraid i was doing something really bad. i also need it for medical reason and i guess i'm also old too. but i only do it when road is wide open and flat...and its easy on the car...thanks jim. i hadnt seen that. i'll look now.
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06-08-2013, 05:39 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: Jared
Trailer: 1984 19' scamp
Kansas
Posts: 1,610
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Just did a 1600 mile trip, 95% of it with cruise on. Cruise doesn't make the transmission hunt, having an underpowered vehicle for the trailer weight does. I get the point, you can back out of the gas and slow down going uphill so it won't shift, but that's not really the fault of cruise control. I keep mine out of overdrive when towing, set cruise, and kick back. In overdrive on the way up, it shifted all over the place, and unlocked the torque converter. With overdrive off on the way back, it never kicked down once, and the converter stayed locked.
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06-08-2013, 07:27 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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That is the way to do it Jared, with overdrive off or in tow mode if that is available. Otherwise if in overdrive with cruise it downshifts at the slightest hill.
I'm surprised they have not improved the mechanical cruise control with a computerized system that eliminates those down shifts and passing gear upshifts while in cruise mode.
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06-08-2013, 09:37 AM
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#15
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Moderator
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jared J
I keep mine out of overdrive when towing, set cruise, and kick back.
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This is my practice also. It is the only way to keep the speed down to 55mph for me.
Without it I am unable to keep a constant speed, and fluctuate +/- 5 mph.
Using cruise prevents my sciatica from flaring up as well.
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
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06-08-2013, 11:49 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Trailer: 1972 Boler American and 1979 Trillium 4500
Posts: 5,141
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I did use cruise occasionally when it was working. It gives your leg a break on long trips with flat terrain. Also when in flatter terrains I use overdrive, when the terrain prompts hunting, I drop down to drive. Return to OD when things level out. Also depends on the speed, my tranny seems to have a shift point around 80 KmPH or 50 MPH.
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06-08-2013, 08:20 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2005 16 ft Scamp Side Dinette and 2005 Fleetwood (Coleman) Taos pop-up / 2004 Dodge Dakota QuadCab and 2008 Subaru Outback
Posts: 1,227
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jon Vermilye
Depends on the terrain. If i'm in hilly areas, no, but flat land or most interstates, yes. Again, if there are enough hills that the transmission starts to hunt, I switch it off. I've found that I'm willing to slow down a bit towards the top of the hill to keep the transmission in 4th; the cruise control insists on keeping the same speed (that's its job) and I end up using more gas, making more noise, and more wear & tear on the transmission as it shifts down to 3rd or even 2nd. More of a problem on the secondary roads I prefer to drive than on interstates.
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Exactly what I do!
__________________
Dave (and Marilyn who is now watching from above)
Sharpsburg, GA
04 Dodge Dakota V-8, 17 Dodge Durango V-6, 19 Ford Ranger 2.3 Ecoboost
radar1-scamping.blogspot.com
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