Hello all. I was reading the owner's manual and they recommend not using the cruise control when towing. Do any of you guys use the cruise control. We will be traveling about 2600 miles across the country. Thanks for any advice.

I ALWAYS tow with cruise control. The only time I wouldn't is if it was really icy. Even then I likely would http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif

I always use cruise as well. I have a habit of putting to much foot into it then before ya know it, I am towing my 10K 5er at 85-90mph. I dont care for that. Set it and go. I also use the T/H.


Ben

Same here.


Dennis

I always tow in cruise unless the traffic is congested or the terrain is too hilly.

Not me, I like to feel the truck and the load more and stay tuned into it better. In some ways it may hurt milage towing to because it will try very hard to maintain speed on a hill or even downshift without my input when maybe a 5mph or so loss if you drive it manually do not crowd it hard uphill no downshift is needed. Also I do not like the "shock" of having engine loaded very heavy going up a hill and have to tap brake unexpectably and have a sudden torque dump at the wrong time. My 2 cents anyway and to each their own.

Thanks for the reply guys. This will be my first towing experience over a long distance. Depending on the terrain, I probably will use the cruise as well. Is there anything I need to know about long distance towing in particular? All I had planned on is hitch and go. I just plan to drive carefully around the speed limit. Thanks again.

Make sure you have a aux tranny cooler whether it is factory or aftermarket. Do not leave on this trip without one.

I dont have an aux tranny cooler and my temps are still in the Normal daily range. I could understand if you stay in it at 90 going up a 20 % grade but I dont think I will ever need one pulling my 10K 5er in the hills of Montana. IMO and thats that.


Ben http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif

probably get better mileage without it, but I use cruise in TH mode when towing. no problems, just sit back, relax, and keep it pointed where you want it to go http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big%20Smile.gif

I dont have an aux tranny cooler and my temps are still in the Normal daily range. I could understand if you stay in it at 90 going up a 20 % grade but I dont think I will ever need one pulling my 10K 5er in the hills of Montana. IMO and thats that.


Ben http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Rock On.gif

Actually you may need it more than you think (I lived in Montana in the mid 90's for a while) because there are hills there and the air is thinner so cooling efficency of stock coolers is reduced in thin air. Towing on a hill can raise temps quickly and it is very cheap insurance.

Thanks for the interesting views and the time you all spent to read and respond! I really appreciate the input.

I use cruise as long as the terrain is smooth enough not to force a downshift. I know some trucks will do so at the first hint of a hill, but mine will drop about 4mph before shifting and that gets me over a good many in fifth. When it gets hilly enough to force regular downshfts in cruise, I often disengage it and take over the chores. Usually, though I can goose it a bit in anticipation of the climb and the cruise will take it over the top w/o shifting. Other times I'll drop out of cruise and feather the throttle over the hill to stay in OD. I don't care for the howling that accompanies a downshift on hot days with the fan engaged. I can generally tell just by looking at the hill how the truck is going to respond. Sometimes I'll let it do its thing, other times I'll have it do mine.

TC

I always tow with cruise, mileage suffers, but with the 70hp tune loaded, I rarely get the dreaded screaming downshifts, it just pulls. Holds speed no matter what the grade. Set it and forget it.

http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Ermm.gif I use cruise control for flatter terrain. As for a tranny cooler you can find good intel on the Allison transmission website regarding adding auxiliary tranny cooling. Keep in mind this is the same tranny GM puts in their medium duty trucks with higher towing capacity. The only difference is the 1000 in our light duty trucks (2500/3500) have a parking pawl. I spoke with the local Allison service center, their recommendation was to go with transynd and the deeper pan to increase fluid cooling capacity a little. I tow very heavy (17-18k 5th wheel toy hauler) in Florida with our hot days. Tranny temp rarely goes above 190. You also want to make sure you don't give GM cause to void your warranty by adding an additional cooler. Biggest issue I have seen is knowing when to not use 5th gear/overdrive, and keeping RPM's above 2000 to keep fluids moving/cooling to the max. The D/A combo will easily pull my RV over 70mph, but I prefer safety first so I tend to cruise 60-65 mph at 2500 rpm's in 4th gear. Cost me about .5 mpg, 8 versus 8.5 (wee haa!) Have a great trip. JJ http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

I have also towed using cruise control. I have never had any problems. Like blnagel if I do not use the Cruise I get going way to fast. I live in Northern Wyoming and the Interstate between here and Billings Montana has some pretty good pulls, My tranny temp has never got above normal, and the cruise held good in the thinner air. Never could do that with my 1998 Cummins 24 valve.

Have to agree. I use cruise and T/H mode. Pulling a 36' fiver, things are a-OK. The truck will pull any grade I have been on and shift as necessary without over running the engine. I like it!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Clap.gif

Recent trip from Idaho to New Mexico was all in cruise, easy drive.