Cruise Control?

Cruise won't hurt anything in and of itself.

It CAN cause your vehicle to shift more than desirable in hills - for instance, it can't see when you've almost reached the top and might downshift when it's not really needed. If it does that, turn it off. If it doesn't, leave it on. Some experience will help you know the conditions in which you'll want to turn it off.

I have a Nissan Titan and the manual says

AUTOMATIC CRUISE CONTROL
Do not use cruise control while towing a trailer.

Not sure why? I do it all the time!

I'm too lazy to work hard because I run with cruise all the time. I figure, since the computer won't over stress the engine and drivetrain, I'll let it do the work for me. We just came back from a 7000 mile trip and I used cruise about 90% of the time.

I have never had my Ally/Dmax hunt.

Thanks for all the replies. I've heard it was harder on transmissions, which I can see if it was hunting all the time. I've used CC and thought the computers all worked well together, it just hums along.

Not only does it not hurt anything, our DD Series 60 DDEC3 will only attain full horspower and torque if the Cruise Control is engaged.

Makes for interesting driving. Approaching a long steep upgrade, make sure CC is set. The interaction between transmission computer and engine computer keeps it in the right gear and RPM. Without the CC set, the transmission will downshift earlier. With it set, the trans will hold in gear longer, and allow more "droop" before shifting.

Not only is it easier on the coach, it takes a lot of strain out of the drive. In all newer truck design, let the computers do the work. That is what they are there for.

Sometimes we will forget to engage CC, and it isn't until we have dropped way below the torque curve that we notice. Too late then, just move into the Slow vehicle lane, and remember it before the next hill.

We drive the class C with the Mercedes diesel and ZF automatic the same way. Works well, but only the manual for the Detroit specifically states that CC must be engaged for max power.

Towing the 5th wheel or just driving the truck by it self cruise control is the best way. Saves on speeding tickets! I do shut it off in heavier traffic or hills.

But then that's just me talking.... LOL

aclay wrote:
I have a 2012 Chevy 3500 SRW Duramax/Allison and I'm wondering about use of cruise control. I hear a lot of conflicts on this on whether it damages the TV or not. I usually have some interstate travel where it would be great just to set it. I get on hills you don't want the transmission to hunt, but on most small grades mine doesn't shift that often anyway (it is an incredible machine!)

I did a search and couldn't find any good threads (at least on the first 3 pages of results).

Advice? Experience?

I believe if you look in the owners manual, the A/D has a grade assist that works in-conjunction with the cruise for down hill. So it would only make sense that it would be fine for up hill. Never bothered us pulling

See: Allison 1000

I almost never use cruise control. Never felt it was needed.
chevman

use it whenever I can, even on steep hills, I set the cc and if it wants to hunt, just lock out OD to keep it in 4th gear. 110K miles, no problems, see no reason why it would hurt anything. I avoid CC on snow/ice and very heavy rain, other than that it keeps me going.