Should I use cruise control while towing a travel trailer

time2roll wrote:

allen8106 wrote:
It depends. Is your truck diesel or gas? If gas it won't likely do very well in cruise. If diesel it will cruise down the road with no issues. I've had both and speak from experience. My 2009 2500 gasser downshifted every 10 miles between Wichita, KS and Holbrook, AZ. My 2013 diesel down shifted once in the same stretch.

You needed to lock out that top gear or have the differential ratio changed.

That gasser was always run in manual mode in 5th gear while towing and is still sucked. Never again.

I use it myself, my only word of advice, depending on the truck, turn it off going up a mountain. I have an F150 EB, my last truck was also one, but had 3.15 gears. I had the cruise set at 65MPH coming out of Denver, hit that first 6% grade and that little EB held the speed limit great, but it got way too hot doing so.

On regular hills, and slight grades up to 5%, the EB with Cruise on will maintain the speed limit, no matter what it is, 55, 65, 75, and will do it going up 6 & 7% grades as well, but best to not use cruise and keep an eye on the trans and coolant temps.

temccarthy1 wrote:

Several of you with Fords mention using " tow mode" I have a 2013 Expedition XLT with 5.4 V8. I see "anti sway" in my set up options but not "tow-mode" Is it there someplace or not available on an Expedition?

Look on the end of your shift knob on the column shifter, if you have tow/haul mode there will be a button there marked as such.

We use cruise control. Downshifts on every incline. Won't hurt a thing. You should see how much it shifts in town. 1st through 5th at every stop light. Odd thing is my six diesels had the same problem. Dealer couldn't fix. Tried to tell me it was normal. :B

We be cruising .

You can and I have.

But, I get the best mileage if I leave the cruse off. That way I can let my speed pickup a little going down hill and drop off a little going up hill. I get my best mileage that way. I live in flat country and we have no real big hills.

Several of you with Fords mention using " tow mode" I have a 2013 Expedition XLT with 5.4 V8. I see "anti sway" in my set up options but not "tow-mode" Is it there someplace or not available on an Expedition?

I use mine like most, on flat roads but for up and down situations, I don't. Also run Tow/ mode always. F150, 5.0 liter.

I use cruise when towing in the flat desert or the great plains. Otherwise I turn it off. I rarely bother with gadgets like tow/haul mode either. I find the settings far too aggressive in the mountains. If I am in the mountains I just lockout 6th gear.

I use mine a lot, but mostly on interstates. If I'm in a few hills I just push the skinny pedal on the approach to the hill. 5 mph extra up a hill can make a big difference and allow the truck to hold od.

allen8106 wrote:
It depends. Is your truck diesel or gas? If gas it won't likely do very well in cruise. If diesel it will cruise down the road with no issues. I've had both and speak from experience. My 2009 2500 gasser downshifted every 10 miles between Wichita, KS and Holbrook, AZ. My 2013 diesel down shifted once in the same stretch.

You needed to lock out that top gear or have the differential ratio changed.