Should I use cruise control while towing a travel trailer

TomG2 wrote:
Are you smarter than the tow vehicle? Are you willing to do the work necessary to save a little fuel? Does your tow vehicle downshift more often than you like to hear? Hilly country, I do the driving, in the flats I let her cruise.

Me too. Still gotta stay on top of it.

I can't wait to get my new TV with exhaust brakes and adaptive cruise. I can't use cruise on my current TV (unless we're on a flat highway), since the constant up/down shifting kills my gas mileage and transmission. Months away from getting my Ram 3500 so that my 04 Ford Excursion can go into retirement.

I also have the 3.5L Eco Boost in my truck. When I'm pulling, I now I tend to put in Tow/Haul mode, lock out 6th gear, and set the cruise control (weather, traffic, and road type permitting), of course.

itguy08 wrote:
All the time if it's not raining. The computer is much better than I am at keeping the speed especially up and down the hills. Only thing I don't like is sometimes it will race up to 6th only to downshift right away to 5, then 4 or 3 before it figures it out.

Doesn't bother me letting that little 3.5 spin and spin. Doesn't have to much because of the 2 turbos. It's made to run.

It's OK to use cruise control as long as your transmission has a manual option and you can control which gear you're in. We have a 2013 Explorer with a 3.6 L V6 and a 6-speed A/T towing a 5000lb Lance. The problem with the A/T is that it tries to keep the rig close to the set point which involves shifting down on the slightest up-hill and shifting down to much lower gears than is necessary. By using manual shift I can keep the cruise control happy most of the time even though the speed drops by 10 mph (or before the cruise control quits). On average I'm in a much higher gear than the cruise control would pick and this lowers the fuel consumption significantly. The downside is that my average speed is lower and I have to listen to the engine or look at the speedometer frequently - but this keeps me alert. As an example, on a level highway I can travel at about 53 mph in 6th gear with the cruise set at 60. In A/T I'd be going 60 mph in 4th gear.

All the time if it's not raining. The computer is much better than I am at keeping the speed especially up and down the hills. Only thing I don't like is sometimes it will race up to 6th only to downshift right away to 5, then 4 or 3 before it figures it out.

Doesn't bother me letting that little 3.5 spin and spin. Doesn't have to much because of the 2 turbos. It's made to run.

ScottG wrote:
My new Arctic Fox's manual said not to (they're wussies). :B
Most of the time I don't because I just like to have the control but on long fairly flat stretches I give my foor a break.

Why would anyone listen to a TT manufacturer opining on the vehicle, check the vehicle owners manual and tell the TT manufacturer to put his efforts into actually making a quality product AND instituting a quality warranty

My truck does better if I drive like a trucker - let it roll faster down the hills, and a little slower up the hills. If I use my cruise control, it shifts too late starting up a hill and uses more fuel. I only use my cruise control on flat roads.

CavemanCharlie wrote:

temccarthy1 wrote:

Acdii wrote:
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.

My shifter is on the center console and does not have any tow mode button on it anywhere.

I downloaded your owners manual and found this statement :

If your transmission is equipped with a Grade Assist or Tow/Haul
feature, use this feature when towing. This provides engine braking
and helps eliminate excessive transmission shifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.


I noticed that it said ; IF ; maybe you do not have Tow Mode on your vehicle. Check your owners manual more closely then I did and ask you local dealer.

THANKS for taking the time to look that up Caveman! I will check my manual further! Much obliged!

temccarthy1 wrote:

Acdii wrote:
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.

My shifter is on the center console and does not have any tow mode button on it anywhere.

I downloaded your owners manual and found this statement :

If your transmission is equipped with a Grade Assist or Tow/Haul
feature, use this feature when towing. This provides engine braking
and helps eliminate excessive transmission shifting for optimum fuel
economy and transmission cooling.


I noticed that it said ; IF ; maybe you do not have Tow Mode on your vehicle. Check your owners manual more closely then I did and ask you local dealer.

Acdii wrote:
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.

My shifter is on the center console and does not have any tow mode button on it anywhere.