Cruise control while towing?
#21
Senior Member
Unless it is hilly, or traffic conditions are bad, I will use cruise control on the interstate or limited access highways. No problems, as the other members have stated.
#22
Senior Member
Although the owner's manual, in the towing section does advise to turn off the cruise control. But in the cruise control section, it doesn't say anything about towing.
#23
Junior Member
As others stated, I've towed in tow mode and CC thousands of miles.
Only heads up, is that once I left CC engaged climbing up a good sized hill and half way up touched the brake to turn CC off. The rig buckled a bit as CC disengaged at a lower gear/high RPM. It was more pucker factor than wanted, and I'll make a point not to use CC towing on hills, up or down.
Only heads up, is that once I left CC engaged climbing up a good sized hill and half way up touched the brake to turn CC off. The rig buckled a bit as CC disengaged at a lower gear/high RPM. It was more pucker factor than wanted, and I'll make a point not to use CC towing on hills, up or down.
#24
Senior Member
I don't lock out 6th gear when towing. ford service tech said as long as tow / haul is on let it shift all it wants. something about CPU keeps a better record and it don't eat gas as bad? I use CC in the flats but never on hills. plus it gets 11 MPG when towing 7700 pound travel trailer so I am happy. now that's at 55 t0 60 MPH and flat ground.
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So.... based upon Abn150's post, Ford does say to shut off CC while towing. I also found this in the owner's manual. Seems, a lot of folks are using CC anyway.
#26
WindowGuy
It only mentions a specific siutuation when cruise may shut off. Ask yourself why. Will towing on a grade hurt the truck, or could having the cruise shut off on an inexperienced not paying attention driver, cause an accident, and Ford wants to avoid liability issues.
#27
Senior Member
I have an '11 Lariat Supercrew. I tow a '12 Ranger HD in a 14x7 custom built V-nose enclosed trailer. I had to add an extra foot in height to the trailer when it was built to get the Ranger and its cab thru the door. So the trailer still has a pretty big frontal area. When I tow it out to my place in West Virginia I almost always use the Cruise. T/H on flat roads doesn't seem to use anymore gas than usual to me, so I just leave it on. It's not until I get into the mountains that I feel it kick in. I set the cruise at 60 mph or so and enjoy the ride. It usually does fine on the inclines. Once I'm at the top and about to descend, I click both the CC and T/H off, lock out 6th. and cruise on down. The wind resistance from my trailer usually keeps me at a steady speed. It's only on the steeper grades that I need to lock out 5th.. Once I'm at or near the bottom I'll re-engage all gears, reapply CC and T/H, and away I go as before. This is what I've found to work the best for me with my rig.
Last edited by Scarlet; 11-04-2015 at 09:52 AM.
#28
I tow with CC on whenever possible.
One interesting thing I've noticed is that with CC on the computer is more likely to increase boost to develop more power when needed. With CC off, it's more likely to downshift for higher RPM.
I first noticed this towing on flat ground driving into a stiff headwind.
With CC on, the truck stayed in 6th and pumped up the boost.
With CC off, the truck dropped to 5th to bring the RPM up. No change in speed...
One interesting thing I've noticed is that with CC on the computer is more likely to increase boost to develop more power when needed. With CC off, it's more likely to downshift for higher RPM.
I first noticed this towing on flat ground driving into a stiff headwind.
With CC on, the truck stayed in 6th and pumped up the boost.
With CC off, the truck dropped to 5th to bring the RPM up. No change in speed...
#29
I use the cruise and It will down shift in order to hold your speed close to what you have it set at while going down hills, this is a great feature to me. My truck will down shift at about 2-3 mph drop which may cost a little mileage but I don't have to micro manage my truck
Last edited by mike243; 11-06-2015 at 06:45 AM.
#30
Senior Member
I use the cruise and It will down shift in order to hold your speed close to what you have it set at while going down hills, this is a great feature to me. My truck will down shift at about 2-3 mph drop which may cost a little mileage but I don't have to micro manage my truck