Another truck question...

[LindaL]

Do you or do you not use cruise control on level roads while pulling a trailer?

 

[Pepipony]

Sure do, not a problem. Not really a problem on hills, but, a driver is more preemptive and will see the hill and accelerate to keep a steady speed. Cruise control cant do that, its usually behind and then tries even harder to keep a steady speed. It will save on fuel milage for a driver to make the move.

 

[minimomNC]

Never, if anything happens suddenly I feel you have less control over your truck with a trailer pushing it. I;m sure others use without incident but I would rather not chance it. My trailer is a 3 horse slant load with modified living quarters, so its not that small.

 

[wildoak]

I'm with Karen, don't feel comfortable using cruise with a trailer behind me. IF - and only if - I'm on a good stretch of road with limited traffic I'll use it ocasionally to rest my foot for a few minutes, but I just feel it slows my reaction time. I've hauled with others who use it all the time, just a matter of choice.

Jan

 

[krissy3]

I dont either , but just because I am a nervous driver. I do use the alarm , which rings quietly if I go over the speed I set it at.

 

[Davie]

NEVER!!! I was in a vehicle once without a trailer that had a cruise control stick--did not turn off when switched off or release when the brakes were hit. Was the scariest moments of my life. Father-in-law did everything and eventually had to turn the key off and pull to the side of the road. Was a very un-nerving happening and we were on a highway--had to hit the brakes as we were coming up on slower traffic and had passing traffic on the inside lane. Could have been a serious disaster.

 

[SampleMM]

I do not feel comfortable using the cruise control. A few years back, I was on a very busy highway and a tour bus almost sheered our right side. After that, I saw how quickly we all could have been killed. I just feel more comfortable with my foot on the gas pedal and also more focused.

 

[NoddalottaFarm]

I never use it pulling a horse trailer, but we have a pull behind "pop up" camper, and we will use the cruise all the time while pulling that.

 

[Katiean]

Never! What if your cruse control malfunctions and you can't stop?

 

[Mona]

Yes, I always have/do.

 

[HGFarm]

I too have used the cruise for many years while hauling... it makes for a smooth ride and saves a bit of fuel.

However, it depends on the traffic and the terrain. If I am going through hills, I do not use it, for the previous reason mentioned. If it 'falls behind' it will kick on hard and I dont want to do that to the horses back there by having the sudden acceleration.

Also if it's in town, or denser traffic, I probably wont use it because the speed will vary too much as you are going along, and there is no sense in setting it.

 

[Connie Ballard]

My husband Tim used to do all the specs for vehicles/trailers at the county...everything from work trucks to semi's. Tim says he would never use cruise with a trailer. He wanted to share the reasons why with everyone:

1. Cruise control is designed for just the truck...ONLY.

2. It is impossible for them to design a cruise control to accommodate the additional weight, length and velocity of the vehicle being towed.

3. Every trailer has a different weight and is loaded differently by each user which makes it react differently in an emergency.

Better safe than sorry works for me....so travel safe!

Connie

 

[vickie gee]

Ditto what Laurie said. And never ever ever use a cruise control driving anything anytime if it is raining. It can make you hydroplane. I only learned this recently. But when I heard it OMG! Several years ago while driving my car I came off an overpass headed downhill after a line of thunderstorms had moved through. Although I had been driving on dry pavement suddenly both left tires were in water and the cruise was set on about 60 mph. My car hydroplaned, crossed the medium, and did several 360s. Surely guardian angels were watching over me because thank God no accident occurred.