Using cruise while towing???

[Expidia]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

Towing Capacity: 3500, Wheelbase: 106.4 (from a 2001 Saab 9-5 Review)

I tow with the Saab because the max tow capacity is 3500 lbs and I'm only pulling a little over 1000 counting the trailer.

I figured the Tranny should take it if I don't abuse it on steep ramps.

I change the fluid at the start and end of each boating season.

I'll check the manual for any recomendations and if it mentions what gear to tow in.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

Interesting, the manual says 3500 tow capacity (with trailer brakes) 1000 (without brakes).

Says not to go over 60 mph while towing.

5-7% load on trailer ball

with max load of 165 lbs on the ball.

Says use "normal" mode when driving with trailer and on hilly roads. Says the adaptive gear change pattern will prevent the tranny overheating.

If check tranny message comes onto the display over heating may be taking place shut off AC. If it stays on stop car and wait till it cools down.

Use 1,2 and 3 gears to spare the brakes on long or steep down grades.

So it says nothing negative like don't use cruise. But it appears OK to use as long as one watches the temp, since they say always use "normal gear" which on my car is "D". They actually want the tranny on this model to switch gears rather than drive constantly in 3rd.

It also notes not to use the winter mode button as it will over heat while towing..

JB was correct in that each manufacturer is different for each vehicle and the safest way is to consult the manual (which luckily I still have the manuals for each car).

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

We seem to be confusing use of CRUISE vs use of OD. The posters question was use of CRUISE and he specifically indicated he did NOT use OD. The fact remains, cruise controls do not and cannot "anticipate" since they are electro/mechanical devices and depend on road speed, engine vacuum and the ECM to tell the engine when to add throttle, release, it or maintain. Until the vehicle begins to slow down or speed up it cannot and will not add or remove throttle. Use of cruise while towing will almost always result in more frequent torque converter clutch and down/upshift activity unless you provide some intelligent help. If it gets too frequent you need to disengage and use your driving skills to avoid or minimize it. Some folks simply don't understand power trains so there isn't much we can say or do about that other than to try and educate, but in many cases that is simply beyond their comprehension.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

We seem to be confusing use of CRUISE vs use of OD. The posters question was use of CRUISE and he specifically indicated he did NOT use OD. The fact remains, cruise controls do not and cannot "anticipate" since they are electro/mechanical devices and depend on road speed, engine vacuum and the ECM to tell the engine when to add throttle, release, it or maintain. Until the vehicle begins to slow down or speed up it cannot and will not add or remove throttle. Use of cruise while towing will almost always result in more frequent torque converter clutch and down/upshift activity unless you provide some intelligent help. If it gets too frequent you need to disengage and use your driving skills to avoid or minimize it. Some folks simply don't understand power trains so there isn't much we can say or do about that other than to try and educate, but in many cases that is simply beyond their comprehension.

thx Silvertip. I'll try the cruise and if it's taxing on the tranny I'll disengage until I get to a flatter section. I feel better now though that the manual quotes the 1000 lb max tow capacity. So using cruise should not be an issue, since they say they prefer some gear changes by using the normal drive mode which will to keep the tranny cooler. I would have thought the opposite and better to be in 3rd on a flat, but the manual says different.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

I think Silvertip an JB hit the nail on the head with their comments.
In all honesty I dont think your load is very heavy. I think your tranny will be fine. 124k miles is not very much either, they build drivetrains much better than they used to.

 

[bese6197]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

Good thread. I hear this debated all the time and I believe the most accurate statement is it depends on the vehicle. I would like to add to keep an eye on your tach too while towing - using cruise or not, OD or not. Even though the trans may not be shifting from gear to gear the torque converter will lock and unlock noticable by a few hundred rpm difference on some vehicles. This is done for fuel economy reasons usually. Constant locking and unlocking will create heat and also excessive wear on the clutch in the torque converter. Since most vehicles dont have tranny temp gages anymore, this is important to watch. Also - it is the reason many new SUV's and trucks have a tow/haul mode to prevent this torque converter lock/unlock from happening.

 

[MudSkunk]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

The cruise control is a moot point. It doesn't matter either way.

However, as I read through this thread, it seems that the general consensus is that it's ok to tow in overdrive?...Wrong!

I have to ask why do most full size trucks have a tow/overdrive off button when equipped with an automatic?

its ok to tow in with cruise control and overdrive if you are on roads with no grade and your vehicle is towingbelow its rated capacity. if you are towing a 25' speedboat with a miata you might want to think about getting a different boat or tow vehicle...

the tow/overdrive off locks out 4th gear for towing up steep grades. it is a safety feature for vehicles with automatic transmisions. it gives the driver a way to lock out 4th gear without having to shift the gears manually and miss putting the vehicle in the wrong gear and mangling the transmission and possibly causing havoc with other drivers as you are fumbling with the shift lever.

you do not find this on manual trasnmission vehicles as they have positive shifting.

cruise control is the most efficient and safest way to maintain speed while towing on flat roads. the driver should be monitoring speed rpms and upcoming grades at all times. cruise control can be over-ridden by applying the gas or the brake. braking will disengage the cruise adding gas will not and the vehicle will return to the set speed accordingly.

if you find your vehicle constantly shifting while towing on a flat road you should not use cruise and manually control your speed. as your vehicle is probably towing at or near its max rated towing capacity.

 

[clarkbre]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

if you find your vehicle constantly shifting while towing on a flat road you should not use cruise and manually control your speed. as your vehicle is probably towing at or near its max rated towing capacity.

If you find it constantly shifting it's trying to stay in the higher gear and downshifting to make up the loss in speed and power. That's why when towing you shouldn't be in overdrive.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

This has nothing to do with the op's question but I will throw my opinion on towing with OD. I have a Ford that is equipped with the E4OD tranny. This tranny is known for self destructing if you tow with it in overdrive, hills or no hills. It has to do with the clutches that OD uses (they are to small). My wife?s truck has a tow/haul mode in her truck. When that button is engaged all gears are held longer and OD is cancelled out (it?s a six speed automatic). This would lead many to believe that OD is evil while towing. If I?m towing the boat I dont use the tow/haul button because my boat is about 3000lbs and the truck can pull 9500lbs. I would be wasting extra gas for no reason. On the Ford OD is always off when I tow because I know the tranny will go south if left on.
Its really like JB said, all vehicles are different and not everyone is going to drive them the same way. So, in some vehicles OD off on others leave it on.

 

[jeffnick]

Re: Using cruise while towing???

I'd just drive her 55mph (or less) and keep shifting to a minimum...going up hill, I'd do whatever speed I had to, to keep her under 3,000rpm.