Towing with cruise control

Madleee · Apr 6th, 2007, 19:57

Has anyone else had experience of towing using cruise?
I found dragging the snail was a breeze when my right foot was idle.
I memorable experience is driving on a M way with cruise set at 55 and having wagons crawl past me at 56. I decided to slow to 50 while they passed and then resumed 55.

JackT5 · Apr 6th, 2007, 20:37

Used it all the time with my old 240, my T5 didn't have it, have only been away with the 80 and van once unfortunately but had the cruise on when i did, mine was set at 60 though.

Madleee · Apr 8th, 2007, 18:55

I tried cruise at 60 but the fuel con went daft. Like single figures. at 55 I could get the auto to lock up and was getting around 20mpg

XC90caravanpuller · Mar 18th, 2009, 09:47

HI, I've just changed to an XC90 having towed(870kg + 100Kgs of bikes and windsurf boards, masts booms and sails), for 6 or 7 years on a '97 V70 TDI CD Manual.The V70 was perfectly set up for towing on cruise as the turbo kicked in at 1750rpm, which exactly matched the continental 90kph towing speed limit. Right foot rested, but brain on boredom and the point about camiones hunting you down over 20-30 miles is well made. Keeping to the speed limit is an interesting experience, as you travel alone. Fuel consumption while towing on the (Audi) 2.5 turbo diesel was about 30-32 depending on mountain ranges, 5th gear went south in 2006 at 187,000 miles and towed back in 4th for 600 miles ( autoroutes in France) and still returned 25 MPG average. £2000 for 2nd hand box ! Was it worth it you ask?
Newer XC90 (163BHP) experience of towing limited to pick up of newer caravan in Devon and home to Sussex when we were still reading the handbook to find out how all the toys work, and then taking the van 40 miles for a service and back, and didn't use the cruise as no opportunity on roads in East Sussex. Have used cruise while not towing and newer version has auto -resume after braking , accelerating and /or maneouvering. Takes a bit of getting used to, but a very thoughtful innovation.
MPG towing with XC90 seems to be about 28, but still have to get used to lack of turbo, so may be able to improve on this.

4wheeldriver · Mar 18th, 2009, 15:59

Got 21.1 out of my xc90 185 bhp geartronic. Only had 4000 miles on it though. 23.4 on the return journey. i tow a Swift twin axle with MTPLM 1607. Used cruise most of the way going south and my right foot coming home.

Tibbsey23 · Mar 22nd, 2009, 00:44

To my way of thinking if the trailer is stable when held by the foot, it is not significantly more unsafe if held by electronics. I know when loaded correctly my van will tow at 70 odd if I take my eye off the ball, so set the cruise for 60 after a few miles verifying it is towing right, and never have to worry about creeping up to unsafe speeds

As far as lorries go, its worth remembering that your speedo will almost certainly be slightly off, mine is by about 5mph as verified by my road angel, so it may look like 55, but you might be doing 50!

In the last 3 weeks I have clocked up about 600 miles towing (mostly) on cruise control

tykey · Mar 22nd, 2009, 10:08

I never use cruise control wether towing or not. It seemed a good idea when I got it, but didn't like the way it started eating extra fuel. I chose my V70 D5 because of it's great fuel efficiency, so that's where my priorities lie.

I've not checked it, but I'm pretty sure it'll have an even worse effect when towing.

Lzygo · Mar 23rd, 2009, 18:37

I have a 2009 xc90 geartronic and asked my dealer about towing and cruise control. I was told that the best mpg for towing was by switching to manual and using 5th gear without cruise switched on. I haven't had much chance to tow yet but certainly when I have used cruise under normal driving conditions mpg is quie a bit lower than using my right foot.

4wheeldriver · Mar 23rd, 2009, 19:35

We have the same thing in lorries. the fuel is ALWAYS worse using cruise than if you use your right foot but some folk swear by it.

tykey · Mar 23rd, 2009, 19:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4wheeldriver

We have the same thing in lorries. the fuel is ALWAYS worse using cruise than if you use your right foot but some folk swear by it.

Perhaps they aren't paying for the fuel (company cars or trucks), or they haven't learnt how to drive economically.

It amazes me how far I can drive in my V70 without coming out of an mpg range of 75 to 100+.

I'm trying towing my caravan to Northumberland tomorrow, so that will be interesting. (Just heard it's snowing up there!!!!)

Apr 6th, 2007, 19:57	#1
Madleee '95 850 T5 GLE 7 Seater Last Online: Feb 28th, 2009 13:16 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Barry View Photos By: Madleee	Towing with cruise control Has anyone else had experience of towing using cruise? I found dragging the snail was a breeze when my right foot was idle. I memorable experience is driving on a M way with cruise set at 55 and having wagons crawl past me at 56. I decided to slow to 50 while they passed and then resumed 55. __________________ I like my cars just like my women, Fast and exciting!

Apr 6th, 2007, 20:37	#2
JackT5 Member Last Online: Apr 22nd, 2008 22:26 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Grimsby	Used it all the time with my old 240, my T5 didn't have it, have only been away with the 80 and van once unfortunately but had the cruise on when i did, mine was set at 60 though. __________________ 2002 S80 D5 SE, 96 850 T5

Apr 8th, 2007, 18:55	#3
Madleee '95 850 T5 GLE 7 Seater Last Online: Feb 28th, 2009 13:16 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Barry View Photos By: Madleee	cruise a van I tried cruise at 60 but the fuel con went daft. Like single figures. at 55 I could get the auto to lock up and was getting around 20mpg __________________ I like my cars just like my women, Fast and exciting!

Mar 18th, 2009, 09:47	#4
XC90caravanpuller VOC Member Last Online: Aug 14th, 2018 22:25 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Brighton&Hove (actually)	Towing on cruise control HI, I've just changed to an XC90 having towed(870kg + 100Kgs of bikes and windsurf boards, masts booms and sails), for 6 or 7 years on a '97 V70 TDI CD Manual.The V70 was perfectly set up for towing on cruise as the turbo kicked in at 1750rpm, which exactly matched the continental 90kph towing speed limit. Right foot rested, but brain on boredom and the point about camiones hunting you down over 20-30 miles is well made. Keeping to the speed limit is an interesting experience, as you travel alone. Fuel consumption while towing on the (Audi) 2.5 turbo diesel was about 30-32 depending on mountain ranges, 5th gear went south in 2006 at 187,000 miles and towed back in 4th for 600 miles ( autoroutes in France) and still returned 25 MPG average. £2000 for 2nd hand box ! Was it worth it you ask? Newer XC90 (163BHP) experience of towing limited to pick up of newer caravan in Devon and home to Sussex when we were still reading the handbook to find out how all the toys work, and then taking the van 40 miles for a service and back, and didn't use the cruise as no opportunity on roads in East Sussex. Have used cruise while not towing and newer version has auto -resume after braking , accelerating and /or maneouvering. Takes a bit of getting used to, but a very thoughtful innovation. MPG towing with XC90 seems to be about 28, but still have to get used to lack of turbo, so may be able to improve on this.

Mar 18th, 2009, 15:59	#5
4wheeldriver Master Member Last Online: Jan 20th, 2013 20:28 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aberdeen	Got 21.1 out of my xc90 185 bhp geartronic. Only had 4000 miles on it though. 23.4 on the return journey. i tow a Swift twin axle with MTPLM 1607. Used cruise most of the way going south and my right foot coming home. __________________ BMW X5 3.0sd SE with more extras than the cast of Ben Hur!!!! Mini Cooper Worx

Mar 22nd, 2009, 00:44	#6
Tibbsey23 NineForty Nuts! Last Online: May 24th, 2018 18:29 Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Gloucestershire/Kent View Photos By: Tibbsey23	To my way of thinking if the trailer is stable when held by the foot, it is not significantly more unsafe if held by electronics. I know when loaded correctly my van will tow at 70 odd if I take my eye off the ball, so set the cruise for 60 after a few miles verifying it is towing right, and never have to worry about creeping up to unsafe speeds As far as lorries go, its worth remembering that your speedo will almost certainly be slightly off, mine is by about 5mph as verified by my road angel, so it may look like 55, but you might be doing 50! In the last 3 weeks I have clocked up about 600 miles towing (mostly) on cruise control __________________ Distant Past: 1988 745 GL B200E Past: 1993 945 S B200F Present: 1996 945 CD B230FT South West Volvo Group

Mar 22nd, 2009, 10:08	#7
tykey Senior Member Last Online: Jul 14th, 2019 12:42 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: sheffield	I never use cruise control wether towing or not. It seemed a good idea when I got it, but didn't like the way it started eating extra fuel. I chose my V70 D5 because of it's great fuel efficiency, so that's where my priorities lie. I've not checked it, but I'm pretty sure it'll have an even worse effect when towing.

Mar 23rd, 2009, 18:37	#8
Lzygo xc90 Last Online: Mar 24th, 2010 18:27 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lincolnshire	I have a 2009 xc90 geartronic and asked my dealer about towing and cruise control. I was told that the best mpg for towing was by switching to manual and using 5th gear without cruise switched on. I haven't had much chance to tow yet but certainly when I have used cruise under normal driving conditions mpg is quie a bit lower than using my right foot.

Mar 23rd, 2009, 19:35	#9
4wheeldriver Master Member Last Online: Jan 20th, 2013 20:28 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Aberdeen	We have the same thing in lorries. the fuel is ALWAYS worse using cruise than if you use your right foot but some folk swear by it. __________________ BMW X5 3.0sd SE with more extras than the cast of Ben Hur!!!! Mini Cooper Worx

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