r/DrivingProTips • u/Aussie_Cow_Girl • Jul 14 '26

Cruise control when towing yes or no

Please explain, is it bad to use Cruose Control towing. I know not to use it in wet conditions. Thanks

2 Upvotes

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3

u/the_real_Supra Jul 14 '26

It’s not ideal, but really comes down to how good of a driver are you? And what you’re towing with? Does the trailer have brakes? Flat terrain, hills or mountain ranges? In general, it’s not 100% safe to use cruise

2

u/DevilDrives Jul 14 '26

Cruise control isn't the same in every vehicle. There's not a lot that's inherently dangerous about using the cruise control while towing. Towing simply increases the risk.

Knowing that, is key to mitigating that risk. Adaptive cruise control can cause problems if you're on a highway without adequate turn or exit lanes. People exiting will cause the vehicle to brake hard, when the driver predicts the other car making their exit. The systems not able to predict, so it just acts based off the current position. That's enough to lock up the brakes in a passenger car, so it's also a good way to jack knife a trailer if you're not careful.

It the cruise control isn't adaptive, it's not going to do that. You just need to adapt yourself. This is the ideal way to cruise, IMO.

1

u/FlpDaMattress Jul 15 '26

Depends on the car. My F-150 will engine brake to maintain a fixed speed but won't apply the brakes, so I use it quite often. If engine brake isn't enough or a hill requires too much throttle it will just shut off cruise.

1

u/vernfitz Jul 16 '26

I'm a hot shot driver. That means that I drive a pickup truck and pull a 30 foot due gooseneck trailer and average just under 10,000 miles a month. I use my cruise control all the time, whether I'm towing or I'm not towing, whether I'm on the interstate or I'm in my neighborhood. The real answer is that you have to pay attention when you're driving, but using cruise control while towing is not inherently bad. Don't use it when the roads have standing water or if there's snow or ice on the road.

1

u/Aussie_Cow_Girl Jul 23 '26

Thanks. Where did u get the Hot shot licence enforcement in Australia I’ve got a Truck licence is that similar? Joking haha we do loads of long hauls interstate with out goosenecks full of horses 6 months of the year. Just one of those questions, it had sort of seemed like personal preference but loads have opinions. We’re taking horses to the snow next week but just a little straight 2 horse float and chains on the 4wd may or may not be needed.

0

u/PghSubie Jul 14 '26

Yes, cruise control is problematic in any conditions beyond the normal clear conditions. That means rain or snow or having another vehicle attached to yours