was wondering do any of you boater's use your cruise control when you pull your boat's

I have heard that towing with cruise control on will mess it up?

It really is a good idea not to cruise unless tranny and engine are more than adequate. I never run over 4th in my 5 speed cause it just wont do it unless I am running down hill. I know my last trucks overdrive tranny recommended not using OD for pulling a load and also recomended caution on using cruise.

I would not use crusie when pulling a boat (and I don't). The reason is that the tranny will shift automatically constantly to try to maintain the speed. That will overheat your tranny and cause you to have a failure.

Depends on the truck. I have a 2500HD and it does just fine with the cruise on.

If your vehicle is setup for towing; transmission cooler, adequate torque for the job, etc. you should not have a problem as long as don�t tow with an automatic in Overdrive. Maybe if your towing in hilly terrain and the transmission is constantly shifting in and out of high gear/torque converter lock you can turn the cruise off. Then once the hills smooth out turn it back on.

Personally we always tow with the cruise on. Towing as little as a lowly Jon boats to as large as a 23 Mako, all with half-ton vehicles.

James

When towing anything.....cruise does not matter at all. Over drive is what matters. Over drive lets your truck/car/whatever shift in to the final/5th gear. If your load is to heavy your truck will shift to 5th but then right back in to 4th to catch back up then in to 5th then back in to 4th to catch back up. This will happen weather your in cruise or not. Turn the over drive off when towing something so that this extra shifting does not have to happen. then put it in cruise and get ready for a smooth ride. If you own a standard then just keep it in 4th gear and put the cruise on. If you own a huge truck with a big enough engine then it does not matter what ya do as long as if does not shift back and forth.

thank's for all the info guy's i own a 97 chevy extcab with a vortecV6 and pull a little 15' bayliner.When i drive with the cruise on it will maintain desired speed then when i hit a hill will shift into overdrive for about 7 second's or till it hit's halfway up the hill then shift back.feel's smooth just wanted to know if this was a good idea to tow with the cruise on thank you!

Saul,

If you use cruise or not don't tow ANYTHING with that truck in OVERDRIVE. That is unless you don't mind getting the transmission rebuilt.

The GM overdrives aren't the strongest and that heavy of truck is already a load for a V-6.

My .02
James