Cruise Control for 80 series
Submitted: Monday, Jul 24, 2006 at 18:23
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Member - Cruiser (NSW)
Has anyone got any first hand experience with having a cruise control fitted to their 80 series cruiser, and if so, what brands.
Would appreciate any comments on the pros and cons of any brand.
Thanks in advance.
Reply By: Member - john R (VIC) - Monday, Jul 24, 2006 at 22:04
Monday, Jul 24, 2006 at 22:04
yes i have cruise fitted to my 80 series and
mine is turbo diesel. I have been travelling around for the last 3 or so years and before i left i fitted a good quality vdo unit which cost around $800.00. I have been towing a
Kimberley camper with small boat and i never use control as fuel economy is terrible when towing. Like other menber said when car gets on slight incline and cruise tries to keep up car then goes to full fuel which just pours diesel in even if not burning just as long as cruise maintains speed. My suggestion is if you suffer from fatigue then travelling smaller distances is the go and spend that extra money on accomadation.
Happy travelling
john
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185123
Reply By: Nordave06 - Monday, Jul 24, 2006 at 23:31
Monday, Jul 24, 2006 at 23:31
I have had cruise controllers on my last 4 4wds. two I fitted and two factory fitted. Both the ones I fitted were the K mart ap 50 type.
Living in the North West of Australia, every where we go means several thousand km of long road trip to get there. I would not be with out the cruise control.
As others have said they are not good for fuel econamy in hilly areas. But in the bush were you can have several hundred kms between any substantial hills they are great. The main reason the fuel use goes up is because the controller is just a dumb unit which works straight off drive shaft revs. as the revs drop the unit pushes the throttle down to keep the speed up. Humans towing caravans can look ahead and see a rise coming. if you can, most people gradually speed up a bit to compensate. then they allow the speed to drop a bit up the rise to maintain the economy. The controller will not compensate so uses more fuel. Bit simplistic I know but after using cruise controllers for over 15 years thats my 2 bobs worth.
They are also usefull in long boring lower speed zones, no accidently going over the limit.( happens to the best of us :-)
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185138
Reply By: Bidgee1 - Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 at 18:32
Tuesday, Jul 25, 2006 at 18:32
We have the Auto Ron on our 93 GXL 4.5 litre manual. It's nicer to drive on a long trip, we tow a camper in 5th at 90-100kph, careful to change down early on inclines (worried about that 5th gear breaking in the box when under load). Fuel consumption....still awful, I mean really grim, we've experimented with slower, 4th gear, driving at a set rev limit, doesn't make much diff with the cruise on or off. It's nicer with it on. Earlier posts re worse in hilly terrain are correct though, you can feel the accelerator go to the boards in an incline.
Still, I would recommend one, just not for fuel consumption. There are other benefits and you don't need all that optional stuff, just "resume".
Good Luck
Steve
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185273