Aftermarket cruise control

MB LeMirage · March 31, 2016, 02:23:46 PM

Hi all.
I am hoping that the combined knowledge of the board will have some help on the subject of aftermarket cruise controls.
Has anybody here installed one? If so, which brand? How hard? What sort of hidden costs are there. I have an 8v71 with the Dana 6spd tranny and no factory cruise.
Ryan.

chessie4905 · March 31, 2016, 04:35:26 PM

King is a heavy duty one for big trucks that has been around for quite a while. Has a good rep. There is also Rostra cruise that has been used with success. It is probably 1/2 as much as king but many use it. There use to be a member of the Bus Nut site that sold them and would help with setting it up and any issues that might crop up. If I didn't already have a King to install, I would go with the Rostra. The one made byAudiovox looks to be similar and the one audivox unit doesn't need a vacuum source. The King unit uses air pressure from the air system. Don't know what the Rostra uses....vacuum or electronic. One nice thing about the King is that you can set up a fast dle with it if you don't presently have that option.
https://www.google.com/url?

The only issue is that I think these are only available in 12 volt, so you would need a 12 volt source as an a voltage reducer if you don't already have something.
sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.cruisecontrolking.com/&ved=0ahUKEwin8JuBj-zLAhVMSRoKHX09BMgQFggdMAA&usg=AFQjCNGK0ncRTyMt33qlWrZ50JBG-hIpUA[/urll

[url=https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.rostra.com/&ved=0ahUKEwj55pzCj-zLAhVDmBoKHczmDM8QFggyMAA&usg=AFQjCNE2_7ZxplWLibH-0m-dSsPwivuQ6A]https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.rostra.com/&ved=0ahUKEwj55pzCj-zLAhVDmBoKHczmDM8QFggyMAA&usg=AFQjCNE2_7ZxplWLibH-0m-dSsPwivuQ6A

luvrbus · March 31, 2016, 05:02:39 PM

The King 2500 is the best for your setup they also have the fast idle option ,I use the King if people don't have a cruise when I install Jakes it's cheaper than the combo fast idle ,buffer switch for the Jake setup fwiw

MB LeMirage · March 31, 2016, 06:44:06 PM

Thanks guys. I do have the fast idle already just no cruise or jakes. There is a switch plate for jakes on my dash but it is empty panel. Which sucks but oh well. Do you know the average price for one of these kits?
Ryan.

buswarrior · March 31, 2016, 07:07:23 PM

http://www.cruisecontrolking.com/

happy coaching!
buswarrior

kyle4501 · March 31, 2016, 07:09:03 PM

King Cruise website $595

MB LeMirage · March 31, 2016, 09:14:57 PM

Thanks guys.
Ryan.

TomC · March 31, 2016, 11:24:40 PM

I have an air throttle on my bus with the V730 Allison. So to have the throttle modulator also work, I installed the King Cruise on the right side of the dash with the control cable going down through the floor looping back up through the driver's floor to pull down on the gas pedal. The speed controller is a through unit on the speedometer drive on the transmission. Then have just two switches on the dash-on/off, and on-off-on momentary switch to go faster or slower. Then connected to the stop light switch for braking cancellation. I did have to put a 100 ohm resistor grounded since my LED brake lights weren't pulling enough juice for the King Cruise control unit to pick up. Can have fast idle. I have had zero problems with the unit. Good Luck, TomC

MB LeMirage · April 01, 2016, 05:39:54 AM

Thanks Tom, I also have the air throttle set up, just with a standard tranny so I will have to rig up a clutch disengage as well.
Ryan.

chessie4905 · April 01, 2016, 08:20:56 AM

I know that the Rostra and Audivox will both work with air throttles and come with clutch disengage option in their setups, plus many pieces to adapt to many different throttle setups. I've used both vacuum and electronic versions with good results. One was on a Burgman scooter and the other on a Suzuki Vitara. The have several dip switch settings for various uses; engine size,accelerating rate clutch switch, etc.
There is a PDF on their site of the manual. Just remember that you need 12 volts.

TomC · April 01, 2016, 10:06:59 AM

With manual transmission with air throttle, you can mount the cruise control unit on the engine. The only reason I mounted mine under the dash pulling on the gas pedal is to have the air modulator also be used on the Allison transmission. A clutch deactivation switch is easy to set up with a micro switch-I believe King Cruise has that option. Clutch deactivation switch works differently than the brake switch. Clutch deactivation should automatically resume cruise control after shift. Whereas the brake switch, you have to manually reactivate the cruise control. Good Luck, TomC

MB LeMirage · April 01, 2016, 10:28:26 AM

Thanks guys, much appreciated. The snow is mostly gone now, though we are supposed to get another 2-6 cm this weekend, and I can not wait to get started on the bus again. I even have someone coming for a bunch of the seats this weekend.
Ryan.