Aftermarket cruise control worth it in the TJ?

[adventureboss]

I'm in college and my friends and I take road trips a lot in the TJ. Sometimes 1100-1200 miles in a day, and I'm usually the one driving. Mine is bone stock, has the soft top, the 6 speed and the 4.0. Sometimes it gets a little tiring driving it for that long with camping gear, luggage, and four guys because it gets thrown around in the wind quite a bit. I am trying to make it a little nicer to drive on long trips. Drove my friend's Fusion for 800 miles yesterday all by myself and it was so nice to just set the cruise control and not worry about it. I wasn't even tired when I reached home.

Is it worth it on the TJ? One thing I've noticed is that when it is windy, I'm constantly shifting between fifth and sixth since the headwinds and crosswinds cause me to slow down. With a stick and cruise control, am I going to completely ruin my fuel economy when it's windy out? I typically get about 15-16 mpg at 85 mph on the interstate. Obviously TJs aren't good on gas but even 2 mpg helps out during long hauls. Wondering if it's going to lug the motor when a headwind comes out of nowhere and I won't even realize it.

Does it really help much when driving long distance? I think the seating position in the TJs is great and I rarely seem to get cramps or need to relax my feet when driving but I'm wondering if having cruise is going to make me feel a little less tired after a long drive.

Also, I unfortunately will have to go with the Rostra kit. I already checked under the hood for that random factory wiring harness for cruise and I don't have it.

 

[JMT]

I'm in college and my friends and I take road trips a lot in the TJ. Sometimes 1100-1200 miles in a day, and I'm usually the one driving. Mine is bone stock, has the soft top, the 6 speed and the 4.0. Sometimes it gets a little tiring driving it for that long with camping gear, luggage, and four guys because it gets thrown around in the wind quite a bit. I am trying to make it a little nicer to drive on long trips. Drove my friend's Fusion for 800 miles yesterday all by myself and it was so nice to just set the cruise control and not worry about it. I wasn't even tired when I reached home.

Is it worth it on the TJ? One thing I've noticed is that when it is windy, I'm constantly shifting between fifth and sixth since the headwinds and crosswinds cause me to slow down. With a stick and cruise control, am I going to completely ruin my fuel economy when it's windy out? I typically get about 15-16 mpg at 85 mph on the interstate. Obviously TJs aren't good on gas but even 2 mpg helps out during long hauls. Wondering if it's going to lug the motor when a headwind comes out of nowhere and I won't even realize it.

Does it really help much when driving long distance? I think the seating position in the TJs is great and I rarely seem to get cramps or need to relax my feet when driving but I'm wondering if having cruise is going to make me feel a little less tired after a long drive.

Also, I unfortunately will have to go with the Rostra kit. I already checked under the hood for that random factory wiring harness for cruise and I don't have it.

I plan to add CC to mine for the same reasons. I have an auto now, but I think still worth it on a manual.

All I need is the servo. If anyone wants to sell one I’m in the market.

 

[TheBoogieman]

If you like it, go for it. IMO, cc is fine if you travel flat areas. When I drive in hilly areas it's a PITA, with the constant cutting in and out to maintain speed. I have it on my other vehicles and never use it.

 

[XCRN]

I use the Dakota Digitial (Repackaged Rostra) on my LS TJ and it does decent. Has its quirks and not as smooth as the factory cruise on my LJ. My main gripe is I do not like any of the mode select switches for a TJ. I would so much rather have the ability to control it with the steering wheel buttons which I am looking into making a little device to turn the signals from the factory cruise switch to something that the Rostra can use. It also has a rev cut-off around 2500rpm and I have ran into many times where my highway cruise is very close to that and it will cutoff since something like going down a hill pushed me over that rev limit.

 

[Moglocker]

I'm in college and my friends and I take road trips a lot in the TJ. Sometimes 1100-1200 miles in a day, and I'm usually the one driving. Mine is bone stock, has the soft top, the 6 speed and the 4.0. Sometimes it gets a little tiring driving it for that long with camping gear, luggage, and four guys because it gets thrown around in the wind quite a bit. I am trying to make it a little nicer to drive on long trips. Drove my friend's Fusion for 800 miles yesterday all by myself and it was so nice to just set the cruise control and not worry about it. I wasn't even tired when I reached home.

Is it worth it on the TJ? One thing I've noticed is that when it is windy, I'm constantly shifting between fifth and sixth since the headwinds and crosswinds cause me to slow down. With a stick and cruise control, am I going to completely ruin my fuel economy when it's windy out? I typically get about 15-16 mpg at 85 mph on the interstate. Obviously TJs aren't good on gas but even 2 mpg helps out during long hauls. Wondering if it's going to lug the motor when a headwind comes out of nowhere and I won't even realize it.

Does it really help much when driving long distance? I think the seating position in the TJs is great and I rarely seem to get cramps or need to relax my feet when driving but I'm wondering if having cruise is going to make me feel a little less tired after a long drive.

Also, I unfortunately will have to go with the Rostra kit. I already checked under the hood for that random factory wiring harness for cruise and I don't have it.

Just go with factory,they ar cheap to do and better

 

[Zorba]

I installed the Rostra unit over the stock version on mine for the specific reason that I did NOT want the buttons on the steering wheel. As @XCRN says, it does have its quirks, although I don't think they're bad - the worst is if I press one of the buttons when I haven't finished letting the clutch out all the way - it actually crashes the thing and I have to turn it off and back on to get it to respond again (Suspected stack imbalance in their code, probably to do with an Interrupt Service Routine.). It was pretty easy to install.

Here's the blow-by-blow: https://www.doubleveil.net/jeep/thirty.htm

 

[Moglocker]

I installed the Rostra unit over the stock version on mine for the specific reason that I did NOT want the buttons on the steering wheel. As @XCRN says, it does have its quirks, although I don't think they're bad - the worst is if I press one of the buttons when I haven't finished letting the clutch out all the way - it actually crashes the thing and I have to turn it off and back on to get it to respond again (Suspected stack imbalance in their code, probably to do with an Interrupt Service Routine.). It was pretty easy to install.

Here's the blow-by-blow: https://www.doubleveil.net/jeep/thirty.htm

We drive our jeep all over the country when we roof camp,the factory is pretty much flawless barring large hills but even climbing mountain passes I can set the c-c in 2nd gear at 40mph and all is well.

 

[adventureboss]

Just wanted to update: I bought and installed the Rostra unit. So far, I love it. Installation was easier than I thought it would be, just had to reread the instructions a few times as they are a little confusing.

I didn’t bother with the clutch switch. Only time I really need to shift other than inclines is if I’m slowing down, in which the brake disengages the cruise anyways.

 

[Zorba]

Just wanted to update: I bought and installed the Rostra unit. So far, I love it. Installation was easier than I thought it would be, just had to reread the instructions a few times as they are a little confusing.

I didn’t bother with the clutch switch. Only time I really need to shift other than inclines is if I’m slowing down, in which the brake disengages the cruise anyways.

Yea, you can get by without it - the engine doesn't rev up very fast at all.

 

[Brianj5600]

@adventureboss I think your 06 uses the parts as my 04. When I did mine I used parts from 99+ Grand Cherokees. There are two different CC, cruise control buttons,. Remove the air bag and the closeouts and look for connectors for CC. There is also a connector on the left fender that is prewired. All of the CC actuators are the same. The TJ uses the longest cable, but you can use any of the cables. I would look for the longest cable you can find in the junk yard. If those connector are there you will only need a vacuum connector.

 

[adventureboss]

Yea, you can get by without it - the engine doesn't rev up very fast at all.

Even if it does the rev limiter is there for a reason

 

[adventureboss]

@adventureboss I think your 06 uses the parts as my 04. When I did mine I used parts from 99+ Grand Cherokees. There are two different CC, cruise control buttons,. Remove the air bag and the closeouts and look for connectors for CC. There is also a connector on the left fender that is prewired. All of the CC actuators are the same. The TJ uses the longest cable, but you can use any of the cables. I would look for the longest cable you can find in the junk yard. If those connector are there you will only need a vacuum connector.

I’m not prewired for it. I thought I was going insane because everyone told me I should have the plug, but I legitmately don’t. I must’ve checked like 10 times. If I did though I would have gone factory.

 

[Strizzo]

I’m not prewired for it. I thought I was going insane because everyone told me I should have the plug, but I legitmately don’t. I must’ve checked like 10 times. If I did though I would have gone factory.

Mine was originally delivered for rental fleet and is also not prewired.

 

[aston4]

Where did you order the unit and how much was it? Adding factory CC to my '97, while theoretically possible, isn't realistic and would take years to piece together.

 

[Zorba]

Got mine from here:

https://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/

 

[aston4]

Got mine from here:

https://www.thecruisecontrolstore.com/

$440

Hmmmm

I hardly ever take it on long drives, and have other cars with CC. Not sure. Might be nice though. If it was my daily I would probably buy it.

Most of the time in modern cars, I use CC not for long distance comfort, instead to keep from EXCESSIVELY exceeding the speed limit and having to deal with Mr Law Enforcement, because modern cars are so smooth and quiet and isolating now. In old Jeeps - old school cars in general, I know exactly how fast I'm going from the noise and vibration, like everyone did back in the day.

I have one newish car that at 120mph feels slower (exaggeration?... not really), and is still much quieter than the TJ at 20mph. Which makes the TJ much more fun and interesting.

When I was younger I used to dream of owning cars that could cruise and handle effortlessly at high speed. I had no idea how BORING they would be now that I actually have them. Even weirder is they are all the same. All quiet, all smooth, all comfortable, with the main difference in the expensive "Luxury" brands being stuffed with sound insulation... making them even more isolating. Without looking at the badging I would be hard pressed to describe any real driving differences between a Toyota or an Audi or a Lexus or Acura or Porsche or Buick or Volvo or Volkswagen. They all drive the same. They all take continuous effort to keep reasonably near the speed limit, constantly having to stare at the speedometer. Without cruise control, I would lose my license quickly to speed traps.

 

[Zorba]

$440

Hmmmm

I hardly ever take it on long drives, and have other cars with CC. Not sure. Might be nice though. If it was my daily I would probably buy it.

Most of the time in modern cars, I use CC not for long distance comfort, instead to keep from EXCESSIVELY exceeding the speed limit and having to deal with Mr Law Enforcement, because modern cars are so smooth and quiet and isolating now. In old Jeeps - old school cars in general, I know exactly how fast I'm going from the noise and vibration, like everyone did back in the day.

I have one newish car that at 120mph feels slower (exaggeration?... not really), and is still much quieter than the TJ at 20mph. Which makes the TJ much more fun and interesting.

When I was younger I used to dream of owning cars that could cruise and handle effortlessly at high speed. I had no idea how BORING they would be now that I actually have them. Even weirder is they are all the same. All quiet, all smooth, all comfortable, with the main difference in the expensive "Luxury" brands being stuffed with sound insulation... making them even more isolating. Without looking at the badging I would be hard pressed to describe any real driving differences between a Toyota or an Audi or a Lexus or Acura or Porsche or Buick or Volvo or Volkswagen. They all drive the same. They all take continuous effort to keep reasonably near the speed limit, constantly having to stare at the speedometer. Without cruise control, I would lose my license quickly to speed traps.

$440?!? Wow - they sure have gone up! I think I paid $250, no longer sure...

I insist on CC - its the only "technology" I'll tolerate on a vehicle but I use it heavily. I have the opposite problem, I'll start to go slower and/or traffic will speed up and I won't. Hell, I'll engage CC to drive 1/2 of a mile!

 

[adventureboss]

$440

Hmmmm

I hardly ever take it on long drives, and have other cars with CC. Not sure. Might be nice though. If it was my daily I would probably buy it.

Most of the time in modern cars, I use CC not for long distance comfort, instead to keep from EXCESSIVELY exceeding the speed limit and having to deal with Mr Law Enforcement, because modern cars are so smooth and quiet and isolating now. In old Jeeps - old school cars in general, I know exactly how fast I'm going from the noise and vibration, like everyone did back in the day.

I have one newish car that at 120mph feels slower (exaggeration?... not really), and is still much quieter than the TJ at 20mph. Which makes the TJ much more fun and interesting.

When I was younger I used to dream of owning cars that could cruise and handle effortlessly at high speed. I had no idea how BORING they would be now that I actually have them. Even weirder is they are all the same. All quiet, all smooth, all comfortable, with the main difference in the expensive "Luxury" brands being stuffed with sound insulation... making them even more isolating. Without looking at the badging I would be hard pressed to describe any real driving differences between a Toyota or an Audi or a Lexus or Acura or Porsche or Buick or Volvo or Volkswagen. They all drive the same. They all take continuous effort to keep reasonably near the speed limit, constantly having to stare at the speedometer. Without cruise control, I would lose my license quickly to speed traps.

$440?! I bought it recently from that site and could swear I paid closer to $350. Honestly if you have other cars as your daily I probably wouldn't bother in your shoes. The TJ is my daily driver and I drive about 45k miles in a year travelling so for me it was definitely worth it. Agreed with the newer nicer cars. I've caught myself doing 100+ in BMWs a few times without realizing it. It's boring. My old convertible Mini was the same way as the TJ in that you could really feel the speed. Too bad it was an unreliable pos though.

 

[aston4]

$440?! I bought it recently from that site and could swear I paid closer to $350. Honestly if you have other cars as your daily I probably wouldn't bother in your shoes. The TJ is my daily driver and I drive about 45k miles in a year travelling so for me it was definitely worth it. Agreed with the newer nicer cars. I've caught myself doing 100+ in BMWs a few times without realizing it. It's boring. My old convertible Mini was the same way as the TJ in that you could really feel the speed. Too bad it was an unreliable pos though.

Yeah, that's about where I always end up, when thinking about cruise control. Just not worth the trouble and expense for what is, for me, a super fun ride, but not a daily or distance driver.

If CC was $150 aftermarket, maybe even $200, I would slap it in, just because it's a fun and easy project. But for $440 in my use case, just not worth it.


ETA: also, my experience with aftermarket CC is they tend to fail after 5-7 years, making them worth even less to me.

 

[macleanflood]

I just bought a 2000 Sahara that's rusted out. It's got a complete cruise control system. Servo. Steering wheel with buttons.

I don't think I could move it to my 97.

I think the only way to really make it work would essentially be converting my 97 to the 2000 PCM, engine...since it has coil packs...and everything. That would also get me a 32rh.

Possibly a future project. Right now I'm just parting out enough of the 2000 to cover my purchase costs.

-Mac