traction control question

Realize that a locked rear and open front (4WD-Lo), you do have the two rear tires working... but if the dirt under the front tires is not equal, or one tire is off the ground, only one tire will spin in the front, and it is the tire with less or 0 traction.

A-TRAC is 'true' four wheel drive in that all four tires get equal power/ torque by the unique rotation matching system. Only after-market lockers come close to that kind of traction... and most guys who pay thousands for it will swear it is better than A-TRAC... and I don't blame them!

The power of A-TRAC is equal to the power of a front locker add on in that with both systems, you need just one front tire on solid ground to drive the truck... It has been shown on videos, and I have experienced it myself in my truck.

I am not knocking add-on front lockers... I am promoting the Toyota made system that come standard on the 4WD Off Road TRD.

 

Not saying it is equal to front and rear lockers... but there is nothing available from Toyota that comes as close to four locked wheels as A-TRAC. It will take you far and beyond past where open or limited slip will. The point of my posts on A-TRAC is to explain what it is or does (since Toyota.com or salesmen do not).

 

I know what it can do.. and agree with both of you. but for the wheelin I do, and most other people I'm sure. We dont use Atrac often.. if at all. I've tried It one time.. and honestly.. couldn't tell a bit of difference.. i was still stuck. Plus.. you can only use it under 3 mph.. which I am very wary of.. I would hate to be out somewhere, accidentally go over that 3 mph threshold and blow the front diff. I disagree that its true 4wd because its transfering power to the wheel with grip.. which I'm sure it does a good job, bit. Only locked front and rear Is true 4wd.. regardless.. I was trying to start a whole Atrac thing.. just explaining what I personally do and choose when I wheel.. especially since it was about the locker mod and when and how I use that. 4hi or lo locked.. gets me everywhere I have pointed the truck. Dunes, mud, rocks, etc. Anywho.. I'm done.

Forana: you can pm me if you need any help with it.

 

have you?


other than watching videos on youtube, i don't think you have actual experience in seeing it work on any trail over moderate difficulty aside from watching HBMurphy in person on the Santa Maria Mission Trail.


and yes, i have indeed seen stock ATRAC Toyota's on the trail.

i have been on the trail many times with ATARC equipped tacos and FJ's and i know first hand how it works. i have seen ATRAC work like a charm . and i have also been where ATRAC was prohibiting the progression of the vehicle over the very same obstacle i had trouble with, once the driver turned off ATRAC he was able to get past. and this was before i equipped my own taco with a front locker and 35" tires. and the truth about Moab, there are more trails in difficulty that even my Tacoma can't touch that are only capable in a dedicated rockcrawler.

they are fun and challenging trails indeed, too bad that you won't dare to experience those kinds of trails as i have.

but you never answered my original question. will a ATRAC equipped vehicle (without a front locker) get me through those trails?

so, in saying this. do you think with my current modifications and without having a front locker but having ATRAC instead; would i successfully complete the trails that i do? the simple answer is no because while ATARC is a great system, it is not able to handle the bigger challenges of a more difficult trail.

exactly what places that you have been to in your stock height Tacoma with no sliders, no under armor protection( not having a proper skid plate), moderately aggresive A/T tires in stock tire size and in a leased vehicle?
i agree that ATRAC got you farther then your previous tacos. but you still have not been on a trail in difficulty that has tested the ability of the ATRAC system. and honestly i don't blame you since your taco is leased and basically in stock condition.

100% true, and nobody in this forum has said anything to the contrary

and this is why everybody's pantys gets in a bunch..this is the smoking gun, this is why everyone goes crazy around here


that is a false and misleading statement at it's best!


ATRAC while being a great system for the easy/moderate trails does not at all come close to the traction performance of an aftermarket front locker, not even close. and besides, it does not cost thousands of dollars to equip a taco with a aftermarket front locker. can be reasonably done in under 500 bucks going the non-selectable route. the most popular option is done around for 1700 bucks going with the selectable ARB locker.

here we go again. that is a false and misleading statement. ATRAC does not equal the power of a front locker.

and once again, ATRAC is a great system for the easy/moderate trails. i have seen it in action with my own eyes and it does indeed work very well





have a great day!

 

A-TRAC > GOD

/thread

 

This thread was interesting, then it was boring, now its getting interesting again

 

yep

 

Monkey: I have experienced it and there is a (somewhat poorly done) video showing that just one tire with traction, and blocked at that moves a truck ahead... I was stuck, going uphill... the back tires were off the ground and I was high centered in my diff. and spare tire... The front tires were on uneven surface... luck that one tire was planted... A-TRAC pulled me free...

You also mis-read my statement above... I said: "only after-market lockers come close to that kind of traction" How did you turn that into a negative on lockers? I have said a dozen times that Lockers are 100% traction, and A-TRAC is the next best thing. Its advantages are FREE with the OR TRD, and steering is unaffected. HB Murphy was only one of three vehicles that had front lockers of the 6 vehicles... all the front locked vehicles required unlocking for the tight turns on the trail... Art told me he believed the A-TRAC was a better system after witnessing the ease in which I could go everywhere without problems or locking and unlocking differentials.

The person above who thinks A-TRAC only works to 3 mph is also mistaken... That is only the case if you have the rear diff. locked. Otherwise, A-TRAC is on (active) at any speed you drive while in L-4.

 

I don't mean to butt in here but I have the 2011 TRD Sport 4X4 and it doesn't have the atrac switch or rr diff lock. regarding my truck, could somebody explain the different modes and how they are selected, what they do and examples of when they should be used?
I know that's allot to ask all at once but it would be appreciated.

 

yes i did indeed misread your statement, sorry about that.

the point being is you always word it, or phrase it so that it implies ATRAC is superior but at the same time you back pedal and say the front locker is better. when you do that, that is when everybody goes around here.

and, is it so hard to press a button to disengage the front locker to make a sharp turn, that it makes such a huge disadvantage as you make it out to be? that is just a method of over glorifying your ATRAC vs. front locker rhetoric.

all i ask is that you stop implying ATRAC is better then a front locker. and before you say you have not...i have read most of your previous posts/replies for reference and yes, you have done so. plenty of times.

on a good note....

your topics and knowledge about ATRAC is very helpful to the newbies and to those that don't know about how it works. and believe it or not, i have refereed a few new members to your topic. you should be commended for that, and be deemed King ATARC The Great. and im serious about that




have a wonderful night

 

The Sports don't have the locking Diff or ATRAC , those only come with the TRD Offroad package .

 

Thank you Monkey...

and thank you OZ-T... IGO4LOW sent me a PM asking that, but my reply wouldn't go back to him because of some issue with his user name... ??? Oh well... My answer was The SPORT has the SAME traction systems as ALL Tacomas (TRAC and AUTO LSD), but the Off Road Tacomas are the only ones with a rear locker. The 4WD Off Road Tacomas have the locker and A-TRAC (and the hydraulic brake booster to make it work).

 

Talk about mental masturbation... this is like a remake of ground hog day!



Now lets start a thread on the programming of the transmission ECT-i and how it learns to work with different driving techniques.

 

As a new site member and as the new owner of a 2012 trd off road I have found davidk's posts extremely helpful in figuring out the various different modes and functions of the traction control systems. The owners manual is lacking in subject matter other than the basic functions for new 4wd owners.

Whilst his posts are nearly always positive and concise the sheer amount of ridicule he withstands is the exact reason I seldom frequent internet forums.
The gotchas and snide remarks really take away from the enjoyment this forum can provide.

Having wheeled on and off for 20 years is it not about getting out and enjoying the sport?

Back to your regular thrashing grow up!

 

Thank you for your words... I have a strong desire to help other Tacoma four wheelers out there ever since I was helped here 2 years ago when I got my new 2010 and wanted to know what the levels of traction control were and what was really happeneing with each. A couple of members were very helpful, and I appreciated it a lot.

I was 'old school' having owned four wheel drives since 1975, but the new technology is amazing.

I have received many private messages/ questions about traction controls/ A-TRAC from members who do not want to be part of the child-talk on the forum (or what-ever) you want to call it.

Anytime I can assist a TW member with what I have learned, I am happy to help!

 

Hear, hear.

Although I realize David is a bit over zealous about this stuff. I also know that some are way over invested in their personal possessions. Example: Ask someone here what '___fill_in_the_blank___' to buy for their truck and 98% of the responses will be what they have bought for their truck - regardless of your needs and tastes. Being right is the number one 'desire' of human beings.

David is an EXTREMELY helpful guy - evidenced by his willingness to continue to extend an arm amidst a constant shit storm of criticism - some warranted and some not.

David helped this asshole (me) get past my the issue of Mexico being a fucked up land of thuggery. He was gracious enough to show me a great time in Mexico and to be what felt as though a personal escort and international ambassador.

This lifting of my fear of Mexico, led to being able to participate in the Baja 1000 - including co-driving thru the streets of Ensenada and through the first 100 or so miles.



For David's insistance and effort to get a complete stranger to overcome his thought that Mexico was a fun place, I am extremely grateful.



Should David ignore the taunting posts? I believe, yes. It just pollutes what has become a port-o-potty of crap.

Carry on...

Oh yeah, thanks.

 

Thanks Paul... It was fun time last year in Baja, even though the trip out was less than typical with the rear diff. in Neal's Tacoma blowing up. But, the best memories come from the trips with the most drama! I have lot's of great trips to Baja... but the times I was stuck are the ones easiest to remember and laugh about, now!

I am only worried that now with A-TRAC, I may never get stuck again!!?? LOL