2007 TRD vs. 2013 TRD

I've got a 2007 CC 4wd V6 TRD Tacoma as a work truck and I've been looking at a new 2013 Tacoma identical to the one I have as a replacement (my 2007 has 285,000 miles on it).

One thing I noticed though is that it appears that you have to get the atrac junk to get the TRD Offroad package now. My 2007 has the TRD package with the rear locker, but no atrac.

So is it true that you have to get the atrac to get the rear locker now?

 

Yes sir. ..all new trd offroads after 2009 have the atrac system

 

Crap, didn't really want that on my work truck. Anyway to disable it without throwing a light?

It's a good system for the rocks, but I only see a lot of mud at work.

 

i believe its off unless you select it.

 

I think it’s off till you go into 4lo or select it. idk know for sure.

because i have a ’07 DCSB TRD off road 4x4 as well. but with like 51k on it.

 

If it's off until you go to 4low, what if I need the locker so I go into 4low but I want to spin the tires to clear mud-is the atrac going to "nanny" me from cleaning mud out of the tires?

 

I know I'm a little new to mudding but isn't it a little hard to spin in 4lo? I've always used 4hi in muddy situations and kept it moving. 4lo seems to be more useful for sloooooow rock crawling situations.

Lol, don't flame me, just my take on it

 

no need to use 4lo in mud really, just give it more gas and you should power thru it. I have never used 4lo and locker in mud. 4HI and gas it.

but i’m not sure if it turns on in 4lo or if it’s on another switch.

 

I also drag a 5-6k pound trailer through the mud at times as well so 4lo can be useful. Muddy hillclimbs also work better with the locker on. Not new to this guys, got over a million miles under my belt, just trying to understand this atrac junk before I buy a truck with it.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-controls-trac-auto-lsd-trac-rear-locker.html

this should explain everything for ya

 

Its just like the locker, you have to turn it on. You can run in 4lo without it

 

Thank you, that helps a lot

 

like raz said, there is a button to turn it on (4lo only). its located right below the stereo near the aux port. reason why they put it there? no clue. also, i believe atrac even when engaged, will not come or disable itself at a certain mph.

 

I hope it does help, do keep in mind that since I wrote that post, there was some changes made in 2012 to the TRAC/AUTO LSD system in H4, perhaps adding a 10th drive mode choice?

Also, A-TRAC is fantastic... this is coming from someone who had an 2001 4WD Off Road and a 2005 4WD Off Road before... the rear locker is great, but A-TRAC gives you locker-like traction on the front and rear tires!

A-TRAC only comes on with the A-TRAC button depressed, in L4. So, if you want free spinning, open differential action, just leave it off or turn it off. However, if you ever come to the foot of a near-cliff you want to climb... or a mud bog you want to cross... or got stuck because it was off when it could have been on... Press the A-TRAC button!

In H4, you also can de-activate the traction control as it is normally on in H4 (and H2) because of the superior traction improvement over simple open differentials. Here's how: Stop the truck, press and hold in the VSC Off switch until VSC Off light comes on (about 3-5 seconds). VSC and TRAC are both de-activated until you press the button again, or re-start your truck, or do something that could cause a roll over.

I have run many comparison tests, and H4 with TRAC will-out climb L4 without A-TRAC.

The rear locker takes you further, naturally... and A-TRAC will get you beyond all other choices that come stock on a new Tacoma. You can have both back tires off the ground (spinning, even with a locker on) and if only one front tire with good traction, the A-TRAC will pull you out of the stuck, even if uphill! Without A-TRAC (or an after-market front locker) you would be stuck, since an open differential will power the tire that spins the easiest, not the one that will pull you out!

 

The speed limit for A-TRAC is if you also have the rear locker on, then the A-TRAC only becomes active under 3 mph.. in other words when you are about stuck... then it goes on to act as a front locker to get you unstuck, and once you are over 3 mph, it is back in rest mode.

Without the rear locked, then it will work when you have one wheel spin faster than the other on the same axle... locking or matching tire rotation across the axle to keep you rolling. You won't be going that fast in low range, and if you could drive any speed... then you won't be needing the A-TRAC as it only works if you stop moving from loss of traction. An amazing device!

Try extreme off roading with only the A-TRAC first... if you have an issue moving, then add the rear locker... Toyota does post that it is for emergency use (getting unstuck), while there is no limit warning for the A-TRAC device.

Have Fun!!

 

Do you really need a Off-Road? If not, get a Sport or SR5 4x4, none of them have atrac.

 

I ask those with a Sport: "Do you really need a fake scoop on the hood?" Most don't realize it is fake or realize there is more traction in the Off Road, until after they buy. The rest just like the looks of the Sport, and traction systems aren't needed... as in your question.

Obviously, if one wants the most traction for the price of the truck, you get an Off Road 4WD... no other model has both the locking rear differential and the A-TRAC device that provides near-locker-like traction on the front... at no extra cost!

 

I do need the rear locker, I would never buy the TRD sport

 

Too bad about the useless 5' " box "