So How Good is the Factory Traction Control (Front ARB Discussion)

So how well does the factory traction control work in the 2016 Tacomas? Not talking the crawl control stuff but the MTS (I think it's called). I've always got it turned off so I don't have a whole lot of experience with it - forget to use it).

I'm about to install gears on mine and was thinking while I'm at it (hopefully never again) I can throw in an ARB.

My truck has an Icon stage 5 with extended travel coilovers and 35's. Also has an auto. Mine is also TRD off road with the factory rear locker.

With that said, I don't see myself doing anything more difficult than elephant hill/hells revenge/poison spider/rubicon in my truck.

Am I just wasting money on the ARB? So far I can think of one instance on elephant hill the locker would have been useful. But I manage to get a little momentum and power through.

If I was talking non traction control vehicles I'd know the answer. But this is my first off road vehicle with traction control.

 

So about that factory traction control...

 

I've used MTS occasionally. The first few times were just on unmaintained dirt trails. I didn't notice much if any difference but I really didnt need to be using it. The last time I used it was on the beach and I noticed a big difference in traction. The truck slid around a lot less when I turned on the MTS vs 4h or 4l without MTS. The truck tracked a lot straighter and was a lot less work to keep it straight.

 

ARB lockers are great but do you think you will REALLY need one? Have you considered something like a Detroit TruTrac? With all the nonsense like traction control on Toyotas this may be a decent option and you dont have to worry about it, maintenance free, no switches, hoses, or drive requirements.

When I switch gears I'll likely go this route, its simpler cheaper, an LSD that is based on torque is awesome. It's like a part time locker.

 

I used mine about the same as you. Just on dirt roads for sole reason so use it. I never thought to use it on more difficult stuff. The rear locked I've used a lot and has been very helpful.

I don't think I NEED one. But I also probably don't need a winch either, but I'm getting one. A lot of the time I'm out by myself (other person but one truck) so the recovery aspect would be nice. I've had a winch on a previous vehicle and for the years I had it, I only used it once. And it was to get through a gate in a rock crawling comp. Otherwise I could have just backed down and tried again.

I might be one of those guys, but I'm scared to put a real locker in the front of an IFS vehicle. Maybe it was dedicate for trail use. But I feel like using a full time locker like that I'd be breaking CV's and bending steering components all day long.

Unless I don't know what a TruTrac is. I've used rear spools/lock rights/full detroits and in the front full detroits/lock rights but never a TruTrac.

 

Do they have fake factory rear lockers?


Is it real or is it fake?

 

Tru Trac is an LSD not a full time locker. So the Detroit Locker in my Jeep is full time, the moment you touch the gas both wheels are locked. Instead, TruTrac works like an LSD so your wheels can turn at different rates when driving under nomral conditions. When one of your front wheels begins to slip TruTrac redirects torque to the wheel with traction. So basically when one wheel is in the air (or spinning because it cant grab), Trutrac redirects all power to the wheel with traction.

 

I'm blaming that on Steve Jobs auto-correcting! Posted that from my phone.

I'll check it out!

 

Isn't that exactly what ATRAC does but uses the vehicles brakes to redirect the power?

 

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/TrueTrac.shtml
http://www.offroaders.com/reviewbox/showproduct.php?product=252
Here is some good info

Yes and EXACTLY why it makes the TruTrac so effective.

 

I believe ATRAC is the same as MTS. I used ATRAC and rear locker to get me out of a deep mud hole. Without ATRAC engaged all I could do was rock back and forth about a truck length. I engaged ATRAC and climbed right out of the hole. I have done a lot of mudding and can guarantee that I would have been stuck in previous trucks. A week later I used it to navigate a mud road. Truck kept wanted to slide off crown to one side or the other. ATRAC kept up on crown and in the center of the road.

 

My understanding is that MTS is like fine tuning to ATRAC for specific conditions. I could be wrong though.

 

So toyotas open dif requires power to be split 50/50 when there is traction so when a wheel is spinning all power and torque is sent to the spinning wheel. With ATRAC your brakes essentially eat up 50% of the power so you dont lose the other 50% in the wheel with traction. TruTrac can redirect power to the wheel above 50% power. So basically, ATRAC lets your open dif retain 50% power (not redirect) (also not likely true 50%) while TruTrac will actually transfer power. If one will is spinning like crazy TruTrac won't engage and you have to brake to slow the spin for it to engage, so ATRAC works in doing this for you.

 

I tried to cross a hardened 24" snow bern yesterday in 4Hi and it started to bounce and was getting ugly. Dropped into 4Lo, turned MTS Mogul on and away I went. I was impressed and I've been crawling around the hills for fifty years.

Yeah, I think you're wasting your money if you haven't been in the situation of walking the edge in 4Lo and haven't tried MTS.

SB

 

I've ran into situations where I have been close to the edge of 4lo - had to bump a ledge and way more throttle than I wanted to. But never remember to use MTS. I'm doing the regear now (35's are killing me) and figured while I'm there upgrading might be a good idea. Sounds like I could just be wasting money though.

 

TruTrac - $400
Easy install

ARB Locker - $1000
ARB Compressor - $550
Complicated Install

 

About the only time I use MTS is either on soft sand or rock when I remember to use it. Soft sand its quite noticeable makes it a smoother ride and less effort. For rock ledges which is newer to me its a little harder to tell but it seams to work best when going at a slower controlled pass rather than faster bump up situations. There are few situations where I know it helps a lot like getting over those steeper ledges it does the popping and clicking dance and just climbs.

For a non designated off road vehicle on 35" with 4.88 gears front lockers are asking for trouble. You would only need if for that <.1% on the trails and by the time you would need it that is some serious stress you would be putting on the CV's.

 

@erok81 Just go up to 37" tires and call it good lol. Twin brother is rocking a 2014 Tundra on 3.5" lift and 37" coopers installing 4.88 gears and ARB rear locker next week.

 

My 35's don't fit as it is!