New Tacoma's compared to old tacos

I have a a 91 Toyota pickup and i am looking at a new Tacoma double cab. I was wondering if the new trucks can compare to the old trucks off road. Does the front axles lock together? Does the electronic rear locker really lock? Should i get the Tacoma sport or the TRD package?

 

My 2009 Tacoma is nothing compared to my 94" "hilux"? I had. That thing was unstoppable!

 

Well i want either a new taco or a Jeep Rubicon..do you like your new Tacoma?

 

Off-road has the locker, sport LSD. Both have upgraded seats, suspension, etc. But if you want the locking rear you want the off road.

 

i would go with a new tacoma.

 

I am a 3 time 4WD Tacoma owner ('01, '05, '10) and the 2010 is fantastic... the TRAC/ A-TRAC (TRD Off Road 4WD) will blow you away! I have posted quite a bit on it, plus my signature describing the 9 modes, below will help you to see what is there!

 

I like the smoke head lights and the hood scope of the sport but i like the chrome of the TRD package and off road features of the skid plates and the locker...does the front axle lock together?

 

The scoop on the sport is phoney... for looks only and interferes with visibility... get the Off Road TRD.

Here is what I wrote in the Tech forum "TRAC, A-TRAC, etc. explained"

Have you wondered about your 2009 or newer Tacoma TRD Off Road 4WD's (USA) with its many drive options or switches/ buttons (VSC Off, A-TRAC) and what they do???

I sure did... and this is my THIRD 4WD Off Road Tacoma (2001 extra cab, 2005 double cab, 2010 double cab)...

The first two had standard 4WD with OPEN differentials (means when you are in stuck or almost in a stuck condition (mud, sand, snow) ONE tire in front and ONE tire in back get power and spins... often helping to bury you deeper! However, the first two also had the LOCKING REAR DIFFERNTIAL... which gave BOTH back tires equal power... This may not help get unstuck unless one of them has traction (on dry or solid ground). Mostly the Rear Locker greatly improved steep hill climbing on rocky roads... in my experience.

Limited Slip Differential (LSD) action means the normal spinning of a tire without traction is controlled or stopped so that the OTHER tire on that axle can get power... This is a great bonus to us off roaders because we need the tires that have traction to work and don't want the other tires (in loose sand/ snow/ mud) to spin and bury us.

LSD (limited slip differential) action can be done inside the differential (with clutches) or at the tires (with brakes). Brakes can be easily replaced as they wear out, but re-building a differential is a bigger issue! Toyota wisely went the brake route for their system.

The system is called 'TRAC' in 2WD* and 4WD High Range. It is called 'A-TRAC' in 4WD Low Range. In 2WD, both brakes and power regulation is utilized. In 4WD, engine output is not regulated.

*Also, in 2WD you can have 'enhanced' LSD with even heavier braking action to the spinning tire with a quick push of the VSC Off switch, which turns on 'AUTO LSD'.
Only in 2WD can you go into AUTO LSD. Since we have 4WD, I would think using it would be even better than AUTO LSD? Perhaps helpful for those with only 2WD.

Toyota also allowed us the CHOICE of having LSD or OPEN differentials... Just in case you want the tires to spin freely (rocking back and forth out of a stuck, or doing doughnuts in a wet field)!

To have open differential(s):

2WD: Normal is TRAC on... Hold the VSC Off switch (the one with the truck and wavey tire lines) down for 3+ seconds, while stopped. VSC, TRAC and AUTO LSD are all off.

H4 (4WD High Range): Normal mode is TRAC on... just like in 2WD. To open the differentials: Hold the VSC Off switch down while stopped for 3+ seconds and TRAC and VSC are turned off.

L4 (4WD Low Range): Normal mode is open differntials.*

*Many of us find it odd that L4 is normally in the open diff. mode... as you would typically only use L4 for the most severe traction situations where LSD would be a benefit.

To activate LSD in L4, push the A-TRAC switch next to the cigerette lighter. Once pushed, A-TRAC will always be on in L4, unless the switch is pushed again.

The Rear Differential Lock is also available in L4 with or without A-TRAC (LSD on the front axle) turned on. With A-TRAC on, one would have maximum traction, however when the rear is locked, A-TRAC only works when the truck is going less than 3 mph. Obviously, Toyota wants us only to use the rear locker for getting unstuck or very slow crawling. VSC, TRAC and ABS are all off in L4, as well.

For typical driving, H2 (TRAC on) and H4 (TRAC on) will do almost everything you would want. In L4, I think you would do better with A-TRAC on... would give you the same traction benefit as when in H4... So, that would be the only switch to activate when four wheeling slow in low range... unless you did get stuck (if that was possible now). In that case, you have the Rear Diff. Locker to activate in L4.

I had the opportunity to test the new truck in deep sand and hill climbs shortly after getting it and was amazed at the improvement over the previous Tacomas' open differentials. The truck in H4 would not get stuck in sand with the tires fully inflated. In the past, lowering pressure to 10-15 psi would have been required. After driving around in H4 (TRAC on), I opened the differentials (TRAC off) and the truck bogged down in the sand (got stuck). I then went into L4, A-TRAC and Locked the Rear Diff. I applied the gas and the truck pulled itself out of the sand! All without getting out of the cab to remove sand from in front of the tires or letting any air out. Once 'on top' of the sand, I switched back into H4 (TRAC on) and drove about easily.

Because the owner's manual was lacking clarity and nobody at my dealership could explain the new systems well, I needed to do this... I did get a lot of help from the people here on Tacoma World helping me understand what I had... and I thank you guys a lot for it!

My signature, below my posts (for now) itemizes the drive modes... we have nine!

Thanks everyone, and I hope this helps other newbies to understand '09 and '10 Tacomas with TRAC, A-TRAC, AUTO LSD...

 

One thing you can do with an offroad is swap hoods with a sport owner who doesn't want the hood scoop.

 

I have owned both an 09 Rubicon and an 10 double cab with trd offroad. Since I just got the Toyota last week I cannot talk to the off road ability... yet. But on the road as a daily driver the Tacoma is much more composed and comfortable. Also the transmission is much better with the Automatic. The Jeep would shift from 4th to 3rd on even the smallest hill. While the Tacoma does not shift as much and when it does it is not a loud or jolting going from 5th to 4th.

Cheers,
Hutch

 

my new Off Road TRD has the smoked headlamps...

Here are some quotes off Internet auto web sites on A-TRAC. It isn't a 'front locker'... but it might be better!

I like these lines about A-TRAC from the above two Internet finds:

"Off-road drivability is equivalent to having the center differential locked and a Limited Slip Differential on both front and rear axles."

"... has the same traction performance as a center and rear differential locked vehicle."

 

Man thanks for that the guy at the toyota dealership couldnt tell me anything and the guy at the Jeep place was acting like it was the best 4 wheel drive ever made but now i see the taco has similar features minus the sway bar. So with all these electronic lockers it works like my manual lockers and all four wheels will pull when you want them too.

 

I had a 96 tacoma and currently have a 2007.

The 96 was great!! Damn bulletproof and felt rugged and heavy duty.

This 2007 just doesn't seem as good. Don't get me wrong, it's still a damn nice truck, but they're just not built like they used to be. The integrity & quality has fallen. The features they've added are great - as I've gotten older and can appreciate them more - wish they'd add even more features.

And honestly..... I can't think of any other truck on the market that I'd want to buy other than a tacoma even with the lack of quality. To me - it's still the best truck. I'm crossing my fingers for this 2007 to last for atleast another 5+ years!

 

i like the fact that i can play around in 2wd and then click a button and be able to get out of that situation in 2wd possibly or if not hit the 4wd and push a button and put the power to the ground. In my 91 i can put my truck in 4wd low which is 2wd low because i don't have the hubs locked in and usually pull out of the situation, and if not turn the hub and all 4 start turning.

 

YUP... my friend with a CJ-5 found the 2-low sweetspot... not 4-low with the hubs open like you... but actually found 2-low in the transfer case shifter!

Anyway, the '09 and newer TRD Off Road 4WDs will please you... My sales team couldn't tell me anything about the drive modes... I studied the manual... nothing much there... But, here on TW, I got answers! Then I went to the desert and then Baja, then the snow... The TRAC in H4 and A-TRAC in L4 does it all! I wouldn't mess with AUTO LSD in H2, but if you want it, it's there... For me, the feeling of four wheel drive as soon as you are off pavement or in snow is like nothing else... And with you want to swirl around, you can open up the differentials and play!

A-TRAC may make lockers uneeded, as well... There is some good A-TRAC videos on the FJ Cruiser page on Toyota.com

Amazing!

 

Oh, and another new feature is VSC ... Before, on wet days when you accelerated on a turn, the unloaded truck rear end would slip out and/ or tires would spin/ slide... No more... like being in 4WD, but works in H2. See the Bosch VSC video clip.

 

That was the exact decision I was bouncing around on. Obviously I ended up choosing the Taco. Definitely more practical.

 

thanks guys....very helpful

 

Hello Jeep wrangler and Tacoma lover here.

I thought I would say that for a stock dedicated offroad rig the rubicon is more capable than the tacoma.But the tacoma is far more versatile as an all around vehicle.