Crawl Control - the poll

Im still on the fence about the crawl control feature of my TRD OR. Toyota claims the feature allows you to relax and focus on steering, but with all the crazy, unnerving rattling noises and lurching, I don't find it to be something I want to engage unless I really have to. That's where I'm left wondering if I will ever be in a situation where Crawl Control is the only answer to get through, or get unstuck. Here, I've put the question to the TW members who have had this truck longer than me in the form of a poll.

If someone has made this poll before, I apologize. I'm sure the question has been asked lots, but it's not so easy to search with all the random hits.

 

basically use it when you can't get yourself out of trouble or you like the sounds of your abs system going spaztastic

 

The most effective use I've seen for it so far is when the truck is trapped and buried to the axles in soft sand. There are numetous YouTube videos which show the usefulness of crawl control, but mainly for this situation.

 

All of those YouTube videos seem to be set up by Toyota dealers, with the exact same angle for the sand ramp, and the same type of sand etc. It's a good sales pitch for sure. However, it seems highly improbable that you'd encounter these same "perfect conditions" for crawl control to rescue the truck. I guess I'm wondering if any owners here who off-road a lot find this feature is useful for anything more than "testing it out".

 

Check out this dude for instance. Almost rips his A-arm off his chassis while 'crawl-controlling at max'. Is this what people are doing with this feature?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vvxz3KK1twk

 

I've used crawl control quite a bit out in the mountains and deserts of Tucson. My Jeep friends have come to call it "cheat mode". There's been tons of situations where I am on a climb and get stuck spinning or unable to find the traction to get over the obstacle, that's when I'm told to back up or to use my lockers. That's when I use the crawl control, and a couple of loud clicks later the truck crawls over it without an issue. I actually couldn't even imagine a case where I'd need to use my lockers with having crawl control. Unless of course I want to drive over the challenging part instead of letting the truck do it.

Now I will warn you.... With that crawl control on, at least in my experience, that truck will crawl over damn near anything and I have a feeling will get to a lot of inexperienced off-roaders in a lot of trouble, including damaging things because it will climb things you don't have the clearance for.

With this being said I am an extremely inexperienced off-roader and depend on my experienced Jeep friends to be spotters for me


EDIT: Actually this reminds me of the story of the first weekend I had the truck. I went up to show it off to my brother in Phoenix and he convinced me to bring it up the back of Crown King since his Jeep was broken. Apparently this was not a great time of year because it had been raining a lot up there, but I didn't know that.

Anyways on the route we passed tons of broken down Jeeps and also had another brand new Tacoma Off-road coming back the other way tell me I wouldn't make it and that he severely damaged his frame on a crawl. I felt very out of place with all of the built Jeeps, trucks and side-by-sides.

Well a few hours of stacking rocks, a good spotter, tons of crawl control and patience I made it up the trail with nothing but some pin-striping.

 

Idk about the guy in the video but I would never use it that way. He could have done that in 4H. I would not use it in that way. No need to set it, and forget it.

I think it's a great tool to use as a last option or another trick up your sleeve. I've used it going down a steep hill and worked well.

 

Crawl control has taken me places I did not think was possible without flooring it on these street based stock ATs.

 

Very useful for going down/up steep hills imo where perfect throttle and brake control is needed.(I'm not that good.)

More tools are always better.

 

I see people doing that all the time in other vehicles except going even faster.

Idiots are idiots no matter what they drive.

 

The thing I like about crawl control is that it uses the sensors to tell which wheels have traction and which wheels don't and then cuts power to the ones without traction. I got in over my head a couple weeks ago and spun a tire multiple times in very tight areas. When I wanted to back up, I just flicked it into crawl, let the truck figure out how to apply the power, and then turned it right back off for the next attempt. I agree that it's much too jerky in its application of the gas and brakes, but I do think it's useful.

 

I also like that it lets you defend something without locking up the brakes. But I'm new to off roading, I'd venture to guess that once you're more seasoned this isn't as much of an issue.

 

Crawl Control hasn't helped me, but MTS is nice to use and I use it a lot when I'm in 4lo. CC and MTS use the same system

 

you have the same control with MTS engaged as you do CC but it doesn't power itself. Just use MTS and you can tell them you aren't cheating

 

I've been down steep inclines where the truck started sliding down the mud/dirt. Put crawl on and it stopped. Used it in deep snow to. It's cool but no necessary. I got tye OR for the rear locker mostly...

 

Like a previous poster said I use MTS pretty much anytime I'm in 4L. I use CC as a last resort. It's gotten me out of some bad situations and made me realize that my truck is much more capable than I thought.

 

I haven't really found it helpful. I like to be the one in control. I think its an awesome feature to have in case I find myself stuck on a beach in the sand or stuck in mud but as far as wheeling off road....I'll handle that.

 

I've used it a few times just for giggles . Have not used it in a " I need help " situation, but judging from playing with it,I think it would do alright.

 

"That's what she said."


Sorry, I had to.

 

Lol after reading it again, I would have done the same !