Manual ATRAC vs Auto CC?

I am close to buying a TRD OR. They have an Auto and a Manual. Almost all of my cars have been manuals. Problem is I like the Craw Control which only comes with auto....

Is the ATRAC as good as Craw Control? What are the differences? Advantages? Disadvantages?

 

Get the manual

 

Sheeeiit. That manual with the a-tractor is the way to go. Had me an epic mountain climb yesterday using it.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...d-today-3rd-gen.400627/page-227#post-16301320

 

But how does the ATRAC compare to the CC? Advantages and disadvantages?

 

After pondering this question on beer number 7 or 8, here's what I've come up with:
You can get a pedicure while using Crawl control. You actually have to use the throttle with A-Trac. Other than that, I "heard" they work the same way, but I dunno.

Since I've never owned the auto, I guess I can't really compare. This makes my reply pretty useless, and I'm good with that. Not to worry though. Someone on TW will get you an answer. They'll probably use the word "gimmick", then someone else will disagree, then a shit storm will ensue. I love this place.

 

ATRAC is basically MTS without variable slip.

There’s no substitute for crawl control with the manual...which probably isn’t a big deal unless you get stuck in the mud or sand. I’ve seen plenty of videos where crawl control was able to dig out of some pretty bad spots

 

The biggest advantage of CC is that it's (almost) idiot proof. It's a very effective way of removing the driver from the equation.

The biggest disadvantage of CC is that you need to live with the automatic transmission.

ATRAC is pure voodoo, you will NEVER find a straight answer on what it is and how exactly it does whatever that is (or isn't). If you like driving stick, get the manual. They are a dying breed, and you will be happier.
If your done pushing the clutch and rowing the gears get the snooze-box transmission and use CC to get out of that puddle in the back end of the Starbucks parking lot.

 

I havent driven the m/t because it wasnt an option as my DD due to health. Since I have the Auto IMO CC is a waste. I've turned it on a few times just to "see" what it was about and will likely never use it again unless I'm stuck and then it gets me out. I do use Mutli-terrain select regularly when in 4lo. I'm almost always in 4 hi and the truck just goes where I tell it. Most that drive the M/T swear by them over the endless shifting of the A/T. If shifting is something you enjoy go M/T and dont look back! Get an extended test drive with the auto to really get a feel for it. Many people cant stand how much they shift.

 

If you're experienced in off-road driving, crawl control is basically worthless. I've used it once or twice solely for the sake of testing it out.
The argument could be made that it comes in handy as hill descent control, but it's way too surge-y on the low settings where it could otherwise actually be useful once in a while.

A-TRAC is a slight downgrade of MTS, just due to the different levels of MTS. But either one is a MUCH better tool than crawl control in my book.

If you're inexperienced in off-road driving, crawl control could be a helpful thing to have. But I would actually make the argument that having an MT and no crawl control would help an inexperienced driver gain way better experience in the long run.

 

you won't lose anything giving up crawl control...

 

This sums it up really well.


The auto isn't too bad. It also makes more power than the manual after a tune.

 

ya i was told just to turn everything on for traction but if you're stuck with everything on...that's it. lol

 

manual, i wish i would of got one

 

Get the manual it's better
Just added 295's and still can pass other cars and trucks on the freeway
Plus it's a lot of fun

 

...what? ATRAC is very simple. As others have said ATRAC is equivalent to MTS on the automatics. The only difference is you get a knob that lets you allow more or less slip.

Crawl control is an entirely separate feature than MTS. The only thing crawl control does is modulate speed. MTS and ATRAC are traction aids. So when someone says crawl control got me out of some crazy spot it was MTS that actually did the work. Semantics, sure, but none the less.

More in depth MTS and ATRAC apply brakes to individual wheels on the fly to prevent slip. They are providing locker like functionality by utilizing the brakes. It's the same concept as the "Auto LSD" but set up specifically for low speed off-road scenarios.

 

The benefits of the manual will far outweigh how often you will be using crawl control.

Also, crawl control isn't going to do anything that proper recovery equipment (maxtracs, winch, straps, etc) can't do. Maybe with crawl control you have a chance of getting unstuck in the comfort of your A.C....but aside from that luxury, if you are out getting that stuck, alone, with no recovery equipment you are in dangerous waters to begin with.

People have gone all over the world without crawl control, i personally didn't think it was a necessity.

 

X2

 

Get the manual. Buy a winch for when you want to go 1MPH somewhere you couldn't otherwise.

CC seems more like a gimick than an actual necessity for getting out of trouble.

 

Manual.
I was in Colorado last month doing some fairly easy trails (but I'm flat lander...), and I got stuck once going up a steep, rocky connecting trail. When the wheels started to spin, and I got stuck, I pushed the clutch in, pushed the ATRAC button, released the clutch, and the truck walked out of there. No sweat.
I thought I might miss the hill descent feature, but 4lo-first gear is great. Second could be a little lower for when it's not steep enough for 1st, but it wants to run away a bit in 2nd...

 

i have a 17 MT and my bro in law has a 16 AT. we went up boggy gulch in CO together and compared, although this is a pretty gentle trail. he's on stock tires and I'm on st maxx's.

the basic report in a nutshell.
- my tires are so much better that there's almost no comparison, BUT..
- his bald stock tires revealed just how good these trucks are off road. we both went up a 30-32deg incline w/o slippage, and that was on his nearly bald street tires. w/o CC, that is.
- up the trail his CC was super effective. make your selection and just steer. kinda weird, very disengaging. a natural MT driver will feel entirely out of the loop. i sure did.
- my MT did all that more easily due to my tires, but it was more fun because i was driving... no big time automation, just slip control. you use your 4 limbs to operate. that's kinda why i bought the MT, to drive it.
- as to losing the CC for sand or whatever... back in the day i rocked my RWD 4x2 bronco 2 out of the deep sand using my MT and a simple rock and release technique. that was before computers in cars...

i guess i have nothing more to add.