Crawl Control... is it all it’s cracked up to be???

Truer words have never been spoken.....

 

What makes crawl control different than “traction control” systems like MTS and ATRAC etc, is wheel speed is set at a constant rate. No other system does that. Crawl control is not based on sensing a loss of traction, it is based on maintaining a preset wheel speed, like, as others have mentioned, cruise control, but with the addition of also modulating the braking system (which cruise control does not).

If you set your crawl control at 2mph, all 4 wheels are going to turn at 2mph.....they will not break free and spin-up, and then be “caught” by the traction control, nor will they speed up or slow down as load changes. It does not harshly cut the throttle when wheels start to slip like other traction control systems do.

Crawl control is not based on sensing wheel slippage, or throttle input vs. instantaneous demand, or the relative incline, so even a driver with a very steady throttle foot would have an extremely tough time mimicking it. The system constantly feathers brake and throttle, at the same time, to maintain the desired wheel speed on all four corners.

There are a few situations where this method of controlling the wheels, with no slip or speed change, is an advantage over other types of electronic aids. It’s not the reason I bought the truck, but has saved my bacon on one occasion is just over a year of ownership. No other times have I needed it, but that one time proved it’s worth to me.

 

I agree, but you could really take that thinking further, and say the same thing about having 4WD, or good tires, or off-road suspension, or a locker. Everything is a technology that is making the job of driving off-road easier. Where does one draw the line?

Maybe the only real drivers on this forum, free of crutches, are the guys with the 2WD SRs.

 

The only thing I don't like about the crawl control is you can't use it for heavy snow

 

You can take that line of reasoning as far as you'd like, I suppose, and probably with some validity. It pains me to admit that there's ANY use for crawl control, but I'm sure there is. Will I use it? Maybe, but I haven't so far. In terms of "crutches", I'll take lockers or good tires way before I'd use the CC.

I will agree with you, though, that anything that makes a vehicle more capable can become a crutch used in place of developing actual driving skill. That's why I've always 'wheeled the heck out of our Jeeps stock, before jumping into serious mods. Where our current Jeep is concerned, the single-most valuable "mod" I have in it is eight years of seat time, ever since it was stock.

 

Damn all of this technology getting in the way of my off-roading experience. If any of you could drive you wouldn't need Crawl Control... or lockers... or 4wd... or a hydraulic winch... or a steering wheel. Back in my day, we went off-roading with no trucks, just ran around the rocks going yelling vroom vroom.

But yeah, Crawl Control is fucking legit.

 

How often do you use it, and it what situations?

 

About as often as I have used my lockers or a winch. Does the validity of the tool become worthless if it's not used? I would rather have it and not use it, then come into a situation where it would have helped and not have it.

 

It's not an option that I would have added, if it were available a la carte. It came as a package, so it's there. I'll never rely on it, but if I am stuck, I will for sure give it a try. The tech behind it seems to be a much better version of Atrac. At times, Atrac can be problematic, especially with a front wheel lifted. The sudden braking has caused damage (I had an LC with Atrac). The CC seems more controlled than that.

This is probably the main reason I like this gimmi....I mean gadget. When I am out with my wife, I can hop out and spot for her while she eases up some light/mild trails using CC. It's a great training wheel for those beginners. Eases her mind, and greatly eases mine. She has more fun than I do.

 

You'll take this as me being argumentative, and I don't mean it that way, but how can you say it's "fucking legit" if you don't have firsthand experience with it getting you out of a place you wouldn't get out of, otherwise?

I'm always willing to learn new things, especially when it comes to driving, so hearing people's experience with it, when they used it, how it performed, is actually quite valuable.

 

Definitely not taking it as being argumentative, I appreciate the discussion.

My comment was more directed towards those that were saying that it's a useless crutch; I mean honestly, any tech (mechanical or controlled by a computer) is a crutch. I certainly did not mean to come off as being a huge Crawl Control advocate, but I can see how it appeared that way.

My large claim of "fucking legit" comes from reading the technical documentation (the non-marketing documentation), and watching videos of it being shown off (although the Toyota videos are clearly marketing). Although I have not used it, I do see the value in Toyota adding it to their Off-Road Tacoma.

 

I'm gonna be that guy who doesn't even know what the hell all those settings are on that little knob up there. I was pulling my camper uphill on some wet grass this weekend and was wondering if I would actually have to figure it out, but 4Hi did the trick, no drama. Someday I'll need it I'm sure.

 

Well, I actually used the term "crutch", but I also acknowledge that 1) as has been stated, many mods we take for granted are actually "crutches", and 2) I shouldn't automatically dismiss its validity. You make a good point about having it and never needing it vs getting into a situation where it could be helpful and not having it (much like a Hi Lift jack, or spare parts, or a sidearm). We have 'wheeling trips planned for the truck this summer, so maybe I'll play around with it to see what I can learn.

 

Toyota just announced for 2019 the TRDs will have a new feature called MCC: “Mall Crawl Control”

It jacks the truck up and a snorkel extends.

That is gonna be so legit!...shit.....I wish I had waited.

 

Be careful when using Crawl Control in sand, especially if you have aftermarket skids. I got pretty stuck on a beach in mexico to try and recreate the commercial. What ended up happening, the CC just showed and packed a lot of sand above the skid to the point that it broke off the 4wd actuator on the front diff. I used a winch to get out eventually and noticed that I was stuck in 4lo, in mexico on the beach. Needless to say I had to get towed back to Phoenix as the electronics got wet and sandy and the truck would not disengage from 4lo. Toyota said that I used the truck for what it was not intended and I had to pay over a grand to get it fixed... Just FYI, be careful using it.

Also, on a sidenote, my rear brakes/drums packed in a lot of sand and a couple weeks later left me stranded again on another trip. The drum cylinder busted and all break fluid leaked. No more sand for this truck...

 

Don't use it as a crutch...
Not better than my driving...

Perfect example of the Dunning-Kruger effect.


Back in my day we didnt need no fancy fuel injection.
Back in my day we didnt need no air bags.
Back in my day we didnt need no 4 wheel drive.
Back in my day we didnt need no disc brakes.
Back in my day we didnt need no shift indicators.
Back in my day we didnt need no computers.
Back in my day we didnt need no automated driving.

Can people fly planes? Sure but computers do it way better.
Can people do complex math? Sure but computers do it way better.
Can people go off roading fairly competently? Sure but computers do it way better.

Technology always advances but you will always have people hate on it. The reason that is keeps coming is its better than those people even if they dont want to admit it. Sure your the best and have never gotten yourself stuck because 99% of the time you can get the throttle just right to get out of that spot everyone gets stuck at. The computer is still better than you. Is CC on our trucks perfect? No but its better than everyone except professionals and its just as good as them most of the time.

 

My only problem with the electro-nanny gimmicks out on the vehicles of today, is that it is liable to give the novice, off-road driving folks too much confidence, resulting in situations that the trucks should never be in, in the first place. Much like the new Raptor owners that hoon their trucks, only to fail and crash miserably. Or the new Wrangler Rubicon owners, who think "it's a jeep, it has lockers, I'm invincible!........

 

This. This is what is dangerous and a computer cant account for.

 

I agree. Starting offroading in a 2wd toyota pickup, then to a 4wd Jeep Cherokee and so on and so on taught me how to pick the right line and not do stupid stuff and depend on lockers or winch to get me out.