2011 Access Cab goes out of control on gravel roads!

Bought a 2011 access cab about a year ago. Six speed manual, all options (I think).

I have found the truck will spin out of control on gravel or mud, even at 20-30 mph. Has done it several times. In recovery, it not only goes side ways in the forward direction - it will come back and spin the other way!

I grew up on "dirt" roads in a farming area and have driven on them for years in the Rockies, so I know how to drive on dirt/gravel and recover from a little side ways!

Question is: do all 2nd generation Tacomas do this? Is it something to do with traction control?

My 98 Tacoma , Trackers, and Sammy don't do this on same roads.

I'm busy keeping it on the road when its slides nose first toward the ditch or tailgate first down the road to see what the lights on dash say.

Just a comment, this sure isn't the truck my 98 is! Dangerous and will have to sell the 2011 less I figure this out

Thanks,

Gordon

 

Have had no problem with mine. I run dirt roads daily.

 

Dumb questions, Did you try adding weight in the bed? What condition are your tires?

 

I don't have the traction control on my '05 but it's pretty well established the ABS brakes suck on slick surfaces. There are a couple of mods posted on this forum to temporarily disable the ABS system. The backs of these trucks are light and will slide pretty easily; I had mine start to break free on a wet road yesterday. I hate my Duratracs on wet pavement.

 

Is it lifted? If so, the previous owner may not have adjusted the brake proportioning valve for the lift, which can cause issues with the traction control kicking in too readily

 

probably needs new HD shocks

 

And how might one do that? Inquiring minds need to know!

 

Sounds like user error.

 

What??
That "valve" isn't adjustable and what has lift to do with it?

 

My truck goes out of control while on the highway when I climb in back for a nap.... will a cold air intake fix this issue?

 

Adjust was the wrong word but it needs to be spaced higher in proportion with a lift. It's usually a little bracket or spacer

 

BPV relocation or spacer bracket

 

Do we have pics of the valve and it’s location? Don’t think ive ever seen one on Tacoma.

 

Mine sees a ton of dirt/gravel roads and drives great. I wouldn't even know where to start with this if you are confident it's the truck and not you... Is it out of alignment? Does it track straight on paved roads?

 

What tires are you running?
2WD or 4WD
Do you have any weight in the bed?


It sounds like you have really shitty tires and no weight in the rear.

 

Something has to be broken. Could your shocks be toast and it's just bouncing on the springs?

 

Never heard of that happening for no reason. It also sounds to me like a driver problem. What exactly are you doing when it goes out of control? Are you taking mild or sharp turns? Are you braking at the time? Are you driving down steep hills? Or are you just driving on a flat level straight away and for no reason your truck suddenly goes out of control.?

 

first off.... we can stop talking about any brake proportioning valve that are mounted on the rear axle (like on the 1st gens). There is no such thing on the 2nd gen trucks (at least the 6 luggers, not sure about the 5 luggers but im fairly certian they are not found on any 2nd gen regardless)


Second, OP, sounds like you need some shocks, proper tires and to slow the fuck down.

 

Thanks for all the tech answers. The answers from guys that have not read the post or have theirs heads where only tp belongs can stuff it.

They ignored the fact that my other three 4x4’s don’t do it - same road, same conditions, same driver. And I usually drive 30 or less because because of deer and cows on the road. Driving 10 mph for 15 miles to home ain’t practicle. It tried to do it at 15 mph today fore I caught it.

Just wanted to know where to start if not an inherent problem. (Too big a word for the user who says “fuck”??)

To those who gave reasonable answers, thanks much.

Damn thing gets 18 mpg already. Don’t think I want to haul sand all year.

Tires were (are) piss poor tires from the dealer a year ago - maybe they're worn enuf to do it. Didn’t think tread would matter much sideways in 2“ of mud.

Don’t have maint history so don’t know if shocks or springs were ever worked on. 100k miles.

Stock height.

Acts fine on hard pack or paved.

Never 4 wheeled hard; barely any.

Thought it was a driver problem myself the first 3-4 times. Not anymore.

Seems to do it in 2 and 4 wd; usually on corners but has happened on straitaways. Sprig, I handle a skid the same way as I did when I raced dirt track for 4 years, but thank you for asking. You actually thought about it BTY, it doesn’t work here. Corrects itself and then tries to pass itsself again.......hmmmm, pecking this post in just made me think of how they act on ice with rear axle locked - straight sideways! Bajatacoma’sgood post made me pause; really reasonable post along my thinking.

I get a little testy with folks jumping to conclusions. I’m old as dirt and have driven on ice, gravel, mud and track for 40 yrs. Thanks to those who thought about my question and made suggestions.

 

My statement stands..... you need to do some proper maintenance on your truck to get it up to snuff to travel the speeds you want to travel on that road, and slow dafuq down for those kinda conditions.