Off-Road Recommended Formula

Good Morning All,

I wanted to get some advice and have a thread going (unless there a recommendation to move this to a different thread, but I did not see one, unless it is rather buried) for recommended configurations on the 4WD system in the 3rd-Gen Tacos for different environments.

Specifically, I just went off-road on a piece of land we are looking at hunting and it was VERY muddy. However, it is not normal mud, but deep southern red-clay mud. This stuff sticks to everything and makes quite a mess. However, despite some doubts about how my stock truck would perform in this mess that was a challenge even for a lifted F-250 4WD with mud tires (compared to my stock All-Terrain tires--if it isn't broke don't fix it yet, right?), I was able to maneuver 2 of the 3 really bad areas. The 3rd area I did not want to even try because years of travel by the much heavier truck had created a very deep rut and I have no doubts that my truck would bottom-out without more clearance being added or the road being modified to allow safe travel again.

That being said, I tried a variety of different systems in the truck to help me. I have a 2018 TRD-Offroad 4WD. After I started getting really stuck, I entered 4WD Low, and engaged the Terrain Select. Then I locked the Rear Diff. Still--mostly because I don't have aggressive tires--I had to work the truck to get it through. Such as going back and forth to create enough momentum to exit the rut I had created. I tried the crawl control, but it did not seem to be helping in my opinion, though I am NOT an Off-roading expert so I understand I may have a made a few mistakes.

I guess my goal here is to have some people give input into what helps them best in terms of what modes, and the different features of the truck help them in situations similar to mine. I have no doubt that this will not be the last time I take my truck through the mud, and I wanted to see what I could do better to make it easier on me and the truck when traversing the mud pits.

I have already started considering getting a set of mud tires, and a small suspension lift, so I am primarily wanting to discuss the combination of OR features already present in the stock truck.

 

Also, not to distract from my post above, but I would be interested in having the thread pull some people from the 3rd-Gen section, but I am not sure if that is necessary or even possible.

 

It's a sticky thread
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

 

@JaCado I did see that thread, but I guess I was wanting some personal experience for a specific environment and what works best for them. Not just an explanation on what the different systems do. Might be a silly idea, but I thought I would try it.

 

Each situation is different pending on driver experience and terrain. What you need 4lo to do as a rookie, a experienced guy may just opt for 4hi or even leave it in 2wd mode. There are general rules to follow, but its all going to come down to what the driver feels comfortable with for the situation at hand.

 

Ideally you'd want better tires to handle the mud, but knowing that mud it'll eventually fill the treads on any tire, with a mud specific options being your best route. A winch and traction boards would help as well, but if you're planning to be in the mud that often it might be more efficient to buy a 4-wheeler and drive around the rutted areas? I work on a lot of undeveloped tracts and our company is cheap so we drive our own vehicles, I'm at the point I'm going to make them rent us an ATV instead of tearing up my truck with that stuff.

Edit: missed that you want to discuss the features not the upgrade options. I had to pull my coworker out several times and he drives an identical truck to mine but its stock. I made it through fine in 4-hi but even in 4-low his tires became slicks once they were caked in mud and we had to use limbs/logs in the ruts to get him out.

 

This is the best explanation.

My friend and I can go through the same stuff in our trucks. I’ll be in 4h he will be in 4lo with multi-terrain enabled. The next spot I’ll be locked in 4lo with multi terrain on and find out he was in 2wheel drive. It all depends on what your comfortable with.
Best thing is good tires, air down and try out the different settings.

 

I just want to know when to put my knob on Mogul...

 

To add to the above: A simple explanation of the MTS modes is all the way to the left (Sand/Mud) allows for the most front wheel slippage and as you turn to the right it allows less and less slippage.All the way to the right is the Rock setting which allows for the least amount of front wheel slippage.

Edit: If the rear is unlocked then I assume MTS controls wheel slip/spin on all 4 wheels.

 

Yeah. We have a 4-wheeler and a side-by-side that we use for the really thick parts of the woods and the really bad mud, but the mud is somewhat unavoidable in some places. PLUS, how can I pass up the occasional mud run? My mostly city truck doesn't get to off-road nearly as much as I would like to.

 

If you are trying to avoid getting stuck then avoid the deep stickier stuff. After awhile you will determine what you and the truck can do. Until then go out with a friend.

 

There is really no perfect "formula" for off-roading. It is highly specific to driver experience and skill.

Except maybe for tire selection. Simply put, figure our what you spend 51% of your time driving one, and get tires suited for that use, or just get all-terrains. If you find yourself driving in the mud a lot, get mud terrains.

Also, don't get all wrapped around the axle (pun intended) as to which "drive mode" you need to be in. Honestly, those drive modes have very minor differences, and all they try to do is manage wheel spin. If you're in sand, going to "sand mode" isn't going to do a hill of beans difference if you're still running 35psi. "Mud mode" won't get you out of axle deep clay mud. The more you drive, I'm betting you'll worry less and less about the drive mode, and just focus on the locker and careful use of the skinny pedal - that's all people have needed for generations of off-roading.

The more you drive, the more comfortable you'll get in varied terrain. Just drive. But have a plan for *when* you get stuck. If you're in the mud a lot, get 4 traction aids and a winch. Hopefully you already carry a shovel, lol.

 

Great info! I'd only add, until you have traction aids, winch, or another truck, don't be afraid to turn around.

 

Exactly. When driving forest service roads, there's usually a go around somewhere. Turning around before this happens, is always sage advice.

Don't be that girl who peed on herself to stay warm (pro tip: that doesn't actually make you warmer, lol) while her boyfriend when for help.

 

I made the same face when I heard about it.

 

In mud you want to cut traction control off and use as much skinny petal as you need. Traction control will cut your engine power when you need it most.

Also 4 hi is better than 4 low in the mud you have enough torque to spin the tires.
You want wheel spin to clean out the treads. On red clay you have to spin them pretty fast to clean them out so 4 hi is better


In this video when I stop I'm cutting off traction control
https://youtu.be/kymacNQR5x8

 

I wouldn't mind a thread with more of the "when to's" over the how it works stuff. For beginners like myself it would be nice to know when to engage all these fancy gadgets depending on terrain. Snow driving, rain, sand, inclines, etc.

 

This is the key. A VW Beetle with aggressive tires is going to go further than the most trick traction control on street tires. There's no way around physics, it's all about the grip your tire has on the terrain it's rolling over. Mud, snow and sand are the types of surfaces where the correct tires make the most difference, too.