Crawl Control & Multi-Terrain mode Benefits

From what I've read, CC's basically the most aggressive form of atrac/electronic traction control toyota offers.
By lowering drivetrain speed and removing the option of abrupt driver throttle inputs drivetrain breakage risks are minimized.

 

Okay, not going into my opinions or what crawl control can or can not do. I will say this. The one time that I was Actually thankful for it was in this scenario. Stuck in 24 inches of soft/slush snow. Winch was working it ass off, not moving me. Digging, did not help. Truck was two heavy to get on top of the snow. Snatch blocks.. nope, tow straps, daisy chains, max tracks, nope. Not until and only until i put on the real control with the help of the winch was the truck able to “find” traction and ease its way out out that quagmire. So yeah, I’m a believer in the right conditions..

 

Crawl control is great if you need it, especially as a novice. It’s not fun doing it that way but it works. Rear locking diff for me takes a sec to get it engaged when the truck was new but seems to work fine now, but it will give you the extra umph if or when you need it.

MTS is the thing that no one really talks about. I, NOT being a super experienced rubicon trail super star off roader, so take this as just a limited opinion, is a great tool, especially if you aren’t adding front lockers. Because that’s what it gives you. Obviously it’s not nearly as effective as having an actual front locker, but it does direct power to wheels that are touching the ground that need the power.

Really, the limitations in the truck won’t be because of its features, it will be because of your decisions on trail and how you use the tools available. (On trails that don’t required mod’d vehicles)

 

All things being equal, off-roading with an automatic is 100 times easier than with a manual.

Having said that, if I were to do it all over again, I would get the manual. The automatic on these trucks is worthless.

 

Crawl control and MTS are definitely not gimmicks. Crawl control and MTS both utilize the brake-limited slip functionality of the truck, whereas the locker just mechanically locks up the rear diff for maximum power to both rear wheels. MTS works regardless of vehicle speed, whereas crawl control's main purpose is to control the speed of the vehicle (both up and downhill) while maintaining vehicle control and maximizing traction. Both features work exceptionally well.

Brake limited slip is massively useful off-road, and IMO, all you need 95% of the time. It can handle deep staggered ruts/moguls even on steep uphill inclines. The locker is helpful in extreme cases such as rock crawling or deep thick mud when you need maximum power to both rear wheels.

 

Sorry, but if Toyota expects us to use crawl control 95% of the time, it should make it less awful. Crawl control jerks and groans to the point of being painful.

If you ever used Rubicon’s crawl ratio, you would see how easily, safely and smoothly it is possible to crawl without gimmicks.

 

It wasn't designed to be used all the time. It's more of a hail-mary, last ditch effort feature (at least that's the way I use it).

 

I don't think Toyota expects anyone to use it 95% of the time. in fact, the opposite. its for the 5% time you're in deep shit.

 

My crawl control and auto trans both work fine...

 

Sure, why not. For that matter, mine work like peaches.

 

I was responding to someone else’s “95%” comment.

 

My locker has made impossible trails possible. Crawl control works, it really does. It has made the difference of letting technology do its thing over going hard at an obstacle to use rough momentum. People who say it’s a gimmick have not had an experience of it actually getting them through something. I may not use it a lot but when I have it has helped me. As far a multi terrain select I can feel a difference in throttle sensitivity making some rough rides a bit smoother and not so jerky

 

Lulz, maybe Jeeps are just your thing..

 

Maybe Jeep has off-roading down better than Toyota.

 

Maybe you should go back to Jeep and stop the constant bitch fest about Toyotas...

 

It is what it is. Jeeps are not perfect. Toyotas are not perfect either.

But I was expecting much more coming on to Toyota.

My bad. Now I know.

 

In the end, its still a truck. If you like the reliability of the Toyota. Maybe try a 4R or a FJ Cruiser.

 

OP,
you will get basically three responses:

1) Those who have never used it, or very limited use, and will call it a gimmick because their off-roading chest hairs will not allow for "help" on the dirt. They have no idea how the engineering works.

2) Those who have it, but don't actually know what it was designed for, and stopped using it because CC makes unexpected noises and probably need to try it out a little more.

3) Those who have it, took the time to understand exactly what it was designed for, have actually used it in dire situations, and do not feel like using technology takes away from their masculinity. Further, they also know that it does not replaced good ol' fashion wheeling knowledge, experience and skills... but rather CC is there if/when you need it, especially if you are a novice and don't mind have a "safety net" for reassurance.

 

That’s just it. I don’t be know if I like the “reliability of the Toyota.” I thought I was going to like Toyota’s refined transmissions and motors, and its off-road expertise. Unfortunately for me, the more I experience for myself he more disappionted I am.

I don’t mean to be an ass. I appreciate other forum members’ willingness —and yours— to point me in another direction. But at this point I don’t feel I can just go by what others say. As I am finding out, many Toyota owners seem willing to live with characteristics I am not willing to live with. Now I am wondering if this famous Toyota reliability is another myth like many others.

I don’t know what the answer is to be honest. I never thought I’d be in this situation so soon.

 

Everyone's financial situation and vehicle ownership philosophy is different, so the idea whether it's worth it to buy a new tacoma is going to be subjective and from my experience on this forum you'll get a billion different opinions. with that being said...

I'm not a hard core off-roader, did not have a 2nd gen tacoma when I was ready for a 3rd gen, but I still bought an OR over a sport for the locker and to some extent the CC/MTS (also hated the scoop). However if I had a perfectly fine working 2nd gen, I probably wouldn't get a 3rd gen just for the small drivetrain specific tech upgrade (my philosophy is to drive vehicles until it breaks for good).

But on the flip side... if you're going to get into overlanding, think about how much you'll spend to get your current truck ready for that (which, you really don't have to spend much to do it)... and the likely lifespan of your 2nd gen. If you do plan on spending some good coin to do overlanding, then maybe it's worth it doing all those mods on a 3rd gen that'll last longer than your current 2nd gen?