Crawl controls - A bit intimidating at first…

I have a 2019 TRD OR long bed . The first time I use the crawl control is when the sales person and I drove the truck. He show how to use the crawl controls . The noise was intimidating, like something is going to break.

I would engage the crawl control just 1 or two times a year. To keep it functional.

Just last month I decided to engage all the functions of the crawl controls / terrain controls and lockers to get use to them.

I going to do this monthly. Since I started, I found it very easy to use. I like the features. I live on a coffee farm, and have many places to test them , going down hills, uphills , rocky places, and the dirt roads.

I am not intimidated anymore. Very easy to use, to engage and dis-engaged. One just need to use more often.
This was my personal experience.

 

I don’t think there is any reason to use crawl control on a regular basis for maintenance as it is an entirely electronic system. The only thing Toyota recommends is engaged 4wd on a regular basis presumably to keep the mechanical parts lubricated so they don’t rust, corrode, get gummed up, etc. CAVEAT: all the traction control modes rely on the brake system, but you are using that all the time regardless.

 

Yup crawl control is a fancy way to use the ABS/traction control actuators. 4x4 has mechanical actuators.

 

+1, no need to exercise crawl control or MTS but definitely do the 10 miles a month in 4x4 when you can get to keep it lubricated.

I think it's still worthwhile using it on occasion just to make sure you're familiar with how to use it but I also don't find crawl all that useful offroad anyways.

 

My main goal is is just to get use to using it. Reducing the intimidation part for me. I want it to be a simple as engaging the 4h and 4L. On my part.

I do not want to be in a bad spot, then need to read the directions. Lol

 

It was definitely intimidating for me also. First time was on some property in WV in 6" snow with my brother in law with me and was embarrassed I wasn't more versed with it.

 

defiantly good understand the system, you want don't want to wait til you already stuck to use them, the whole idea is not to get stuck in the first place.

 

First time I tried it I thought something was broken. It makes so much noise. After that I read up on it and watched a few videos so I could understand it better.

 

Sounds like you tossed some nuts and bolts in a blender but it sure works good.

 

Sound is awful. Maybe we get use to it the more we use it?

 

Mall control….

 

Mall control or engineering? Call it what you want but 20 years ago automatic transmissions were laughed at for serious offroad or vehicle control but now its now standard.

 

I’m sold on it, especially on steep slippery hills- even when the rear locker and 4-low can’t grab enough traction to move.

 

I really think crawl control is an under appreciated feature among a lot of people, especially on this forum. I blame Toyota for this.

When they released that video of it being used to dig itself out of the sand, most people began to view it as some sort or magic “get unstuck” sorcery tool.

In reality, it’s real purpose is in its name. It was really designed to serve as tool for ascending and descending steep slippery slopes in a controlled manner. It works great for that.

 

I found the Ford Ranger FX , rear lockers works in all three modes. 2W, 4H, & 4L. The Tacoma rear locker only works in 4L.
Also the terrain mode in the FX models works in 4H & 4L , Toyota 4x4 terrain ,
crawl controls only works in 4L.
Ford seems to offer better features in this area. Ford gives more options for Terrain controls.

Which terrain system offer better performance?

The Colorado ZR-2 comes with Front and rear lockers. Toyota rear lockers can only be use under 5 miles per hour. Making both the Ford Ranger FX and Colorado ZR2 lockers better and less limited.

 

One of the nice features of crawl controls is when using this going down steep , loose rocky roads, making this one of the safest way when in this situation.
Not just to get out of a sand hole.

More manufacturers are now offering Terrain modes because it works. Better to have the options to use it when needed. Many of us may never really need it. But nice to have some insurance.

Eye glass holder ? Be creative. I have a pair of those yellow night vision eye glasses, lots of pros and cons, for myself I found it helpful.

 

I tested it out when I first bought my truck to learn about it too. I don’t use it on trails typically as I like to control the truck, the fun of taking it off roading. I tried it going down a steep and super muddy hill once and I understand the intimidation factor of releasing your foot from the brake to let it do its job and it it feels weird, not to mention the noises it makes. That said, it worked fine doing all the work but steering. I do not worry about sand though as that seems to be a strong point of this feature to dig itself out. I have used the locker and the terrain control on occasion though as needed.

 

I went from a 2wd OR to a 4WD OR and the first thing I said when I got in was get there us no sunglass holder

 

That was my first thought to when I got my truck. Instead I got a divider for the armrest cubby and use one of the spots for my glasses. Works great!

 

Crawl control is one of the most underutilized and misunderstood features. I like it, it’s just so damn loud.