Traction Control

Wondering what people who do more serious off-roading think of the traction control system, specifically in the front if you have the rear locker. TFL did a video where you can see around the 5 minute mark where the front wheel that has grip does not want to turn. I saw a Tacoma Beast clip where something similar happened. I understand these are circumstances that will not come up for most of us, but just curious of any thoughts you may have or modifications that could help.

 

Front locker= Problem solved

 

Traction control is good for light snow or ice. Maybe occasionally some light mud. If you're truly off road it's best turned off. Traction control uses wheel speed sensors to detect when one wheel is moving faster than the other wheel on that axle. It applies brake pressure to the faster wheel which forces the diff to send power to the other wheel. If you're truly off road driving the vehicle is constantly applying brake pressure to one wheel or the other. It's like trying to drive while dragging an anchor behind you. It's best to just let the wheels spin and sling the mud out so you can get better traction.

A locking rear diff will solve the problem for most guys. OR... get them stuck twice as bad.

A front locker can do more damage than good if used incorrectly. About the only time it's really useful is for the rock crawling guys who often have one or more wheels not in contact with the ground. And those guys expect to break stuff. If you're going to play you have to pay.

 

Understood. I think it just hurt my pride to watch a ranger do something so much easier than a Tacoma.

 

Put it to use plenty of times. No problems in my 3G and now 4G. The one on the 4G doesn't have the machine gun noises anymore. ATRAC/w Crawl Control has been around forever. I know I can't control 4 wheels independently so I let the machine do it. Don't know about the TFL. Have been on trails a lot more sketch than that, no problem.

Edit: Watched more of the video. Not completely, hard for me to watch them. It got the job done? On the trail, everyone readjust their lines. They turn on crawl control only when they get hung up. Don't know what the problem is.

 

No problem, mostly it just hurt my feelings watching a ranger walk up something easily and then watch a Tacoma struggle. I am very sensitive.

 

Very good points. I've had lockers all around and it was years ago now remember this easy fail or issue the first time I drove our Outback on a particular ski area service road - the sliding sideways when you don't want to. The AWD advantage that was more obvious with all an wheels locked rig.

 

So, I'm retired from a job that required me to drive off road a lot. During my career, I was never issued a truck that did the things the Taco Off Roads do.

This is my fourth Tacoma and I find the traction control system amazing.