How often do you engage RR Differential?

I was wondering as it is something I won't be using often. How often do you engage it to keep it lubed? I did it today at work in the gravel and it didn't want to disengage. After about 2 minutes of driving with it off, it finally disengaged. Is this normal?

 

Mine was "sticky" the first couple of times. It takes a little bit to break it in.

 

Are you talking about the Locking TRD Rear Differential that come with the TRD Off-Road Package?

I have used mine once in five years.

 

It depends on how much serious off roading you do. Specially climbing steep, rough hills. In my 2001 and 2005 it was used many times, and it is a life saver at getting the truck over an obsticle, like a mountain of rocks!

My 2010 has A-TRAC and essentially that gives this truck the traction of lockers on the rear and front! I only use the rear locker now doing fun tests to compare A-TRAC and the rear locker. I did like using the locker in the snow (with A-TRAC on standby).

 

I use mine a good bit. I used it a while back to pull some stumps out the ground or pull some trees that fell over during a bad storm we had a while back out of the woods so that I could cut them up and haul them away. I'll also use it to pull my boat up the landing ramp. When you try to disengage it if you turn side to side making like a ''S'' shape it will unlock quicker and let off the gas when you push the button out.

 

Wait....when did you get ATRAC?!

 

I just throw it on every now and then, aside from when I wheel, To keep it lubed up!

 

Depends on what you're referring too. If you mean the locking rear diff, I haven't really needed it but I'll put it in 4lo and lock up the rear diff about once a month when I am pulling my boat out of one gravel launch I use just to make sure it still works. Now if you mean 4hi, a couple times a week pulling my boat out of most launches that I use. It locks up fast now and unlocks easily too.

 

plowing my driveway i use it. pulling big ass rocks out of the ground this summer. wish i had one for the front.

 

x2 Same here!

 

What this A-trac company you work for.

I am a newb and know you swing on theirs already

 

No, that is the point... A-TRAC IS A TOYOTA product... unlike a lot of posters here... I am about my Toyota and what it comes with... no add ons to make it have more traction!

A-TRAC is Active Traction Control and has been on many Toyota and Lexus 4WDs for several years... It is a proven technology and the Tacoma Off Road 4WD finaly got A-TRAC in 2009.

In a nut shell, A-TRAC provides the traction benefits of locking differentials on the front and rear, without the handicap of steering difficulty lockers create by not allowing the tires to rotate differently.

 

How do you know if you have a open or lsd in the back. I have a 2006 TRD OR if that helps or where there different diffs?

 

I engage my rear diff every I take my truck out of park.

Now the Rear Locker...Eh...whenever I feel like it really. More in winter.

 

That's what the Toyota manual states. However, in practical use it's best to activate it before a difficult section of a trail--in anticipation of loss of traction so that you don't get stuck.

Also, the 2WD guys use it very differently from the 4x4 guys, so you'll notice that peoples experiences will vary depending on which truck they own.

 

When I am in sand I just lock it and go. There is no speed restriction. I know David likes to post the picture of the warning sticker but you can operate a locker over 5mph

 

OMG are you crazy! Didnt you see the warning sticker on your door? You rebel

 

Just so we are all understanding... I post the warning sticker more often to those with or considering the Off Road TRD 4WD... because it has A-TRAC and there is no 'warning sticker' on using A-TRAC...

A-TRAC provides traction on the front and rear tires. IF you ever find a situation that A-TRAC doesn't get you through, THEN you have the rear locker still, as an emergency back up (and it is Toyota that says use it only for emergency stucks, etc.).

Because it is my 3rd rear locker equipped Tacoma, I know you can drive it locked over 5 mph, and not just for getting unstuck (who wants to get stuck first, anyhow?).

The Toyota concerns are that steering is compromised with the rear locked... so, if you don't go fast, less chance of you driving into a tree or off a cliff! A-TRAC does NOT affect steering.

I have yet to find a place where I used the locker in the past to get through, that A-TRAC alone didn't work as well, or better in my newest Tacoma. This is the news that I share, if anyone wants to know. A-TRAC is many levels higher in traction assistance than TRAC or basic limited slip... It does the job of front and rear lockers together. Instead of locking the axles together inside the diff., it locks the axles by matching rotation of the two tires by braking the slipping tire to the same traction level as the tire on firm ground.

 

Yes, when I went off road in my 2wd TRD OR, I would engage the locker before an obstacle where I anticipated I could get stuck, just to avoid spinning one tire and risking damaging it in the process...