ABS on this truck is dangerous...

From the NHTSA Q&A on ABS (http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/problems/equipment/absbrakes.html)


Do cars with ABS stop more quickly than cars without? ABS is designed to help the driver maintain control of the vehicle during emergency braking situations, not make the car stop more quickly. ABS may shorten stopping distances on wet or slippery roads and many systems will shorten stopping distances on dry roads. On very soft surfaces, such as loose gravel or unpacked snow, an ABS system may actually lengthen stopping distances. In wet or slippery conditions, you should still make sure you drive carefully, always keep a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, and maintain a speed consistent with the road conditions.

 

The keyword here is "may". The truth is it does not, when compared to skilled driver, and no car company will claim otherwise. ABS pulsation wastes time in stopping so ABS system will never beat skills.
No matter dry, wet, or snowy ABS will always make cars stop longer and its known fact but somebody somewhere figure out tradeoff on allowing to steer for people with no driving skills offset this.
My ABS is out and not planning to put it back.

 

The NHTSA is correct, it MAY decrease stopping distance.

If your wheels lock up, as in all four, you very well might skid further than if you had a controlled slowing. As in, full-on, emergency stop type skid. Especially if you're in wet conditions, enough to induce hydroplaning or something.

That's part of why ABS came along in the first place.

BUT... it might not stop you sooner, as well.

 

There is no instance when ABS provides shorter stopping distance. If you know any please provide. Even on dry pavement ABS will make vehicle stop further.
Now to add, most cars on the road can't even lock wheels during breaking. People drive with old pads, rotors and fluid. In addition to ABS that creates nice daily event of watching yet another driver hitting a back of car in front of him.

 

What % of drivers in your opinion are "skilled" enough to out break/maneuver their ABS system?

 

Word may is for the same reason as why weight loss products have small print disclaimer saying "results may vary" That translates to NEVER.

 

I'm going to be generous and say 10%.

 

The average driver is not that skilled , that's why ABS systems , VSC etc are included in modern vehicles .

The fact remains that this thread is about ABS on snow , where it sucks donkey balls .

 

Agreed on the generous portion. I was thinking 3-7% However I would be willing to bet 80% think they can.

 

I readily admit that but the thread has progressed into some people claiming it has no use and provides no advantages. I think it's important for people who may not read the whole thread to see the truth.

 

And that's why I'm glad I got my 07. Just ABS on it. No VSC. One of these days I'll disable it. So far I'm pretty good to not engage it often if at all.

 

It should be 100%. If people can not control 5000LB vehicle they have no business to be on the road. Thats why there are mopeds.

 

I went to enough wrecks to know just about everyone thinks they can ... the majority of people couldn't even control a 500lb ATV. Let alone a 5000lb car on a wet surface traveling 60MPH.

 

Just about anyone old enough to have driven a non-abs vehicle successfully in the past on snowy conditions.

I think today's youths are screwed. You can't learn how to drive in the snow on a X-box and we all know their parents most likely will never teach them.

Luckily I was set free in a huge parking lot in the middle of a storm and my dad said have at it when I was 15. I also grew up riding dirt bikes and quads so driving in snow wasn't much different.

 

It takes a pretty decent amount of skill to threshold brake and outperform the computer on a consistent basis. I doubt that either of us could do it day in and day out in every conceivable situation.

 

I agree. It also takes no skill to outperform ABS on snow. So improve the system or give us a switch, Toyota. And in the meantime don't bash those who take matters into their own hands and pull the fuse.

 

you do have a point there.

 

Maybe start here? Just a little Googling for some light reading. Looks like an interesting site--though it appears to be geared towards racing.

http://www.drivingfast.net/car-control/braking.htm

I thought an interesting point was, compared to modern VSC and ABS, a "skilled driver" would require 4 separate brake pedals.

 

Good stuff

Skilled driver wins 1.)

also

Hence why ABS is just electronic gizmo that for a lot of people (who drive good portion of the year on non-hard surface roads) will result in larger possibility of accident