A-TRAC/TRAC/AUTO LSD Explained (Easy to understand, I hope!)

Thanks David for the warm welcome. I will have to check those videos out!

Yep wheeling isn't just about the vehicle! Experience and wheeling knowledge really makes a huge difference. IMHO. Along with being able to figure out the best line, path or action to get past or over some obstacle!

Well there are at least two problems with this conclusion.

#1: Both Jeeps have been highly modified! (The FJC (FJ Cruiser) is bone stock!)

#2: The Jeeps were not out testing the sand, and stopping on the incline and then trying to start moving again from a dead stop! (Which is what I did on purpose. If I had just drove across the sand the FJC would NOT have had so much of a problem.)

Admittedly these Jeeps DO HAVE a large advantage in Sand because of their much lighter weight and especially their very wide tires. (Their tires were probably at least twice as wide as my Stock Tires.) But I do have another video where the maxed out jeep in this video is really sunk to it's frame and ALL FOUR WHEELS are turning at the same time. And the driver hops out and talks to me, while his tires are churning along, just like big old paddlewheels! And I had to pull him out. (But he did this to his Jeep on purpose just for fun. Like what I was doing. )

I also have a different video of a new STOCK JK Jeep, that has a real problem getting up a sand hill, that I just blasted up without any problem.

Well as I said MODIFIED Jeeps, such as those in the video, do have an advantage because of their extra wide tires.

But with the A-Trac and Locker on the FJC, the sand never really caused me any problems, unless I playing around trying to get stuck.

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But an advantage of the FJC over these jeeps was that I could (and did) fly at high speeds (sometimes over 100 mph... shhh... lol) to wheeling locations with these Jeeps and then drive fast right back home again. And I truly loved being able to do that!

If our wheeling location for the day was something like 100 miles away, I literally would let my Jeep buddies start going there about 20 -30 minutes before I would even leave my house. Both of these Jeeps were NOT great on the road for any distance. Plus good luck trying to talk to them on the phone or CB if they were traveling at "close to" interstate speeds.

Another advantage of the FJC with A-Trac was NOT having straight axles front and rear, would be when we were driving on washboard roads, like Ocala National Forest has has miles and miles of. My FJC would just fly over the bumps and then I would STOP and wait for the Jeep to catch up with me. They could not go very fast over those trails/roads because their Jeeps would rattle apart. Their words, not mine!

On one occasion, we were invited to a place that some guy wanted to turn into a 4x4 area and wanted us to check it out. (He never did it though.) But this place had an older clay ATV Race track on it. Whoo hooo!!!! Man o man, did I have fun blasting around that track. Slipping and sliding and drifting around the corners. The Jeep guys never even tried it! But they were having fun watching me race around with the FJC on that ATV Race Track. Even some people who lived in an old trailer on the property came out and watched me rip around that track!!! Even if the Jeep guys (with straight axles) would have even tried it, I would have lapped them so easy! Bwaa haaaa haaa!!

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One last advantage, the FJC was much better in deep water, then the Jeeps. Two of my Jeeps buddies (the two in the video) hated deep water. The one Jeep buddy showed me the difference between his rear end housing and mine and I was amazed how small his was and that it did NOT have Drain and Fill plugs in the Jeeps rear differential. Plus he told me that the axles of his Jeep were not airtight at all.

So every time he went in deep water he would have do quite a bit of work when he got home to make sure he did not get any water in his diffs. And the FJC did not have such a problem.

In fact, I now remember the very first wheeling I did with a BUNCH of Jeeps (in Richloam) and we all ended up needing to drive through some halfway deep water. (I have been in much deeper water since then.) There was "almost" a stock jeep with us. And the water KILLED this Jeep's transmission, just after he got back on the road to go home. They had to bring him all new tranny fluid and do a couple of tranny flushes before he was able to get back home. Many, many hours after I was already home. (If I knew he had a problem I would have helped him, but we had many vehicles on that run, and we all split up right afterwards.)

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Oh yeah, while I am on a "rant" (just kidding ) Yet another advantage of the FJC (which is a disadvantage sometimes)is it's slightly longer wheelbase.

I would go up and down very steep hills without as much thought and concern as my Jeep buddies. (Ah, but the downside of the longer wheelbase was that the FJC would get high-centered much easier. lol)

So in conclusion, I loved my FJC, and my wife loves it, and it STILL is her daily driver. Even AFTER all my wheeling adventures (should I say mis-adventures) scars and tattoos! I loved the street driving AND the ability to do serious wheeling both with the same vehicle! The MODIFIED Jeeps were honesty better in MOST wheeling situations, but I went EVERY WHERE they did with my STOCK FJC (but they would NOT follow me through deep water) and I always had the Air Conditioner on when wheeling... lol

All I can say is that we had many great times wheeling beside Jeeps, FJCs and other 4x4s. And to each their own! Just get out there and wheel! (lol, I am sort of retired from wheeling now.. )

PaulThePhotographer.

(I bet that helps get this thread heated up again...like it really needs it anyway! lol )

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ku6eZQSXfw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRYC7yDQLag


Pancake Rock southeast of Alpine. Did this this morning just me and the GF. The rains have it pretty tore up. Here is a couple videos of some jeeps having issues. ATRAC got me all the way to the top of the rock no problem. Amazing what driving the correct line will do for you.

 

I HAVE NEVER SAID THAT. NEVER.

 

Dude it's labor day weekend, I have a beer in my hand as we speak!

 

David Gets angry? Daaaaaaavid, is this true?

 

Not drinking. Maybe you should put down the joint? LOL.

 

Lol, you have implied this a few times

 

Nope. Not angry. Used CAPS because I don't appreiate lies about what I really said.

Mods are great. I said you don't need to mod a Tacoma to get to most anywhere. It is the best stock truck made... the 4WD Off Road.

 

How would I know about you. I tried to get together to go wheeling with you when you first were posting. That never happened. Too bad as I would have showed you how to use A-Trac and enjoy your truck more. I don't use illegal drugs either. Fwiw.

 

Gotta take all this with a grain of salt. I'm sure out on the trail everybody would get along just fine.

 

Rob, great videos! Those guys in the jeeps need to relax with the skinny pedal and let some air out of the tires. Lots of panic taps of the gas.

 

Dude you have said that quite a few times! U have also said that A-Trac is a superior traction to front and rear lockers.

 

Double the traction of lockers lol..

So when we do our thing on aftershock everything has to be first attempted with just ATRAC only and no rear locker

 

I guess so missed you guys today at Azusa

 

I did engage the rear locker twice today as a precaution. I probably would have made it without it but as Brandon pointed out earlier in the case of the jeeps, I like to go less skinny pedal especially on a trail like that by myself. If something broke or I flopped I would have been SOL. Plus there is no place to turn around so either you make it or your pretty much screwed. I do appreciate having at least the rear locker and if I had a choice from factory would have gotten a front locker also.

Maybe someday we will see. Once I get stopped then it will be time for an upgrade

 

I felt like being lazy today..been catching up on both the original and new battlestar gallactica series on netflex

 

U clown! It was pretty fun. Plenty of karnage in the pit and plenty of stuck action! We had both ez ups going and the misters!!!!

 

No, I have not... that is just silly. I don't believe that so I would not say that. Maybe you read replies from others and got that in your head? If I ever do say such a silly thing it would be just to get you anti-A-TRAC'ers all worked-up... like you guys try to do with me... LOL

I have said that A-TRAC makes the Tacoma the best traction stock truck....

I have said the only way to get more traction is to add a front locker, but to try A-TRAC before spending thousands, as it just may surprise you.

I have said A-TRAC is better than lockers (front and rear) for negotiating trails because you don't have to shut off A-TRAC when you need to turn. Lockers, specially in the front do not allow easy steering.

And, I have said A-TRAC is better because it comes stock from Toyota at no extra price on the 4WD Off Road Tacoma... it is covered by warranty...

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You were saying? Post #44.



And...... You still havent commented on my video of the 2 landcruisers with the one failing with A-Trac.

 

That was my opinion when I made that post back then. So, you are right. Maybe I need to do that run again as I seem to have forgot A-Trac was awesome on that Baja trail.