A-TRAC - Is It Worth It? 2014 Sport or Offroad?

Hey Guys,

So I'm looking at pulling the trigger on a 2014 TRD Sport or Off-Road as soon as I figure out what I want.

If I get a Sport I will be putting on an OME lift and a Rear Locker - Probably an ARB Air Locker. If I get an Offroad, same lift.

I'm wondering what your experiences are with the A-TRAC on the Offroad. From all the research I've done it seems like A-TRAC is another 4x4 system that is independent of the rear locker but can be used with or without the rear locker.

I've test driven both models and I have to say my initial impression is I like the Sport better, but I always envisioned myself in an Offroad.

I will be using the truck as daily driver of course and plan on doing very light off-roading pulling a small off-road trailer for camping. I won't be hardcore wheeling. We do occasionally get some wicked snow storms up here on occasion and I'm wondering do I need the A-TRAC and a rear locker?

Also, does anyone know if the Baja comes with a rear locker?

Thanks for any input - Much Appreciated!

 

ATRAC works great. If you use it a lot the brakes may overheat. For light off highway travel I would think ATRAC would be sufficient. If you're building a rock crawler lockers are what you want.

 

Only problem with ATRAC is you can't get it in a DCLB

 

Sounds like A-TRAC is between LSD and a locker. . . hmmm - I definitely will get a locker though - Had one in my old FJ60 and it saved a couple of times in a 30 year snow storm we had.

 

I didn't think it came on the Sport at all - SB or LB. DCLB is in the running though.

How's yours handling up there? You don't have a locker right?

 

I was kidding , yes you are correct , ATRAC is only on '09+ TRD Offroad. 4x4's

I've had no issues with my truck as far as getting around in adverse weather in the last 5 years , I have no locker but I also don't do any hardcore offroading either

It all depends on your end use

 

I've got A-TRAC. Do I ever use it? No. Did I have to have it? No. Is it nice knowing you have it? I guess. Meh....

 

Atrac is a good system to help while off roaring but nothing will ever replace a front locker.

 

Christ, I can't believe I missed that one - The perfect OZ-T DCLB one liner. Good to know. . .

I take it you wouldn't lose any sleep over it. . .

Yeah, I don't know if I'm will to spring for front AND rear lockers . . .But agreed.

That puts things in perspective a bit more - I'm definitely going to have an open front diff.

 

I like the A-TRAC. It would by no means be a deal breaker, but I have found that it works really well in mud when I am heavy on the throttle and trying to keep my momentum up. At the end of the day, it sounds like you may not really need either. A lot of other members have said the locker is pretty terrible for the snow, and if you aren't doing heavy wheeling, you would probably be fine with 4x4.

Here is a good thread with some information about how the system works, it definitely helped me figure out the role/purpose of A-TRAC a little better. If I understand right, A-TRAC is variant of an electronic LSD that utilizes your brakes to create and LSD effect. It is just a more aggressive version of the normal electronic LSD that TRAC does.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/te...uto-lsd-explained-easy-understand-i-hope.html

 

There's times I've been crawling up a hill in 4lo with loose rocks or when the suspension really starts flexing were A-Trac would have been nice. I have a sport so I'm all open in 4lo. Would a locker been nice too, yeah. Probably what I'll end up getting. It was DCLB for me or nuthin. So I went with the sport. That, and I secretly wanted the skewp.

I think any TRD 4x4 model Sport or OR should have come with A-Trac, but whatever.

 

The yellow wire mod may be something to think about. Not sure if works on the sport or the 12-13-14 . Did in on my 2011 base model and it gave me TRAC in 4 l0.

 

Baja has both

 

Wow. Nice Thread - Thanks. REPS to you! Reading through it seems like it would be nice to have - no means a deal breaker as you say but that's pretty sweet, next best thing to actually having a front locker.

haha! Yeah I secretly want a skewp too and I'm a little embarrassed that is actually something that is factoring into my decision. The DCLB is definitely in the running. Can't figure out either why the Sport doesn't have A-TRAC. Goofy.

I love it - The Yellow Wire Mod. You guys have a mod for everything. Good to know, I'll give that a search and check it out.

 

Too Cool. Damn, now I have 4 Tacomas to choose from. This is getting out of hand. Those Baja's are sweet.

 

For light offroading purposes only you gotta ask yourself...Do you skewp or no skewp? I have both Atrac and rear locker and was impressed with both systems. I didn't need the longbed so i got the TRD off road and have loved it! My feeling is that unless you absolutely need a LB then why pay the same $$$ for a sport and not get the locker?! You can always get the offroad and switch out the hood for a snazzy skewp (adds 10hp) haha

 

Actually if all you want is a long bed and don't care about 4 doors. The ORs and Bajas come in Access cab models. That's what I almost got until I realized that the rear area didn't fold down flat like my buddy's 08 access cab. The extra room in the DC is soooo nice though. All Ive ever owned was reg cab pickups. I still get all giddy when I can actually put crap in the back and keep out of the rain, or not have to haul it back in the cab when I park to keep it from getting stolen.

 

X2 it just depends on what cab config you want

 

Dude get the truck you want I mean do you off road a ton? What do you use your truck? How much do you want to spend up front to get your truck to the way you want it?

 

If you're putting a locker in the rear of a sport, why not get an OR that already has the locker and atrac...and DAC (auto only)? What about the sport do you like better?