ABS on this truck is dangerous...

Being able to choose to plow would be safer in winter , let's face it , ABS is designed for surfaces that provide traction

 

This ^

 

But to be fair Oz, it would be safer only to those who know and have the experience. Not everyone spends as much time as you do in the snow.

I know this is a Tacoma forum, but have you ever driven a Chevy with ABS? Those things grip the road and are AWESOME when the ABS kicks in. I had one that allowed me to steer around a car that spun out of control in front of me. I am 100% certain that if I just "plowed" through the snow, I would have hit them. Instead I was able to have good braking force, and steer around it, avoiding it completely. But I do agree the Tacoma needs some SERIOUS work on their ABS system. It is too sensitive.

 

yes...it aids you in stopping your vehicle...it does not however stop the vehicle for you and like i said, in snow and rain...all bets are off. stopping distance is increased...traction is very limited and therefore they will not function aswell as some people would like them to.

i agree.

and i agree.

 

If you really look at the history of ABS, it was designed for "low traction" road conditions. For instance one of the most common causes of accidents resulting from someone drifting off the road is oversteering, and loss of control. For example, if your left wheels are on the gravel side of the road, and the right tires on on pavement, then locking up the brakes would cause the vehicle to jerk to the right, and possible lose control into another vehicle.

With ABS, the system can limit the braking force on the wheels on the pavement, thus allowing you to have the same steering control as you would if all 4 wheels were on the pavement. Unfortunately you ALL have to admit that when on ice or snow, traction is traction, and when you have no traction, you have ZERO control, ABS or no ABS. You are simply along for the ride.

 

I have no issue with the Tacoma ABS system other than on snow , it saved my ass once during a higher speed deer suicide attempt

 

So it has worked well on ice, but not snow? That is curious indeed.

 

Not quite

On snow it is not usually a choice between traction or no traction but actually varying degrees of traction

When the ABS system engages and continually pulses it easily changes a condition of low traction into the condition of no traction and I would prefer low traction

 

I never said anything about ice .

 

Last winter was my first winter in a a Tacoma. I pulled out of my drive in snow storm with the stock Dunlops and Headed slowly down the hill we live on. Touched the brakes just to maintain my slow decent.... ABS started pulsing away and I didn't stop or slow for WAY too long. I'm lucky there were no cars in front of me. I was thinking I would have to ditch it in the snow bank before I made it to the intersection.

I did eventually stop, but ordered new tires that night. I went with Goodyear Wrangler Authorities. The tires made a huge difference for me.

I should also note that I'm a truck driver and have driven in more snow than most. I delivered propane in NH for years. I know what I'm doing in the snow. It was 100% the truck/tires.

 

I have yet to drive the Taco in any snow yet. I will definitely be ready for the abs to kick in after reading about the issues of the Toyota abs. I did drive a Mercedes sprinter with abs through four winters, and the first time the abs kicked in I thought I was going to kill myself. So unnerving to feel like the brakes aren't stopping you. It took a day of adjusting my driving to feel comfortable with the action of the abs. In panic stops, abs was nearly worthless, there needs to be a longer pulse of brake pressure, like a seconds worth, instead of tenths of a second.
I have had the Tacomas brakes hit the abs threshold on pavement, in panic stop situations, and it is very effective. But I imagine in low traction the abs is overly active. I thought(hoped) turning of the traction control would change the threshold for abs to kick in. Also, Oz, were you in 4wd during you're last abs incident?

 

Yes , 4x4

 

And this is probably how the Tacoma system works in it's current state. However a well designed system will pulsate ONLY the wheels that are locking up, and it pulsates them to the point just BEFORE lockup, so in a properly operating ABS system, it is NOT changing from low traction to no traction, but from no traction to low traction. The idea it to get the wheels to have maximum braking force, with minimal slipping. Again the Toyota system is obviously flawed, but a good system will give you better control than any human could ever have without it.

 

So 4wd has no effect on abs threshold? Nothing can turn off abs, or reduce its threshold? Only hooking up one of the switches that fool the system will shut off abs completely? Might be worth it if you're driving in those conditions regularly.

What would drive me nuts is once abs kicks on, I'd release pedal to try to get out of abs and try to lighten the pressure on the pedal, but this takes seconds, and sometimes you don't have a second to waste.

 

The purpose of ABS is that you shouldn't HAVE to change the pressure of your foot on the pedal. I really do wish that the Tacoma system wasn't so darn sensitive though.

 

I think I may be arguing the same point with people.


ABS sucks in snow.

 

Ice shouldn't enter the equation. What vehicle to you know of that has unpicked tires and has great traction on ice?.... I don't know of any, ABS or non.

 

Reading through this thread has me wondering if this is an issue that Toyota has addressed in new Tacomas? I just traded my old 98 4x4 for a 2015 model. I drive a good bit in snow and have the, by all accounts, lousy Dunlops on my new truck.

 

Only one way to find out. Test it. Tires made a difference for me though. The shitty Rugged fails activated the ABS way more than my Nittos.

 

Well i guess I will have an opportunity Tuesday. I have to drive from Charlottesville Virginia to Oakland Maryland. The forecast calls for snow.
I have to drive to Cleveland, Pittsbugh and Morgantown WV quite a bit during winter months. I will report back if this is an issue on the 15's or not.