Lockers or Truetrac for Unpaved Deep Snow?

^^^ I'll look it up thanks. I'm under the impression that ATRAC and crawl-control are two different things. I know ATRAC has been on the Gen 2s for a while now, but crawl-control might only be on the Gen 3s.

 

I'll admit, crawling out of the snow is a lot easier in an automatic. But die-hard manual-only guy here.

 

Correct. I have heard the crawl-control described as cruise control for ATRAC. As I understand it, the 3rd gen MT ORs get ATRAC, just no crawl-control.
BTW - This thread is in the gen2 forum. Might find better information on the third gen trucks if you re-post over there.

 

Thanks... I posted on the 2nd gen forum on purpose. Apart from the crawl-control thing specific to the gen 3 trucks, there is way more knowledge about aftermarket lockers and LSDs on this forum.

 

My 2 cents are you habe two good options.

Get a second gen TRD OR since it has an actual selectable e-locker in the rear and does a good job electronically simulating a locked front. Or get a 3rd gen TRD OR. I prefer 2nd gen but that's just me.

Or yoy can put a selectable locker in the rear of a 4WD Sport. ARB air lockers are just one type of selectable locker. You don't want a locker in the front of an IFS truck and here is why. http://www.fourwheeler.com/how-to/transmission-drivetrain/131-0606-front-locking-differentials/ Instead install a helical gear limited slip.

Chances are you won't have any luck installing chains on the front. On a Tacoma with most wheel and tire combinations there just isn't enough room between the tire and the UCA and knuckle. If you go with 235s and the right wheel you might be able to make it happen.

 

Thanks for the link. I'll read that now. But that sounds like a good idea, locker in the back and aftermarket LSD at the front. BTW, I'm not going to be running stock wheels. I will have lower offset wheels, so I should have a lot more space inside.

 

my dad has a very steep windy driveway that gets covered in a few feet of snow every winter.

He found an old rusty suv truck (bronco or something) with a plow and chains on it for like 1500 bucks, and just plows his driveway now, and parks it during the summer.

look around and you might find something for cheap. even an ATV with a plow.

 

My 2017 OR 6MT has A-TRAC, haven't tested it in the snow yet though. I'm tempted to look into a Truetrac for the front anyway if the A-TRAC isn't what it's cracked up to be.

 

A-TRAC has been pretty good every time I've used it.

 

I put chains on the front with stock 265/70/16 Rugged Fails. They were the easy on/off type. The chain was about half the size of a normal chain, a compromise between cables and truck chains. Got me out of a snow covered ditch.

 

I take it it’s much harder to consider sticking a Detroit TrueTrac into the rear axle of a TRD Off Road right? You’d need to swap out the axle for a Sport?

 

That is correct. However I bet most sport owners would swap for free or even put some cash on top for the trade.

 

^^^ Oh that's a good point. Hadn't thought of that. I have my eye on a local TRD OR... I'd prefer the Sport, but both are hard to find with stick, so it's worth considering.

 

OR has better braking system with electronically boosted brakes, and ATRAC off road traction control which should work awesome with Truetrac.

 

Why would you even want to? There is nothing wrong with the OR e-locker.

 

It's good, yeah, but I take it you haven't read the entire thread, right? Turns out that for what I need the truck, Detroit TrueTracs at the front AND back are likely better than the factory e-locker.

 

Oh yeah, I hadn't thought of that. Sport doesn't have A-TRAC.

 

just giver shit till your tires dig through and grab traction

 

Seems like even though I can't easily put a TrueTrac at the back of an Offroad without doing some major parts swapping, (which I wonder if swapping out the rear OR axle for a Sport axle has any detrimental effect on A-Trac) the best compromise is still the Offroad. I think what I should do is just get the offroad, stick the Truetrac at the front, keep the rear e-locker and see how it does this winter with that combo. I the e-locker gets me sliding sideways the whole time I'm trying to leave my driveway, I'll just winch myself out... then next year consider swapping out the rear axle. Seems like a logically plan. I might not even need to do the swap if it works out.

 

The factory lift won't hurt you either.