Uwharrie 11/4/17

Finally able to get the new Tacoma out. Had a little hiccup on the Rocky Mountain Loop and needed a second run.Tranny temp warning popped up and truck cut off halfway up at an obstacle.Backed it down and sat a minute.I do have a tranny cooler and oil cooler,but we had been riding half a day by then.Really wanted a spotter for that ledge but couldn’t get one.Rubbed a little underneath but made it up with that stock TRD Sport!A guy in a Jeep said he waited around just to watch the Toyota take on the hill! Fun times out there!

 

When driving off road do you run in 4 hi or 4 lo? Curious about the trans temp.....

 

There is a dedicated uwharrie thread here

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...st-ure-permanent-thread.485479/#post-14872597

 

I was running both to be honest.Depended on the obstacles. The Modified jeep JK on 35’s I was with had more clearance and was running a little quicker and lo was a little slow for me to keep up. I ran most of the Rocky Mountain Loop in lo. My first automatic,first time running these conditions,trying different things out on the Tacoma to see what worked best..probably my error on transmission,but only happened that one time.Lockers would have been nice,but really didn’t need them.

 

I had a manual 2000 3.4L for 16yrs and never used lo range,just clutch and had original trans and clutch when I got rid of it. I mostly ran on the beach and some in the Croatan and mud,but nothing like Uwharrie.I know automatics are different and I really don’t know how to use them off road. I believe lo may have been the better choice earlier. I did put in M1 lo going down hills to save the brakes. Just D or M2 lo seemed to be too quick down the hills. I have a slip button on/off in hi and ECT to make my gears longer.This computer stuff takes a little getting accustomed to and sure I am doing some things wrong,but I didn’t get stuck!

 

I was out there a week or so back, 4L on the trails, using the "manual" gear select. I dont see how you can really go "faster" in a stock taco.

 

I realized I needed to be running lo a little earlier and probably just kept it in.I am the guy that doesn’t know how to drive an automatic! Just a little different driving than a manual and taking some getting accustomed to..but seems everything is going automatic and ABS and the computer drives for you

 

everyone has opinions on 2wd, 4HI, and 4LO use. some people love to run in 2wd till the need 4wd. some people run in 4LO untill they need more speed. some run in 4HI all the time.......I run in 4LO most of the time, (hit ATRAC when needed, and locker when needed) using my shifter to limit upshifting into higher gears to limit speed. I feel the gearing is easier on the transmission in 4LO. but, thats just me. the more you do it, the more you will find what works best for YOU.

 

Well almost... i think trac control goes off when you put it in 4L and a few other "safety" systems. I havent run into a problem yet and im bone stock right now, even the rubbers .

But yeah 4L and using the gear selector (whatever that things called) to adjust your speed, mostly downhill is where thats useful. I dont know how many times i left it in drive (not using the selector) and it would friggin shift gears in the middle of an obstacle and lurch forward causing thunks and angry noises from under the taco. Think of the gear selector as your clutchless MT