New to group, have some questions

I have a 2017 tacoma TRD OR. It is an automatic. I'm used to driving manual with 4x4 shifter on the floor, like is in my 4 runner. I don't think I'm using my 4x4 and crawl mode as intended. I'm not fully understanding the user manual. I played one day with all the buttons trying to figure them all out and it took me forever to get everything disengaged. Any advice on crawl mode, crawl mode dial, and I have no clue what the mts is for. When to hit the other buttons lol...etc! Can i switch to 4h while moving? Any experienced TRD OR owners in central north carolina area (where I'm currently working) willing to give a tutorial will appreciate any advice to get the fullest out of my truck. Thanks!

 

Welcome. You can switch to 4 hi moving up to 50 mph I believe and the MTS stands for multi terrain selector, rocks, mud, sand and snow I think.

 

Thank you! So I only adjust the dial when I am using the mts then I'm assuming. I've been stopping, putting in neutral then shifting to 4h, that is great to know lol

 

I don't have these fancy buttons and control but from what I understand you would select crawl control and the use the mts to select what terrain your on. 4 lo needs to be engaged stoped and in neutral 4 hi no need shift and drive on. As for the locker. Typically stopped push the button and go forward a little or reverse to engage

 

Very helpful! Thanks a ton!

 

If you're going too fast the truck won't let it engage into 4hi and it will just beep at you. Should be able to engage up to 60 mph. Likewise I don't have any of the fancy buttons so no advice there.

 

I thought it was higher. Maybe 55 in the 3rd gen but why push the limit of it is my thoughts

 

The joy of 4wd with computers. If you're not doing it right it won't let it happen and beep at you to say you're doing it wrong. Yet will still let you figure out what you're doing wrong to learn a lesson. lol

 

Wouldn't know, I bought a 2wd (It's a work truck) for the second time. I don't need the extra maintenance or expense on insurance. Plus I would get myself into bad situations with 4x4... I am a tad

 

Giggles!

 

Btw Welcome to TW Nikki

 

Welcome!

 

You can switch to 4hi from 2hi up to 60mph.
Mts and crawl are only for 4lo.
Mts has 5 settings mud, gravel, mogul loose rock, rock. Or something like that. Each one limits wheel slip more and more by braking individual wheels. Rock being least amount of slip mud being most. Does actually help a lot on rock I've found.

Crawl control is like it sounds a crawl.
Set to 5 different speeds. Will brake individual wheels and senses which wheels have the most traction. All you do is steer
Toyota advertised it as being able to dig itself out of sand.
I've tried it for hill decent. Didn't care for it.

To activate either or be in 4lo. Press which one you want and turn dial to desired setting (will say on your cluster) will hear a beep as well.

 

Very helpful! And does dig out of sand and up sand dunes. I thought I was doing something wrong when it continued to beep. When do you use or not use the traction control and the differential lock

 

Most traction control gets turned off in 4lo. And I'm always on 4lo if off road so I dunno how to answer that.

Locker is for when nothing else works and slow and controlled.
I've used the locker going through wash outs, in my avatar I was locked because first attempted the drop had my front wheels off and rear barely on and was stuck. Used it on a recent Hill decent on a snow covered hill just to help hold the rear straight. Climbing steep rocks to limit wheel slip and be more controlled.

It's hard to really say. If you understand how/what a locker does it kind of helps with knowing when and how to use. If you get that without a locked diff you have all the power going to wheel with least resistance. So if a wheel is off the ground guess which is spinning.

Anything off camber can warrant a locker.

 

miss that MT yet? lol... sorry.

anyway, this is a great thread to help you understand what the manual could not:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/a-trac-trac-auto-lsd-explained-easy-to-understand-i-hope.70551/

good luck and enjoy!

 

Welcome to TW

 

Welcome, I am also new to this forum heck even a Toyota, but I have done extensive research since this is my first midsize truck even though I owned 8 vehicles before (mainly full-size).

-You can shift to 4h while moving like others have said
-to shift into 4lo you have to be in neutral
-MTS is just a selection for 4lo (helps the diff do its thing dividing the power when wheels starts spinning)
-Crawl is a bit different. You have to be either in reverse or drive (also be in 4lo), but stopped prior to selecting crawl, the knob selector will pretty much be the same for MTS but honestly its basically just a speed selector when in crawl.

Every time you switch to a different mode with the exception of 4hi, just wait a couple of seconds until the light on your gauge/information display stops blinking and you are good to go. Crawl is like your last effort kind of thing if 4lo, MTS, or locking your diff don't work (I put it in the order I use)