New TRD Off road on snow

I picked up a new Tacoma OR short bed this week and have never used crawl control. I decided to check out the way it worked at a parking lot where I park for winter sports. On one foot of packed powder and level it was interesting At just above an idle moving forward it would start a "negative loop feedback" where it would brake / accelerate slowly at first to a point where it was like being on a bucking bronco. Quite entertaining So what is that all about. It was fine in non crawl control modes of 4 low and 4 high. Mts seemed ok whatever that is.

 

You were using crawl control in a parking lot? Lol

 

I wasn't sure if it said crawl control or mall control

 

In situations where you're actually stuck, the experience has been similar.

CC is constantly accelerating and using brakes on certain wheels to determine which has traction so it can get out. I tried something similar to you and was met with the bucking and moving slowly forward.

 

Sounds like it... on one foot of packed powder and it couldn't figure out how to get out of it's own way. Crawl control sounds like a gimmick for people that either have no understanding of traction or have no fine ankle/foot motor skills.

My lowly trim didn't come with crawl control so perhaps just sour grapes on my part.

 

There are some good videos of it being used to get out of sand and such. Go to the beach, get it buried, and then try it

 

It is worse at the lowest speed setting, crank it up and it smooths out. Assuming that the terrain allows that. And your teeth.

 

It’s always a good idea to learn how all these features work like you did before you actually need them in a real scenario. I tested out crawl control in some soft sand when I first got my truck and it worked well. I got my rear axle down to the ground and tried 4hi and couldn’t get out. Threw on CC and it crawled right out. I’m sure I could of gotten out with just 4lo alone though but still good to learn how it works

 

Thanks for the feedback, I understand now that it is tying to go into extreme "get unstuck" mode while on mild flat land, just what I sort of expected. It will be more representative to try it in conditions that I am stuck

 

Now take it off road in 4 low until you get stuck. Now try Crawl Control, and be ready to be impressed.

Without beating up your Taco, you should learn it's limitations..

 

so did you use MTS/ATRAC?

 

I have a 6mt (no crawl control), so call me out if I’m wrong, but Crawl Control isn’t for getting unstuck. It’s for moving slowly over obstacles or going up and down steep slopes. Plenty of people have reported that it is no good on flat surfaces. Think about it as 4lo cruise control.

Maximizing traction for getting unstuck is the job of ATRAC/MTS (and the rear locker) and those systems are not a gimmick nor a nanny. They are quite effective at limiting uneven wheel spin and are much better than open diffs.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

 

yes, which is why I asked. Seems like people are using terms the crawl control and atrac/mts interchangeably

 

Yes I think that happens a lot. “Crawl control” has become a blanket term for all of the off road traction and driver assistance systems for those that haven’t taken the time to understand them.

 

I've not played with A-TRAC yet; but in 4hi with TRAC on I have driven though a plowed snowbank. The road was crap, she turned wider than I expected and I ended up off the road behind the plowed bank. I figured I was stuck, but she just drove through it and even woth one front and one rear wheel off the ground kept plowing snow until I was back on the road. My 4x4 1st gen has been stuck in snow in significantly more favorable conditions.

MTS is the equivalent in the ATs. As stated already, Crawl Control is just throttle control. Crawl Control with MTS is what magically gets the truck out of sand. MTS alone with careful throttle on the part of the driver should give the same result.

Of course I'm just manualsplaining as I don't have MTS or Crawl Control.

 

Those are great pics @AZ_Tumbleweed

 

Crawl control doesn’t get you unstuck if you are stuck. It does it’s magic going up or down very steep and loose surfaces as an ascent/descent control. It doesn’t work well on level ground, nor was it intended to. Also doesn’t get you unstuck, because stuck is stuck. That was just a marketing ploy.

when you are in the right situation, it works extremely well.

 

It’s designed for both. Most of the videos are showing them getting out of sand. I tried it out coming down a moderately steep and supper muddy hill and it took me down fine. I think on the trails you will get made fun of for using it on obstacles though. haha I think it will get you out of most sand situations though.

 

Crawl controls a very nice idea, how it works, a bit nosey…and the jerking…but it does help..
The rear locker..? Is only to be use under 5 mph…and only for short periods, once not needed..you must un-lock..

note: the new Nissan Pro…their rear locker can be use up to 25 miles per hour..great in sand and mud…
This makes the Nissen rear locker better than the Tacomas, ( which is limited)

what’s better? A locker that can be use anytime..the ultimate is two lockers …one front and one rear…Ford offers it , Chevy / GMC offers it on some of their 4x4,s ..better then any crawl controls…

Wish Toyota would offer Front and rear lockers…! Know the “WHY’s”…

 

Bought a Sport. Added front and rear air lockers.