First quick offroad test of new truck

I live at a ski resort, and once in a while during the summer, I'll take my Taco for a spin around the slopes.

It will climb the steepest black diamonds with ease.

 

You may see a LOT of posts from me on the A-TRAC and other systems. I previously had a 2001 and 2005 Tacoma, both OFF ROAD 4WDs with the rear locker and NO other traction systems besides 4WD.

When I got the 2010 with A-TRAC, TRAC, etc. I could not find the details on how they worked or what they did from Toyota people or owners manual. I finally found some basic info here on TW and then went four wheeling to experiment with my new truck in many situations.

I have NEVER been stuck with the A-TRAC... I once even high centered the back where both rear tires were over ruts and the truck rested on the spare tire and trailer hitch... a rear locker would be useless... I was going up a steep grade, and only one front tire had good contact! Of course any other Tacoma would see one front tire spin and the other do nothing (open differential)... The A-TRAC 'locked' the front two tires together and drove my truck up and out of the high center... dragging the back until those two tires were off the ruts. AMAZING! Only a front locker could do that before A-TRAC's invention. I was sold!

I also tried sand driving at full pressure and the TRAC system in H4 was amazing... didn't have to deflate like I did with my previous Tacomas. I turned off the traction controls (VSC OFF MODE) to see what would happen, and my truck got stuck (like my other ones would at full pressure in the tires). Before deflating to drive out of the stuck, I decided to try A-TRAC in this situation... So I went into L4 (with A-TRAC on, always)... and the truck drove itself out of the stuck! I went back to H4 with TRAC and continued to drive about. Again was AMAZED at what a big change these two systems (TRAC and A-TRAC) made on how the Tacoma performs.

A side note: In 2012, the TRAC mode in H4 was changed, the unregulated mode in H4 is now called TRAC OFF and requires a quick push of the VSC button. The "Off" part means engine regulation is off... which is the stronger form of TRAC. VSC OFF is how you turn the traction control off, if you also wanted to get stuck... lol!

 

It's pretty muddy most of the time. I'd like to find some proper trails around here... Let me know if you are in town and want to go out there. I'll come

 

Nice truck dude

 

Oh how I miss nawlins, my hometown....