2011 Access Cab goes out of control on gravel roads!

Thanks for all the tech answers. The answers from guys that have not read the post or have theirs heads where only tp belongs can stuff it.

They ignored the fact that my other three 4x4’s don’t do it - same road, same conditions, same driver. And I drive 30. Ten mph for 15 miles to home ain’t practicle. It tried to do it at 15 mph today fore I caught it.

Just wanted to know where to start if not inherent. (Too big a word for the user who says “fuck”??)

To those who gave reasonable answers, thanks much.

Damn thing gets 18 mpg already. Don’t think I should have to haul sand all year.

Tires were piss poor tires from the dealer a year ago - maybe they're worn enuf to do it. Didn’t think tread would matter much sideways in 2 “ of mud.

Don’t have maint history so don’t know if shocks or springs were ever worked on. 100k miles.

Stock heighth.

Acts fine on hard pack or paved.

Never 4 wheeled hard; barely any.

Thought it was a driver problem the first 3-4 times. Not anymore.

Seems to do it in 2 and 4 wd; usually on corners but has happened on straitaways. Sprig, I handle a skid the same way as I did when I raced dirt track for 4 years, but thank you for asking. You actually thought about! BTY, it doesn’t work here. Corrects itself and then try’s to pass itsself again.......hmmmm, pecking this post in just made me think of how they act on ice with rear axle locked - straight sideways! Bajatacomas good post made me pause; really reasonable post along my thinking.

I get a little testy with folks jumping to conclusions. I’m old as dirt and have driven on ice, gravel, mud and track for 40 yrs. Thanks to those who thought about my question and made suggestions.

 

I agree this truck needs some repairs. Thanks for the observation. I think you missed the latest incident. And you seemed to miss that the question was preliminary to my starting maint. And I stand by my statement that this 2011 isnt the truck the 98 i still use on occasional. And your statements DO NOT explain why the 98, with more power, 250,000 miles, and lots of worn stuff, doesn’t act this way when I drive it on the same roads. Thanks for answering though. Gordon

 

Check your shocks. I had a feeling mine were bad from an annoying clunk & rattle on rumble strips, just changed them to Bilstein 5160's. Was shocked to find my right rear had 4 inches of free play, zero damping, zero gas left. Mines a 2010 with stock suspension & had factory shocks until a couple days ago, quite a difference in handling & ride quality.
Could be your issue & worth a look if for nothing else, you can rule out that as an issue if they're good.

 

I would start with the shocks as well, seems like something may be busted in the suspension. Could a rear drum be grabbing? Caked with mud/dirt and sticking?

I was going to say: Sounds like your rear diff is locked...except you said it behaves on the road.

Good luck with it!

 

I've driven thousands of miles on dirt/forest/logging roads in all conditions from speeds ranging from less than 5 mph to 50+ mph (again given the conditions).

I've never experienced anything remotely resembling what OP is experiencing.

 

Have you checked your rear tire pressure? Higher rear tire pressure will cause oversteer, which it sounds like what you are experiencing. If anyone but you has messed with your tires, chances are they way over inflated them. If your truck is empty in the bed, you should have lower pressure back there.

 

Sounds like fun! But on the serious side, the beds on these trucks are very, very light, with almost nothing to hold down the rear end on gravel, sandy, icy or rainy conditions. A few time I've spun out entering a oil covered freeway entrance after a light rain, it can be scarier then sh!t if your not ready for it. The trucks is probably fine.

 

Thanks folks, for earlier and later posts. Really good ideas some of which I would have tried before now if there wasn’t 4“ of Colorado clay under the truck. Ruffus and Djd1, shocks are a good bet. Used to build dune buggies and run sometimes without shocks. Squirrly, but off road! Sig45, have done that too - no problem till now! As Foxworthy says, if you gotta tell folks how far you are “off the hard road” you are a redneck. My neck has always been kinda and still is crimson. Badger, good point, have never checked. Have always driven Toys cause the don’t require much checking. Lastly,Thanks Robert, your spin out on very little oil sound like exactly what I’m seeing. Never thought about the lightness of the “plastic” bed. Just knew something was wierd, as my 3 other 4x4s didn’t do it with ME driving them!

Thought someone would comment on my saying my 98 was more powerful. Just gotta say, it ain’t stock!

 

My truck is out of control all day! Aww day!!

 

Op, I'm wondering if the stability control might be seriously out of calibration. Might want to do a zero point calibration just to be sure.

 

Welcome to the internet and T. World.

You would be surprised what a new set of shoes mud, snow worthy and a little weight would do ya.

Good luck with the solution I hope you are looking for

 

Steve, are you sure its the truck?

 

Thanks for the welcomes, but i been on for years. Was Malpais82e, but after i tried to reset my password I became "OP"?????

 

Hey OP you may have got some of the harsher responses because you’ve only posted a couple times and nobody here knows anything about you. Your problem is odd and unique, I’ve never heard anything like that so thought it must be driver caused. Now I don’t think that. I have a 2009 4x4 Taco and have never experienced anything like that, nor have I on any of the other 4x4 trucks I’ve owned. It may well be some suspension problem as some have suggested. What ever that is not normal or even heard of by anyone here on any generation Taco.
Even though you are not getting any malfunction lights I’m wondering if it may be something faulty in the traction control system. Such as electronic limited slip system is malfunctioning by applying a little pressure to one of the wheels when you are on the dirt. It shouldn’t be doing that but if the system applied a little pressure to just one wheel that could be enough to send you spinning on dirt. It may not do that on pavement because there is no slippage like on dirt. Anyway just throwing that out there.

 

Thanks Sprig. Hard to convince folks you ain’t crazy on this forum. Grew up on a farm fixing everything. Started driving Toy 4x4s in 1980. Switched my 85 4 runner to RET. Ran my 98 Taco with blower 250,000 miles, but still don’t know shit? Oh well. Got many good ideas and learned all gen two tacos don’t do this. It’s a good start

Gordon

 

You're the OP because you started this thread.

Does your truck have traction control, and antilock brakes?
Could be the issue, maybe recalibrate the stability control /yaw sensor.
There are threads on here about rigging a switch to turn off the abs and traction control.
Also, check your shocks and does your truck have the recall leaf springs done?

 

Got all that crap I think. H’mmm.... spring recall? Didn’t know about that in year I’ve owned it. What’s it?

Thanks

 

^+1.
Changing your tire pressure is *FREE*, and probably the easiest and best traction mod out there. I know when I have my tires at 34 psi or so they just skate across the gravel roads. Another thing I notice is that freshly graded and/or graveled roads are like walking across a floor covered in ball bearings.
To me the odd thing is not when a vehicle oversteers, but when the you get off the gas if it doesn't self correct, as you said yours does (or doesn't).

 

Same my God..... mine spin in 3rd gear

 

OP, I agree this is not normal at all. It sounds like something is broken in the rear, almost like your rear diff is welded (or the DIY locker mod was done and it is "on").

I'd start with tires and pressures, see if things improve. Then get under the truck with a big light and look for broken/messed up leaf springs/shackles/U-bolts, blown/leaking shock(s)/mounts etc.. As mentioned there is a TSB for rear springs one reason being they were known to break. Also there is a frame recall for rusted out frames, outside chance something is rotted through and broken there. Way outside chance something in front is messed up, is the sway bar still there? Tired front shocks + no sway bar the rear will get loose a lot too.

In case it isn't obvious I'd also not drive it until you figure this out.