4x4 Failure or Pilot error? 3rd Gen Taco

So I finally got to take my new 2018 Tacoma TRD Sport (yes sport) to Carolina Beach, driving in was tricky but I made it into a parking spot in front of the ocean!

5 hours later I backed out the put truck in drive drove about 100 feet or so, she was struggling then it went Kaput!

Alarm went off trans fluid was hot, wheels would not spin, front or rear!
The truck was not stuck, wheels simply were not moving, waited about 20 minutes alarm was still on then the Vulture tow truck driver came by I told him no thanks!

He moved forward then came back to tell me the police will have me moved I said what ever!


Enter a US Veteran with his silver Tundra 4x4 , he offered assistance and told me the lockers are out of whack, to make the story short he pulled me about 3 feet and about that time the hot trans fluid light went out, and wheels started to spin again and I drove away and the Vulture got no $$$ from me thanks to a Vet and his Tundra!

I thanked him for his service to our nation and his kind help that day July 3rd, 2018

I believe I was a bit aggressive so would that did me in?

any input will be appreciated, positive or negative,, this is a learning experience for me.

Thanks

 

driving in sand absorbs a lot of power which leads to trans temps climbing usually if they arent monitored. airing down the tires would help significantly to stay on top of the sand surface.

also if the trans fluid light came on i would highly suggest changing the fluid. that degrades the life of it by a lot.

 

truck only has 3000 miles

 

I've been in quite a bit of sand and I have never heated it up like that. You must have been hammering it back and forth right? As a matter of fact I just leave mine in 4HI and cruise with no issues.
Can you elaborate on what you specifically were doing? What gear and what 4WD setting?

 

Wait...wait...wait...

You have a sport and the Tundra driver said your lockers are out of whack?

 

guy suggested trans was locked out and once wheels spin a few feet it would be back to normal, so he pulled me about 4 feet and Voila started working again!

 

I was on 4H moving forward, only went back and forth twice for a second or 2.
I did hit the gas hard when I drove about 100 feet or so then it stopped working and alarm came on

 

Ohh, I see. I was confused by your previous statement.

 

My truck did the same thing while I was trying to pull out an f150 that was stuck in sand. I let mine sit for about 10mins, turned off the ECT, put in 4Lo and had no issues at all getting him out.

 

I would have pulled you out too with my Off-Road....

 

LOL, in before the torrent of " a sport can do whatever an off road can do " posts.

 

I take my truck on CB most weekends and after much experimenting (keep in mind i have a manual), i have found that with the 33s, and in that sand (it can get quite soft and deep), that I have the best luck running in 4L because of the lack of low end power. That being said - i give her hell out there sometimes when its not crowded and haven't ever run into an issue.

That beach sure was a crap shoot for the forth though - probably 20 trucks stuck around 9am when i was headed out, hand to weave my way in and out.