A-TRAC/TRAC/AUTO LSD Explained (Easy to understand, I hope!)

Well, we are getting off topic... but I love the Hammers photos no matter where they are posted!

A-TRAC greatly increases the factory, stock Tacomas' traction and off road security over previous models with only a rear locker. I know, I had two Tacos before the one with A-TRAC.

Is A-TRAC meant to work in place of a front (and rear) locker?
Perhaps, but the serious rock crawler will want a front locker for instant and non-disconnecting front end traction. HB Murphy has both A-TRAC and a front locker on his '09 Tacoma and I think he has stated the front locker was more secure at getting him over rocks, etc.

Do most Off Road Tacoma drivers need a front locker, or will A-TRAC (included with the truck) be enough traction for all the places most would try and go?
I had believed that just the rear locker made the Tacoma superior to others without, but the A-TRAC really surprised me with how much better I could wheel over any obsticle even ones that cause three of my tires to loose traction... and with just one front tire, I drove out with ease. Only a front locker could also do that... but A-TRAC is included with our truck.

There is just one thing where A-TRAC is better, and that is tight trail turns... to have any hope of making a tight turn on hard ground or granite, a locked rig must unlock... no biggie, but A-TRAC causes no steering problems.

So, if the cost of a 4WD Tacoma is all you can handle, and no 2-3 thousand dollar additions are in your near future, then the Off Road Tacoma will be a good choice.

If you want to and can afford to mod your truck to climb the Hammers or other such obsticles, add front and rear lockers, it is the best full traction... Anything less crazy, then the Rear locker or A-TRAC of a stock Off Road Tacoma will fit the bill.

 

If Toyota offered me a front locker option I certainly would have taken it, however, they didn't so I have what I have, which has been fine for my use of the truck.

One day down the road a front locker may find its way into my truck but I suspect when that time comes I will instead make my way back to a jeep where I would make better use of the front locker in the first place.

Right now I appreciate the things my truck is good at but I feel for the most extreme trails, a front locker is going to do me little good as the truck has far more limiting factors than whether the front tires stay locked or not.

As I stated earlier we all have different experiences and needs, ultimately you should make decisions based on those.

I think for camping, towing and offroading as a combined activity, my Tacoma meets all those requirements better than a jeep would.

If I ever decided to focus my activities on strictly offroading, in tight twisty, rock crawling environments, the Tacoma would likely not be my choice.

A month from now my opinion change, this is just where I'm at today.

 

Great stuff

 

Okay gang, I did a new, cleaned-up info. post on the 2009+ Traction Controls and Drive Modes we have, along with how and when you might use them and photos of the buttons, dial and dash lights involved... The thread was closed to keep the bs stuff from distracting, and it is now a sticky to help newbies find it. I added a link to it in my signature, and right here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-controls-trac-auto-lsd-trac-rear-locker.html

I think I made it simple enough, and made it only about Toyota made systems, nothing after market was mentioned. Enjoy!

 

Might as well trash this thread, right? What's the point of two threads with the same exact info? Just saying, seems redundant.

New thread looks good. Concise.

 

Well, about 33% of this thread is trashed... But, keeping it open allows some interaction with the mature/ serious Tacoma owners who have questions or comments on the traction controls or drive modes.

Thanks for the + comment on the new post.

 

I would consider myself as the immaturely serious taco owner

 

You folks need to all put each other on ignore.

Just sayin'

 

True. I'd unsubsribe if it weren't for all the bickering.

 

In my signature... here as well: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...-controls-trac-auto-lsd-trac-rear-locker.html

 

The thread is closed. It's for reference only; not for discussion.

 

Are you saying you can't read it? You should see the entire post, but cannot reply to it there.

TW'ers: Please use this thread if there are questions about it you can't find an answer to, I will answer if I have personal experience with what you are asking.

Today, I got the following question (name removed), and my answer:

Hi ******,

The beeping is the VSC system telling you it is working at correcting the direction you are traveling, and to slow down to be safe... Yah, I know... Honestly, it would be nice to disable VSC when four wheeling (or the beeper only) if you are not driving unsafely. I finally got used to hearing it and consider it playing HAL (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) and asking me "What are you doing Dave?"

IF the beeping annoys you, then you can four wheel with VSC OFF... You do loose the traction control, however... Stop the truck, hold down the VSC OFF button for a few seconds until the indicator light comes on. In L4, VSC is off all the time, but not in H4.

 

David, Many thanks for the new locked thread with all the info in one place. I am sending my buddies over to that one to get the facts.

As far as this thread is concerned, its just a sandbox now.

When you dig in the kid's sandbox you often find lost treasures (toys and such). You also find crap from the neighbors cat!
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You boy's enjoy yourself!

 

1400 miles from the closest beach. unless ya count Texas coast line. looks awesome seeing tacomas run in the sand