A-TRAC Videos (Active Traction Control in Action)

Relax... there's a lot of gizmos on our trucks.

VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) is for when you are driving and begin to go into a slide or spin-out... it corrects the action to keep you going where you intend.

TRAC (Traction Control) is to get you moving should one of the tires be on a slippery surface by braking the loose tire (which forces torque to the traction tire) and/or reducing enging output if the RPMs are too high only causing the tires to spin (Mode 1 on my 9 mode list). This is what I call 'Limited Slip Lite'.

AUTO LSD or the 'TRAC OFF MODE' (really bad names) is TRAC without the engine output regulation... a stronger limited slip action if you are stuck (Mode 2).

OPEN DIFFERENTIAL or 'VSC OFF MODE' is turning the TRAC off so you can make your tire spin freely, just like Tacomas without TRAC or LSD (Limited Slip Differentials). This is for times when you are stuck (usually in snow) when you can rock your truck out by spinning forward and then backward, over and over (Mode 3).

 

ok so, i have that button with the squiggly lines..dealer said to press it to break one side and transfer to the other wheel.
is this correct

 

If one side has no traction (ice, snow, mud, oil), yes... it will help you get going quicker... #2 below:

1) You are normally in TRAC all the time (LSD Lite)

2) If you press the VSC Off button (truck with wavey lines under) you go into the TRAC OFF MODE which turns on 'AUTO LSD'... This is like posi-traction for more power to traction tire(s) to get moving (LSD Extra).

3) If you hold down the button for a few seconds, while stopped, then you go into the VSC OFF MODE which is plain old open differential... no LSD action.

 

oh ok i understand now. thanks

 

Hey guys, I just cam back to this video vs. the vehicle with full lockers. I don't think anyone considered that the vehicles might be running different tires, which could play a significant difference. From talking to another guy, it's possible the 4Runner has A/T tires, which could account for the extra squeal.

Just tossing that out as food for thought.

 

Regardless of tires, the 4Runner and A-TRAC are amazing... You see locker action taking place with the A-TRAC.

 

I agree, no matter whether lockers may be slightly better, or slightly less squeel. ATRAC rocks, and that's all that matters. This 4Runner never would have made it with just a rear locker......

 

No way to tell if it is A-TRAC equiped at the angle being shot, can't see the front tires...hard to tell how steep that cliff is as well. It did not sound like he was even in low range... No A-TRAC noise, just tires slipping (which sounds like open differential)... ?

 

Thanks.

I wish there was a side view of that and a close up of the tires... also, let's see any other 'off the street', stock SUV climb it! I have yet to see an A-TRAC fail to work in a video if the trail has any chance of being climbed.

 

I guess that was his problem? Since we have see numerous 'stock' Toyotas with A-TRAC doing what they wanted to do...

You post a video that is showing a failure to do what was wanted... it doesn't show if there is A-TRAC (can't see tire rotation), it doesn't show the angle of climb, but looks like it is very steep...

So, based on your reply to this thread, it would be better to remain stock with A-TRAC as the odds are you will go anywhere you want!?

 

Pointless video.... I mean now we are trying to discuss what stock means? That FJ (not evan a Taco) failed and the video sucked, moving on.....

 

Thanks Hemi... you said it better than I! Have a good weekend, we are off to Baja in the morning... A-TRAC trails are there waiting for us!

 

Back from Baja's toughest trail (Mision Santa Maria road), a place where I used the rear locker on my past two Tacomas... and the road was worse and the bog water was 3 feet+ deep this time... I used A-TRAC only (no rear locker) and it was flawless...

In fact, others had front and rear lockers, and seeing how difficult it was for them to steer with the lockers on as well needing to turn their lockers on and off numerous times, I can honestly state that A-TRAC is superior to front lockers... and the need for the rear locker never came up. The owner of the front locker equiped van told me the A-TRAC was better after seeing it perform on my 2010 Tacoma.

Photos and trip report being posted this week in the Mision Santa Maria thread...

 

Practical evaluation is always the best to read about. I concur 100%, I also feel ATRAC is overall, better than dual lockers when steering and other concerns are factored in.

 

Hemi, you would have loved Baja, last weekend... I know it is a bit of a drive for you, however!

 

I saw your pics from the Baja trip. Pretty awesome! I can't wait to go down there. Baja is large and I'm sure there are lots of great places to go. I am finally driving again and I can't wait to go find some dirt to play in! On Monday I found a dirt lot near my house which is hard to do in the city. Once there, I exercised all the actuators and transfer case. I really need to hit the trails!

 

...and this was the failure that caused me to be without rear locker and ATRAC upon exiting the bog in Baja - Really glad I had that front locker as backup!

 

Paul what is that? It looks like a connector going to the skid control ECU?

EDIT: I take that back, it's under the truck, I just saw the drive shaft in the pic.

 

Paul, was it just unplugged? Something new we all need to secure?

 

There are more photos yet to come! Stay tuned to here and BajaNomad for the dirty details!!