A-TRAC: WHY is it difficult for some people to accept it?

Blue... please keep searching, because in that video I never heard the A-TRAC operating... and it is a hell of a lot louder than TRAC (which I did hear along with the VSC beeping) that he used in the second run.

Notice how he was easy driving up the first time, but never mashed the gas to move the FJ in L4 (if A-TRAC was even on)?

In H4 (TRAC) he gave it gas and he got through! Well, A-TRAC works harder and is stronger than TRAC... You must not be affraid of it and gas it. That's what I did on the hill climb I did last Saturday... and it pulled me to the top when the truck otherwise couldn't go further... and it made lots of noise, as it does.

Unless you actually have used it yourself or seen experienced drivers using it, I think you should maintain an open mind instead of seeking ways to put it down? Do you own stock in ARB? lol

 

That's my point exactly.. the jerky motion could cause the tractive wheel to break loose since it receives power intermittently. If ATRAC cause it to go in motion too quickly, it might overcome the coefficient of friction.

On lockers, there are no jerky motions as long as the driver is giving consistant amount of gas.

That's the only down side of ATRAC.

 

David K's question about why not celebrate A-TRAC sparked something in my memory.

In my limited experience, A-TRAC also seems to be a lot more effrective than the few systems that other manufatures have. A wheeling buddy of mine has a Discovery II with an automatic traction control system and that system doesn't work for shit. I've seen it dig his wheels several times as the system switches between tires searching for traction.

Whether or not A-TRAC is as good as a locker, it is certainly better than open diffs and it is certainly better than competing OEM automatic traction control systems.

 

I didn't read every single post in this thread, but I did search the thread.

I see the one real downfall of A-TRAC (or TRAC) that I see is the potential for excessive heat buildup in the brakes with prolonged heavy use. Even the owners manual states it can overheat, and when it does so, the feature will be disabled until the temperatures return to normal levels.

 

My A-TRAC is not jerky, just noisy when it is working... I drove with it turned on for ~10 miles, at 5 mph average speed (the trail was that rough)... and no jerky, no over-heated brakes, no problems....

It is okay to express your 'feelings' or beliefs about it (that was what this thread is for), but then accept the spoken word or videos of use with A-TRAC.

Facts and logic vs. Rumors and emotions, okay?

 

It has never over-heated for me.

Toyota also warns about potential roll-over when off roading... Warnings are just that... does not mean it will happen.

There is no downfall. If the system ever did fail (and being a brake sysytem, it is the least likely to fail of any part on the truck, I think)... you still have 4WD (and a rear locker)!

If a locking differential failed (and that has happened a lot), you are either stuck or only have 2WD to get out.

 

A-TRAC is a great system, designed for the 98% or so of drivers who use their vehicle as a daily driver, and still need a capable and safe rig for a variety of off-road situations as well. It allows for both experienced and especially unexperienced drivers to tackle precarious ventures with ease and safety.
For more extreme off-roading, it is hard to beat a vehicle with front and rear lockers. They allow for much more driver input/control of the vehicle depending on the situation. More skill is generally involved, but more can also be achieved.

For my daily driver/adventure exploring rig, ATRAC is a great way to go.

But for real off-roading, I will always use a dedicated vehicle with lockers.

Just my 2 cents.

 

Thanks Dan... so you have A-TRAC and a front locker and compared the two?

 

I have lockers in my truck, and have driven and rode in a co-workers A-TRAC vehicle a number of times. I like both setups. But there are certain situations where one has and edge over the other. Pros and Cons to both.

Basically, run with the one you prefer and call it good.

 

Thanks Dan!

So far, people that have A-TRAC or have used both lockers and A-TRAC, like the A-TRAC. Considering that A-TRAC is not an add on expense and comes on the Tacoma, that says a lot.

People who don't have A-TRAC are about the only ones who have put it down... I wonder why?

Is it because they are pissed that Toyota didn't have it on the Tacoma sooner or that they spent hundreds of dollars for lockers?

The dozens of positive A-TRAC users replies in this thread plus my having four wheeled since I was a kid (Jeep, Chevy, Subaru, Toyota) and had lockers (rear) on my last two Tacomas... I think I can have a valid opinion on A-TRAC compared to my previous vehicles as well as friends who have front and rear lockers... THE A-TRAC ROCKS!

 

Its funny how emotionally invested you are in this, David. Reminds me of some religious discussions I've been involved in.

Atrac seems like a nice tool, but if I had to choose between it or F&R lockers I'd take the lockers. I think thats what others are arguing too. It's not that I don't understand it, or discount it, but it is an electronic system, and I would much rather be dependent on a mechanical system.

You also don't seem to understand why people think that atrac is jerky. If you watch the 4runner video, when it is making the transition the atrac pulses when the wheel is off of the ground, and the vehicle weight shifts. That wouldn't have happened with a locker, both wheels would have just kept spinning at the same rate. It didn't prevent the 4runner from making it, but it wouldn't take much to imagine that it could have in a more precarious position, or on a different surface.

You say in your OP, "I want a discussion based on facts not pre-determined emotional beliefs," but it seems like your love for atrac might be a pre-determined emotional belief.

 

I understand what you say... thank you.

I do have A-TRAC and I have nearly 40 years of 4 wheeling in me, so I am not a noo-b to any of this. I am pointing out that the 'anti-A-TRACers' all seem to be those who never have used it or rarely perhaps. It is more of defenses reaction to put it down and keep putting forward lockers are better (they all avoid the fact that lockers hinder steering, however).

I posted this not to say A-TRAC is 'better' than lockers... even though I am of the opinion it is as far as making a truck go anywhere you want without any steering hassles... and the front/ rear locker person I was wheeling with also said A-TRAC was better than his ARB lockers.

A-TRAC is strangely unknown, when it is close to lockers in traction ability (I said close, not better). Even Toyota gives it almost no mention in their brochures.

A-TRAC is standard equipment on the Off Road 4WD Tacomas, not an add on extra as is ARB lockers or other traction devices... I say hooray Toyota!

 

Sure... but the real Rubicon could not fit a 2nd Gen Tacoma, me thinks. My wife is a Lake Tahoe High girl and had a CJ-5, and did the Rubicon many times years ago...back before a bridge was built over 'car wash'.

You down to run The Baja... the Santa Maria Mission Trail?

Baja's Rubicon!:







Down the Widowmaker:





Through the Bog:



Catch some body damage:





Drive off a cliff:





Enjoy the sites:











Climb up a cliff!:





Back through the Bog:










Drive back up the Widowmaker!:





VIVA BAJA!

 

Every one of the 6 vehicles on this trip had lockers except the 4Runner. Two of them had A-TRAC... The 4Runner had to be pulled through the bog, both ways beacuse of his open differentials wouldn't find any traction ... but he was able to climb the Widowmaker without help. HB Murphy also has added a front locker in addition to his A-TRAC. I only used A-TRAC and never the rear locker... and had no traction issues anywhere on the run. Sadly, the '03 white Tacoma with the camper blew his differential on the way out and front wheel drive alone couldn't pull that weight up the mountain. Art's van and CG's Dodge each pulled him part way up... we were at it all night before his tie rods gave out.

 

It depends on the speed and terrain for me.

Midwest, mud and snow are the typical things I am lookin at. If I am in a position I need 4L, I have two choices to make. ATRAC or Locker + ATRAC. Personally, I choose ATRAC. The reason why, functionally it is great and in my terrain and surroundings, I am going over 5mph, more like 10-40. Locker + ATRAC would have shut off over the 3-5mph zone. So I look at it as a choice of 4 wheel drive or 3 wheel drive. ATRAC alone wins for me.

I have encountered a few times that ATRAC alone got me out where locker + ATRAC failed. The reason was completely about wheel speed, deep snow, and large chunks of ice (unplowed parking lot with about 3-4ft of drifted snow combined with ice chunks from rain). I couldnt crawl out of that if I watned to, but I did floor it and get out with just ATRAC. Basically I had one front wheel with a very small bit of traction, the rest with practically 0.

Now, put me in a slow creeping rock crawling situation that I am not in. Id go Locker + ATRAC any day. Really, if that was really the case where I spent my time, I would put an ARB up front as well too and turn off ATRAC all together. As good as it is, a true locker would be better in that case IMO, especially a selectable locker.

Its all dependend on the terrain. Slow rock crawling, 2 real lockers win IMO. ATRAC will do it though, probably 90% as good too.

Mud and snow, personally ATRAC is fine and would be a waste of money to throw in an ARB up front, and like I said ATRAC is good enough I prefer it over the back locked. Never had anything overheat either. Ive played for hours in deep snow fine.


ATRAC is great though. Its perfect for my application and in my application ATRAC alone works better than rear locker + front ATRAC, but Im not a rock crawler. If I were, Id be locking the front and getting lots of armor. Then again, Id prob have a jeep that I didnt care about scratches and dents, but it would be locked

 

Thank you!

 

Good f'in info showing up here. Me likes.

 

you will love the km2's
excellent traction offroad

 

Heard a lot of things about a lot of tires while researching, but nothing out there seems to hold up quite like BFG, which tipped it in its favor.

 

I'm not really impressed with ATRAC either. Trying to get up a hill here in the desert ATRAC failed, popped the locker on and crawled right up like it didn't exist. Feels more gimmicky to me than anything. If I need real front traction, I'll get an ARB air locker for the front.