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

Wow. David, That hill climb was awesome! A-TRAC rocks! I love it, it is one of the best tools for off-roading and I am very glad to have it in my truck. I have nothing but good things to report with A-TRAC.

This chart is very good!

 

Considering ATRAC has no negatives, in the context that is an active system that improves the operation of open diffs with no drawbacks. I use my locker, but mostly in mud. I have found on rocks, that the locker is annoying, more consistent traction, but otherwise annoying.
Comparing ATRAC to dual lockers; they each have their advantages, and in most situations with a stock vehicle, with stock sized tires, ATRAC is more suitable. For the Luddites, well, they will never be convinced.
Fact is the Tacoma will never have a front locker, so those who bash ATRAC need to realize, it's ATRAC, or open front end. I thought that the locker was useless, but I have since changed my tune, but I would still take ATRAC over a single locker, or dual, just because dual lockers too much hassle.
And David, you are arguing with retired members from the flat earth society, it's hopeless. let it go.

 

Do you just leave the switch pressed in? That's how I have it set up so it's automatically on when I switch to L4. I just don't see a point in not using it.

Can anyone think of a situation where you would not want to use ATRAC in L4? Also, I can't think of any reason why leaving ATRAC switch pressed in would be bad since it's not even activated till it's in 4L... if you know why this might be bad, please post with your reasoning.

 

I thought it was in the manual, I may be wrong though. All I know is I tried the maintaining good throttle around 4k rpm bit and it didn't do jack shit for me, the locker walked me out like nothing. Not saying the tech doesn't have it's advantages, but I just don't buy any hype around it. In the end it's just another version of the fake brake based LSD we have now, I still prefer old clutch style myself. Call me old school or power hungry... but it's true. Also, from my understanding, A-TRAC doesn't work well with lifts and oversized tires, though I have nothing to back that up.

 

It was later determined the diff likely failed due the parking brake having jammed on. Axle rap, and ATRAC had nothing to do with it. Or the second diff, the tiny ring gear was the single largest factor in that failure. First one I though was a fluke, second one was proof that these diffs are too small, and not suited to hard use. Please refrain from citing examples, when you do not have all the facts. I can list the over 20 failures or rear ring gears on this site if if you doubt this, and which is more likely, 20 different reasons, or one?

 

Thanks guys... good discussion!

Blue, I am sorry that what I said you took as personal, not my intention.

Just don't knock a Toyota product that you haven't driven yourself. Or spend so much time 'dissing it here just to try and make it seem bad.. okay?

I am not knocking front lockers or dual lockers, I am just saying that A-TRAC is standard equipment on the Off Road 4WDs and it will blow your mind on how it makes the truck a tractor. It does not hinder steering, and you still haven't agreed that lockers do... To you lockers have no faults, and A-TRAC is flawed.

There is good and bad in everything...

I have had A-TRAC for 10 months now and have used it a few times and soon found it makes four wheeling superior to anything I had before... I already explained why. That is me driving, and I am not a noo-b 4 wheeler. It is just that good...

Heck, even the TRAC in High Range is a mind blower... I drove the beach last winter without needing to deflate... then I opened the differentials (VSC OFF MODE), got the truck good and stuck... turned on A-TRAC, drove out of the stuck.. went back to H4, and TRAC and continued to drive the soft sand at 32 psi. S

o TRAC in H4 is also superior to my previous four wheelers... TRAC and A-TRAC a one, two punch!

Thank you Toyota!

 

A little off topic but the 2011 Grand Cherokee has a traction control system using clutch packs (on its overland and Off Road 2 models.) It uses electronics to control the clutch packs and divert power to the wheels with most traction. I like this system a lot for high way snow driving since it has a lockable center diff, and you don't have to worry about swichting back and forth between 4x and 2x like we do in the Tacomas. Not saying I'd get a $42K Cherokee, just pointing out there are new techonologies that I wouldn't mind having in the Taco.

 

I always leave the switch depressed. No matter what. It doesn't do anything, until I need it.. and when I need it, it lessens my chances of getting stuck (a LOT), and decreases the amount of erosion/damage to the trail. If someone has A-TRAC, but refuses to use it, they are an ignorant fool, and should try challenging areas with and without A-TRAC enabled... The difference is painstakingly obvious. It helps. A lot.

I wouldn't know about lifts/larger tires (yet!). Time will tell.

My guess would be that A-TRAC is designed to work best with a tire near the size of the stock tire, HOWEVER, I don't think it would worsen performance with larger tires/a lift.. It may or may not be as effective with larger tires, but I'm sure its still better than not having A-TRAC at all.

 

Clutch systems are less reliable, and more expensive to repair/replace than the brake system that is employed in the Tacoma's A-TRAC/traction control system.

As David said, ALL system's have their ups and downs.

 

No I cannot, more traction is better than less!

Yes, press the button once and you will always be in A-TRAC in L4, unless you press it again. That's how my Taco is, after 10 months.

The only reason to go to open diff. mode would be to get stuck! Or compare one to the other. I think Toyota believed some would fear the unknown... like fear A-TRAC, as has been shown by a few here who don't have it?

So, you guys keep traction limited to one front or one or two rear tires that spin easily... or spend bucks on aftermarket front lockers (because A-TRAC might be too jerky for you)...

Either you don't know what A-TRAC is or you refuse to believe it does what we say it did for us (or what the videos show it does)... and that seems to be why some people don't accept it.

This thread and other similar threads here should educate the ones that don't know it or haven't used it or think it shuts off at 5 mph... and make their Toyota more able than they dreamed...

For the flat-earthers as someone above called them, you can't be swayed no matter how many good things are said or shown... I am sorry for you... but, someday, maybe you will allow new technology to make life better! By-the-way, how is it you can see and respond to this forum (when it requires computers, Internet, electricity, technology...)?

 

Thanks Hemi for joining the discussion... You and NAYo2002 were some of my prime source of data early on!

 

I love my A-Trac

My tuck with A-Trac
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44V1zK2XyxQ

Broco with no A-Trac This is the same hill LOL!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czfRzcNvKlQ

 

Thanks Crom... I was hoping to meet you last Saturday... That was fun!

 

I was refering more to the point that it has a center differential in order for you to have AWD performance on patchy snow/ice highway driving. With the Taco, you have to make the call whether you want to put it in 4x4 since it can damage the transfer case due to lack of a center diff.

For offroading, you can lock up the center diff with clutch packs with the Cherokee.

 

http://www.toyota.com/fjcruiser/demos.html

theres some toyota FJ demos about the A trac system. These are good to review too.

 

Great... see the A-TRAC just calmly biting away at the slope transfering torque where there is traction... and another stock vehicle with open differentials that transfer torque to tires without traction.. just as the Tacomas and other 4WDs without traction control or lockers have.

Thanks Jason!

 

Thanks Ryan... yah, that was neat! I just put my foot in it and rather than redline, the A-TRAC metered the power to the tires and pulled us up... I was glad because I didn't want to back down that!!!

Let's do more stuff like that!

 

The discussion became comparing ATRAC to dual locked regardless of your original intentions. Just because someone thinks dual lock can be better in some situation doesn't mean they don't think ATRAC works for most situations.

There are advantages and downfalls with dual locked vehicles. ATRAC is great, but you also need to accept that there are downfalls with ATRAC too and there is nothing wrong with someone pointing them out.