ATRAC vs Rear Locker?

I’m having a problem with my A-TRAC button. Can someone please press that button and tell me if it clicks into position, or if it just pops right out like a momentary switch? Thanks

 

2016 TRD MT off road A-trac doese work with locker on mostly controls the front wheel slip is what I have seen when locked

 

ATRAC/MTS and the rear locker are different and complimentary features.

ATRAC/MTS advantages:

- works on all 4 wheels
- doesn’t interfere with steering
- less risk of damaging drivetrain components
- trivial to engage/disengage

ATRAC/MTS disadvantages:

- it’s reactive; a wheel needs to slip before it activates
- never truly delivers equal speed to both wheels on the axle

rear locker advantages:

- non-reactive: always active
- delivers maximum traction to the axle

Rear locker disadvantages:

- only affects rear axle
- interferes with steering
- increased risk of drivetrain damage
- finicky to engage/disengage

Crawl Control is a different sort of thing that is often misunderstood. Think of it as off road cruise control that works on top of MTS.


More info here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

 

I don’t think I’ve used the button more than once. I’ve never found a reason to disable ATRAC. There is a on/off indicator light on the dash I think.

 

This, and that significant difference can either be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the situation.

Advantage locker:

The biggest advantage of the locker is that it is a proactive system, not a reactive one. ATRAC helps regain traction after a wheel starts to spin, with a locker you can prevent a wheel from spinning in the first place. This is why the locker is superior in rocks.

ATRAC also significantly robs power. It doesn't interfere with the throttle at all, which is a common misconception, but by aggressively pulsing and dragging brakes it does burn a lot of power and can kill your momentum.

Related to the last, another big advantage of the locker is that when you do need wheelspin you can have it. If you're climbing a big sand dune or a snowy hill there is no way to get up without breaking traction, the wheels will be spinning and effectively paddling you along. ATRAC does not let both wheels slip simultaneously, and sometimes that's necessary.

Advantage ATRAC:

The last disadvantage is actually also ATRAC's biggest advantage. By not allowing simultaneous wheelspin, ATRAC prevents side slipping and crabbing. On a slick and off camber surface(think like deep snow on a road with a good amount of side angle) spinning both tires on an axle at the same time causes the truck to slide that direction. ATRAC does a phenomenal job of preventing that while providing much more traction than open diffs.

ATRAC also helps prevent digging into the surface, particularly snow and sand by not letting you wildly spin if you're not moving.

ATRAC does not effect your turning circle, while the locker does.

There is no drawback to running with ATRAC active, if it doesn't need to interfere it's as if it's not there at all. The locker should only be locked when you need it. I can think of many times a hill or something I wouldn't have locked up for was slicker than it looked and ATRAC jumping in was the difference between making it up and backing down a sketchy hill to take another run at it.


Personally I almost always run with ATRAC active if I'm in low range. Even in the situations where I listed as advantages for the locker, keeping ATRAC active on the front axle is still always beneficial. In the momentum scenarios I mentioned it won't kill momentum as ATRAC only interferes when the rear is locked at under like 5mph, so going back to the dune example at that point I've already lost my momentum and ATRAC can help me not dig in.

It doesn't do anything going downhill. I use ATRAC a ton and need to feather the brake myself to prevent locking up.

 

Omfg, did I just spend all that time replying to a thread from 2017? Lol

 

Fuck me why did you point that out instead of letting me live in blissful ignorance?

 

Yes, there is an indicator on the dash. It turns on when I press the button (when in 4 Low), and turns off when I let it go. I thought I remember it clicking in and staying depressed, and the dash light just came on automatically when in 4 Low. I may have broken my button.

 

It’s obvious when it’s on and you cause wheel spin. Makes a loud reciprocating noise and you move forward instead of becoming stuff.

Come to think about it, the rear locker button does not remain depressed. I don’t think the ATRAC button does either.

 

Next time you’re in the car, give it a tap and let me know if it clicks. I’d really appreciate it. Thanks

 

The A-TRAC button is latching and should stay depressed until you press it again to unlatch.

 

DAC was on the 2nd gen taco's at the end [mine has it] but the 3rd gen got crawl control. However, the FJ Cruiser had that before it was discontinued in the States on the OR version. [my 2014 had it]

 

You can all thank me later. Finally, The Only A-TRAC Video You Need to Watch. Multi Terrain Select Explained. ATRAC v ARB Locker - YouTube

 

If only there was a video showing all of this for MTs... Would love to see the situations in which to use AUTO LSD, 4LO (with/without TRAC/VSC/A-TRAC/lockers), and 4HI (with/without TRAC/VSC).

 

haha, I have done it before too!
Gotta love thread bumpers, then you come in and try to help, and realize you are talking to someone who hasn't logged in,,, in years

 

You can run rear locked and MTS for the front.

4Lo TRAC OFF, VSC OFF, MTS on and rear locker engaged.

 

Great to see the conversation continue.
It was great fun trying to explain A-TRAC and TRAC system, over 12 years ago!
One thing is for sure, I have never been stuck in a situation that A-TRAC didn't solve... along with helping others without A-TRAC get unstuck!
Now with 3rd Gen automatics, A-TRAC has been upgraded to MTS (Multi Terrain Select) which is simply adjustable A-TRAC, plus CRAWL, which is pedal free, low range cruise control. That is basically letting the computer apply the correct amout of throttle so the stupid human driver doesn't bury the truck! LOL

 

I’ve been in multiple situations where 4Lo locked and MTS didn’t get me through it and had to winch.

 

No picking on you specifically, but this is what's kind of frustrating for someone like me when it comes to explaining these systems. Trying to explain the systems based on "situations" just doesn't adequately provide the fundamental knowledge to using them wisely. It's more beneficial, imo, to understand the particular traction system and what it does functionally. Once you know each system's functional properties, you then can apply the functionality to the situation as needed because every situation and driving style is nuanced and doesn't automatically fit an exact set of traction tools.