Do you really need A-TRAC if you have a Locker

has anyone ever made a poll over who thinks which is better? ATRAC vs Locker

 

New 2012 Toyota Add... listen to what they call A-TRAC (sounds like my findings)

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlqyvx_2012-toyota-4runner-active-trac-atrac_auto

Read this on another Toyota forum:


"I agree, I've played around with running just the A-Trac vs running just the rear locker. ATrac will get you more places a lot of the time. Plus it puts lets stress on the CVs than a full locker would. I've walked up stuff with A-Trac that other guys with one locker struggle with. A lot of guys will tell you its cheating or its gay because the computer is driving but it does get the job done. Plus on slippery trails its a lot easier to make the turn with A-Trac than a locker, it pulls right around the turn."

 

good stuff there, really

i'd like to see some of these peeps, to include you. to run some of the trails at THE Hammers..side by side each other along with myself. in an effort to compare the true effectiveness between ATRAC and fully locked vehicles. a challenge if you will. The Hammers will offer the most challenging and varying types of terrain imaginable that will test both systems to the fullest.

or, we can just duel it out at a mall parking lot near you

 

I go out as much as I can... and it isn't as much as I like to (thanks sucky economy)... I am hoping to do the Cleghorn run this weekend and find some 4WD sections in there.

I have never said A-TRAC beats fully locked (front and rear)... It is close, and it comes with our Toyotas, so no more $$$ for extra traction.

Here is how I would rate traction levels:

1) 4WD Front and Rear Lockers (non- Toyota add on)
2) 4WD A-TRAC and Rear Locker
3) 4WD A-TRAC
4) Rear Locker 4WD
5) 4WD TRAC
6) 4WD
7) 2WD Rear Locked
8) 2WD AUTO LSD
9) 2WD TRAC
10) 2WD

 

meh..earlier you implied that "A-TRAC is better then a locker". that is all

 

DUDE. Shut up. You never off-road.

 

sorry, won't happen again..my bad

 

So if I'm at the mall parking lot should I use atrac or locker

 

why not be safe and utilize both..then you can be all "extreme mall crawling"

 

What he said. This guy knows his shit.

 

As overbearing as David often is, this is accurate.

This all also accurate.

That is all, for the moment.

 

needs moar rice

 

Very well put. Thankyou...it had to be said!

 

and less cookage. med rare FTW

that potato looks freakin' awesome though

 

I concur.

I do not concur. I'm a medium well guy.




The potato though, I do concur.

 

North woods inn is the Bees Knees!!!!!!!

 

Read a bit more and you will see that I said it is better for most low range traction situations because STEERING is not affected. Lockers (specially front) do not allow any slip between the left and right side tires which you need to turn. This requires turning off the locker(s) when you need to make turns on a trail to keep from hitting trees or going over a cliff.

Also, A-TRAC is better financially because it comes with our truck. A front locker is $$$ and not made by Toyota for the Tacoma.

If money is no object, and you are driving fairly straight when you need more traction in the front, then lockers give more pure traction and are better in that situation!

Nothing is 100% as they say... A-TRAC is new (well sort of new on the Tacoma) and until one really experiences it and compares it to a pre A-TRAC Tacoma... and not one with $$$ of after market add ons and non-Toyota front lockers, ... it is an awesome Toyota created upgrade

As for Rear Locker only vs. A-TRAC, while both will get you to pretty much the same tough places, there is no doubt that adding traction control to the front (open) differential is an amazing improvement. While technically A-TRAC is not the same as a locker, it is far above a limited slip, and much much closer to a locker in where it will take you.

Look at how much better the non A-TRAC trucks do who perform the 4-low-trac (yellow wire) mod! That is just limited slip on the front, far less traction control than A-TRAC, yet it has been highly prized by those who did it.

Enjoy your truck, whatever model you have!

 

Hi Chris, I was wheeling with several locked rigs on the Mision Santa Maria trip... 2 4WD Tacomas with front lockers and a 4WD van with front and rear lockers... We were negotiating a steep, rocky, sharp turns trail. It is very close to the contions seen on the Rubicon run... driving on granite boulders. Two of the members of that trip besides me are TW members. You might know of at least one of them, HB Murphy?

I was in A-TRAC the entire time and the others were using their lockers... They had to keep turning off the lockers (specially the front) to be able to turn on the trail. It was these guys with front lockers who said my A-TRAC was a better system on THAT road, for obvious reasons. Lockers were needed to climb the steep grades and over the loose big rocks.

You can see that trip in the web page I made of it, link below.

 

Jesus, Fucking Christ, will this shit never end?