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Please Help Me Understand the Differential/Traction Control Differences in TRD Packages

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Taco-Tuesday, Apr 22, 2016.

  1. Apr 22, 2016 at 2:28 PM
    #1
    Taco-Tuesday

    Taco-Tuesday [OP] Member

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    Ok So I currently have a 09 Tacoma Access cab SR5 4 banger ... I do tons of desert and mountain driving but I also use my truck for work and I thought since my 94 Toyota pickup made it through just about anything without ever getting stuck I'd be ok with the standard tacoma trim ... boy was I wrong ... this truck is a dog and I want to ditch it but I'm confused about the differences in the Sport Vs TRD offroad 4x4 packages.

    I understand the Sport has Auto LSD and I get what that does and it sounds pretty good for ice conditions and what not but not so great for real off road conditions where you could end up with wheels off the ground and get stuck. Where my understanding of the packages gets a little foggy is with the TRD Off road 4x4. I know the TRD off road has the rear lockers which are ideal for real off road situations but I also drive in ice and snow conditions during hunting season and as far as I've researched rear lockers are dangerous in ice and snow, especially when turning. I guess my question is does the TRD off road 4x4 have an option to be in 4 wheel drive without the rear differential being locked, essentially making it function more like the sport with the limited slip differential unless I choose to turn the locker on, or is it all or nothing with the lockers? Seems like there is a gap in the options on the Gen 2 TRD packages. I may be ill informed but that's why I'm asking for advice :D
     
  2. Apr 22, 2016 at 2:38 PM
    #2
    Sharpish

    Sharpish Well-Known Member

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    The Sport 4x4 is exactly the same as the OR, until you press the "ATRAC" or "Diff Lock" buttons.
     
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  3. Apr 22, 2016 at 2:42 PM
    #3
    andrew61987

    andrew61987 Well-Known Member

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    1. I feel like something is wrong with your 09 if it can't do what your 94 did. They should be at least equally capable. Both 4wd?

    2. Yes you can be in 4wd without using the locker. With the locker disengaged it's an open differential which isn't the same thing as LSD.
     
  4. Apr 22, 2016 at 2:45 PM
    #4
    Pabloeeto

    Pabloeeto Well-Known Member

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    The locker on the Offroad is OFF unless turned ON (typically under 15 MPH) otherwise its an open differential. I have an earlier TRD Sport with a mechanical LSD (before ATRAC) and i've got into some pretty hairy stuff in 2Hi and haven't had any "One Tire Fire moments".
     
  5. Apr 22, 2016 at 2:59 PM
    #5
    crashnburn80

    crashnburn80 Vehicle Design Engineer

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    Otherwise it is an electronic LSD differential. Unless you turn the LSD off as well, then it is an open diff.

    The Off Road's ATRAC system tries to simulate front and rear lockers using the ABS in a way much more aggressive than the LSD. You can manually turn this system on and off. It will try to match the tire speeds across the axle front and rear. If you have an airborn wheel, ATRAC will transfer power to the wheel across the axle on the ground. It does this for both axles. In addition it also has the selectable rear locker. These features are not on the sport. If you want maximum off road capability, the TRD Off Road is the model you want.

    The info you are referring to about the lockers in the ice/snow is likely referring to auto lockers. These automatically lock when there is slip. The Toyota system is far more sophisticated and allows you to selectively activate the locker when you want it.
     
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  6. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:04 PM
    #6
    Taco-Tuesday

    Taco-Tuesday [OP] Member

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    I think I should have clarified that this 09 is not 4x4 by any means it's 2wd access cab the standard work mans model not with the lift even. Nor was my 94 5 speed manual :D I'm basically taking the 09 into situations that it shouldn't be in or I've inadvertently ended up in bad situations while exploring (memories of the El Paso Range in the Mojave Desert ie: a place called the Narrows comes to mind which was not fun by the way but ingenuity got me out of there)

    I guess the confusion for me is/was whether the locker was all time in 4wheel mode or not ... I also see A-trac is an option that works similar to auto LSD but only works in 4wd low? So is there a traction option for the TRD offroad that would transfer power from wheels that slip to wheels that grip while in 4wd high gear? I'm assuming the open difff is not going to behave like that at all no? What would I want to use for ice road conditions? sometimes when I am hunting the eastern sierra it's snow and ice the entire time whether I'm on or off road. My Wife has a subaru outback 3.6R that handles surprisingly well in said conditions ... last day of duck season she was out of town so I had to take my 09 Tacoma up to Owens Valley CA and ended up in a blizzard while I was off road and miles from my truck, when I came back my truck was covered with snow, the washboard road was iced up and snow covered and I almost went off the road into a ditch when I was trying to drive out, if I didn't know how to keep the ass end from going completely around I would have been stuck. I'm looking for some versatility but I don't want a station wagon :D
     
  7. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:06 PM
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    Taco-Tuesday

    Taco-Tuesday [OP] Member

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    ahh!! ok this is all making more sense now I appreciate all the responses ... I know there is a thread on this already and I did read it but needed some clarification. Much appreciated!
     
  8. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:07 PM
    #8
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    You have to be in 4lo to engage the rear diff lock on the TRD OR package, unless you do the 'grey wire mod' which would allow you to engage it whenever you like. Toyota really only designed it for the 4x4 as a last resort if you are stuck or about to get stuck.

    If not getting stuck while off-roading is your primary concern, I would go with the TRD Offroad package as a locking differential is better under those circumstances than a limited slip (or whatever the auto-LSD system is now that comes with the Sports).
     
  9. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:09 PM
    #9
    digitaLbraVo

    digitaLbraVo Derka Derka

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    Covered in stickers and chrome stick-ons for extra horse torques and foot powers. Icon sticker gets me tons of travel, dozens of milimeters.
    Hell when you have 4WD the rear locker becomes a bit of a forgotten gem when totally stock as you have to use it in 4LO and cannot engage it in 2WD/4H.

    Unless you bypass the 4WD controller like I did...
     
  10. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:10 PM
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    Taco-Tuesday

    Taco-Tuesday [OP] Member

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    I think I've heard of this Grey Wire Mod ... is that what also gives you a lower gear in 4x4 as well?
     
  11. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:10 PM
    #11
    digitaLbraVo

    digitaLbraVo Derka Derka

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    Covered in stickers and chrome stick-ons for extra horse torques and foot powers. Icon sticker gets me tons of travel, dozens of milimeters.
    No. The 4WD models by default have 2WD/4H (standard gearing) and 4LO which has a much more torque-centric gearing.
     
  12. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:13 PM
    #12
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    The grey wire mod simply bypasses the factory setup where you can only activate the RR Diff Lock button in 4lo, so that you can lock it whenever you like (in 4H or 2WD, for instance).

    I plan on doing it myself as I had one in my 2wd prerunner years ago and you can go a lot of places in a locked 2WD that an open diff 2wd can't.
     
  13. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:15 PM
    #13
    Taco-Tuesday

    Taco-Tuesday [OP] Member

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    ok ... so I assume engaging the locker (stock) would be for an oh shit I'm already stuck moment or a this doesn't look good moment? And with the Gray wire mod does this put any undue stress on the differential running the locker in high? Void warranty etc? I mean I guess there wouldn't be much of a warranty on a used truck from a private seller but if I buy from a dealer they slap on a power train warranty usually so that's why I ask.
     
  14. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:18 PM
    #14
    andrew61987

    andrew61987 Well-Known Member

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    I find it really odd that they did this considering you could get the locker with 2WD models.

    Also, pardon the hijack, but am I the only one who basically never uses 4HI? I go 2HI as long as I'm comfortable, and then it's straight to 4 LO. I'm never going more than 25 MPH or so off road and I like having all the extra gears to choose from.
     
    Last edited: Apr 22, 2016
  15. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:19 PM
    #15
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    It won't put any added stress on it. Just don't go too fast and avoid making turns at any speed greater than 5mph or so. The 2wd Prerunners with the OR package have a locker too and they are able to run it any time. It's just a liability thing with the 4x4 I think, it's technically "safer" to only lock it while going slowly.

    I use it for "this doesn't look good" moments...I turn it on preemptively so I don't get stuck. If you forget to turn it off when you come out of 4lo, the ECU turns it off for you. Grey wire mod would keep that from happening
     
  16. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:22 PM
    #16
    digitaLbraVo

    digitaLbraVo Derka Derka

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    Covered in stickers and chrome stick-ons for extra horse torques and foot powers. Icon sticker gets me tons of travel, dozens of milimeters.
    Actually: messing with the electrical is a great way to void your warranty, locker run out of 4LO or not.

    @eon_blue turning on the locker is great as it drops any traction control on all 4 tires and makes "drifting"/fishtailing crazy easy.
     
  17. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:25 PM
    #17
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    believe me I found out the hard way lol, I used to have one of those full-time Lockrite lockers in my last truck...they could get sketchy on wet roads going at cruising speed.

    OP if you get a new truck with a warranty don't worry about doing the grey wire mod, having the RR Diff lock in 4lo only is perfectly fine, 99.9% of any situation you come across where you'll need it, you'll be in 4lo anyway.
     
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  18. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:28 PM
    #18
    digitaLbraVo

    digitaLbraVo Derka Derka

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    Covered in stickers and chrome stick-ons for extra horse torques and foot powers. Icon sticker gets me tons of travel, dozens of milimeters.
    True. I waited until I was out of warranty to start hackin' away at the wiring. Especially with how sketchy doing the "gray wire" mod is on the 2nd gens. Very different from your 04.
     
  19. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:29 PM
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    Taco-Tuesday

    Taco-Tuesday [OP] Member

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    haha this type of behavior is why I started the thread people said with rear diff locker turning in ice was a bad deal unless you like getting squirrely ... this all makes a lot more sense to me now ... now if someone would just explain why you can only put chains on the back tires of a Tacoma LOL that sounds great until you need to steer and the truck keeps going straight.
     
  20. Apr 22, 2016 at 3:33 PM
    #20
    eon_blue

    eon_blue If I would, could you

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    Yeah that's the beauty of having a selective locker like the TRD one, you can turn it on only when you need it. I cheaped out with my last truck and went with a full-time locker, which can get squirrelly.

    Chains on the back tires thing is because most 2wd trucks are rear wheel drive, and you want your drive wheels to have the most traction. Correct me if I'm wrong (I live in socal where chains are rarely needed unless your in the mountains), but 4x4 or AWD vehicles aren't ever required to put on chains are they?
     

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