That gimmick called Crawl Control...

Gets it done!

 

In before the non-OR owners say the dont need it

 

Finally got to use it in some serious mud this weekend. Remained stuck until winched out lol.

SPS

 

This video would have been cooler if you recorded him drinking an espresso as he was crawling up the hill. Don't know why I thought of that, but I need it in my life

 

Most people don't need it. Most people probably don't need 4X4.

 

I've posted before praising craw control. I offroaded plenty in my old 1st and 2nd Gen tacomas and went everywhere I needed to without it. But WITH crawl control you can get over many obstacles smoother and safer than without, I know this from first hand experience.

The one time I can think of where I was absolutely grateful to have it is when I got stuck 80% of the way up a REALLY big sand dune (the steep side of Blowsand hill on a particularly soft weekend for anyone familiar with Ocotillo). Kinda freaked me out knowing I had to back that shit down like 80 yards in reverse in super soft, really steep, unpredictable sand. My one rollover accident was in a similar situation a decade before and I still have a healthy fear of rolling over because of it. At that moment I figured I'd see if crawl control works in reverse.... it does! And it really helped me back it down with total confidence, kept me straight and my rear end exactly where I wanted it, as the sand shifted and my rear end drifted the crawl control would work IMMEDIATELY almost intuitively to prevent me from sliding at all.

I'm sure I would've been fine without it but it just made an otherwise fairly difficult scenario become easy mode.

I find it most usefull for exactly that: hill decent in shifty sand or unstable/slippery rock/shale.

I've used it messing around being stuck in deep level sand and mud, but lockers can get you out of that just as easy with some finesse. Technical low traction controlled descents in both forward and reverse is where it really shines IMO.

 

Crawl control is as useful as a hood scoop for 90% of OR owners.

 

Would you rather have crawl control or a rear locker? What about front and rear lockers?

 

I've used it now in a few different situations. Did I need it? probably not. I DID want to see what it was capable of and it did help me out.

In my youthful days I would have bypassed skill and just gunned it, letting momentum take me where I need, the hell with being able to drive it home. Now, I must say I've learned more throttle control and thought but the crawl control has been helpful as a backup knowing it was there if I need it.

Maybe that's the big thing. It does force me to slow down and not put so much strain on the other systems to make up for skill. I've been off roading on and off for some time now, but if you add up all the hours that I truly needed skill to pass an area over the last 15 years or so, you are still only talking about maybe 5-10 hours of practice. I mean, If I put in 2 hours on the trail, maybe only 10-20 minutes of it need true skill. So, even with all these years behind a wheel, I do not think I have enough experience on really technical terrain. It's nice to know I have a little helper if I need.

 

You do realise that crawl control is NOT for mud right? Sand, rocks, steep inclines or declines. Snow and mud you need momentum and wheel spin, you crawl, you get stuck.

 

I have encountered several steep slopes this last winter covered with ice/snow/loose rocks that I was unable to get up. Tried 4low, 4 high, getting a run at it and was unable to make it up. Crawl control several times was able to get me up these slopes.

There have also been times where I could get up something by getting a run at it but Crawl control would go up with much less drama.

Seems to work good imo. Probably worthless for your average buyer though.

 

Thats kinda like saying would you rather have a recovery rope or hi-lift jack??

To me they serve different purposes even if there is some crossover (like how a hi-lift can be used as a winch)... so I'd rather have both

But either way if you have crawl control you also have a rear locker.... so I think the real question would be would you rather have a front locker like on a colorado ZR2 than the crawl control on the tacoma?? And thats a tough one. Me personally having never had a front locker I think I'd take the crawl control as its something I've found useful in a few situations now, whereas I've apparently never needed a front locker as I've never had one although I can think of a few obstacles that probably would've been smoother/easier with my front locked.

Also a front locker I can always add later... crawl control cannot reasonably be added and there's no after market equivalent, if you don't have it from factory you never will.

 

It works and its fun to use, that is all there is behind it.

 

The part that's a gimmick is the cruise control. Of course the MTS/A-TRAC system that's doing all the work is not a gimmick.

 

That's not a fair statement. The CC at least has SOME functionality.

 

I have both

 

I think it depends on your usage. But for me, I would say:

1) Rear locker
2) CC
3) Front locker

Some will have 2 and 3 swapped. Mostly for those that rock crawl (or will pretend they do in their heads ). I don't do anything extreme. In fact, just having CC (or auto-LSD) would be ok for me, most of the time.

 

After this weekend, I am a believer in Crawl Control.

 

Lol or playing sudoku

 

Exactly 100%. I wish more people understood this.