Traction Controls 2009-2015

Long Bed is TOO long for trails... thus not offered on the Off Road Double Cab. Even it has too much overhang for trails!

However, I agree the locker is the bomb, and it should be a special add on option for the non-Off Road Tacomas.

 

ACTIVE TRACTION CONTROL (A-TRAC).... a fantastic system that provides the traction of front and rear lockers but without the binding the inhibits steering on tight trails. Works with or without the rear locked.

DAC... for coming down super steep, rocky, uneven grades... controls speed to a crawl without letting any tire lock and slide (which could lead to a roll-over). You don't touch the brake pedal... DAC does the work of braking while you steer. Only active in Low Range... like A-TRAC.

HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOSTER... Only in the Off Road TRD, for A-TRAC and DAC, all other Tacomas have a vacuum break booster.

 

No need to keep jabbering on about the DCLB being too long for trails and that's why it's not offered as a TRD Offroad , I said they should offer a locker on the TRD Sport as an option , then the consumer could decide what package they wanted

 

so nobody here has ever been off road that wasnt a trail?...like a beach...if it had the locker than it would have atrac...i 100% agree with oz

 

Neither locker or A-TRAC is helpful on the beach for driving (unless you get the truck stuck). Those both only work in low range. Low range just spins the tires too fast and sinks you... too much power for sand... You need to float on top, and high range and if the type of sand dictates, lower tire pressure.

I think the locker should be offered as an option on all models, and I think the Off Road double cab should be available in Canada, too.

The attraction of a fake hood scoop is beyond me, however!

 

I have never had to use my locker. I did once, but that was just a test to make sure I knew how to engage it and to play with it. Honestly, I have yet to get into a situation that the A-Trac couldn't get me out of. It really is amazing.

 

so the locker only works in 4lo?

 

Yes

 

oh wtf..i did not know that

 

THIS!!!

 

Knowledge is king! I do have TW'ers come to me in person and say if they were informed better, they would have bought the Off Road... The salesman never told them the difference, and steered them to the Sport. In 2005, it happened to me... the salesman said the rear locker was dropped for the limited slip and had me test drive a Sport. I did not at all like the added bump on the hood (scoop) especially since it had no function. I soon learned that salesman lied and the rear locker was still available on the Off Road. They must have some incentive to sell more Sports?

 

Nice write up.

 

I very much like having my DC/LB...especially the LB part.. but now knowing that the elocker only works in 4lo, im ok with having a sport. I like the scoop (its a different look for a truck) and color matched bumpers. Ive been contemplating an air locker and this thread convinced me. The salesman didnt try to convince me, i built this truck online with no outside influence.

 

Are you sure? I've never seen a TRD offroad with hydroboost. Wonder if it's only the usd models. I did just find a photo:

 

I know for the FJ's there's a simple mod that allows anytime locker. I'm sure it's the same for the tacoma....

 

I beg to differ on the 'without' part of the engine regulation on the non-offroad taco's. Mine is a 2010. 4hi without pressing the button gives you lsd with engine regulation. It's a bitch in the snow because a guy cant get wheel speed.

 

It is quite obvious and specially on the 2012+ where you have a choice of regulated (TRAC) vs. non-regulated (TRAC-OFF) in H4. In the chart at the bottom, note the *4 notation.

Note there is a difference between the 2009-2011 trucks and the 2012+ trucks. The charts below are the 2009-2011 instructions:

 

I understand what the 'chart' says, and I have read your posts about traction control.

Although mostly correct, what I experience in 4x4 HI, without selecting trac on/off, is different from the diagrams you have posted.

And I can't assume that the canadian Tacoma traction control computer for the 09-11 taco is different from the US version.

 

In 2009-2011, there was (is) no TRAC OFF MODE in H4. Your TRAC (traction control) is unregulated, and more powerful than the 2WD TRAC (which is regulated).

In H2 (2WD) you do have a TRAC OFF MODE, but we always call it AUTO LSD (because that is what the light says).
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2012+ Made it real confusing because what is TRAC OFF in H4 (4WD) was called TRAC (ON) before! Now TRAC is the same in both 2WD and 4WD-HI (regulated). However, in the long run, they standardized the meaning of TRAC. It is just odd to me that MORE TRACtion control is called TRAC OFF!!

No traction control is called VSC OFF, and that is unchanged.

2WD: TRAC and AUTO LSD (TRAC OFF)
4WD-HI: TRAC and TRAC OFF

 

Trac 1 and Trac 2 could have worked! LOL

Trac 1 is a light limited slip and Trac 2 is a strong limited slip:

Trac 1 (engine output regulation): Trac in H2 and 2012+ Trac in H4
Trac 2 (no output regulation): Auto LSD/Trac Off in H2, 2009-2011 Trac in H4, 2012+ Trac Off in H4.