I have always wondered what this is in my wife's 2010 4R Trail. The owners manual tells you when to use it and how to use it, but what does it actually do? I assume that because the vehicle has rear lockers that this is some kind of control for the front axle. Sort of like a limited slip or "fractional" lock mechanism for the front axle. Does anyone know what this control actually does?

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You have had it for 9 years and never used it? Better late than never!

It is offroad traction control tuned for different types of terrain. Say, in sand you will want a traction control that is not very aggressive because if it is, you will get bogged down in a few yards. But in rock, you will want an aggressive traction control that stops a wheel before it has had the chance to actually spin.

And thus it works better than the one-size-fits-all A-trac that all 4Runners have. I practically never use A-trac though sometimes I do turn it on mostly for the heck of it. But it is not really useful or necessary on a Trail/TRD edition.

So, you are right, I use MTS on ROCK plus rear locker for ledges and big steps and I can climb with no spin at street psi. There are trails where you really don't need or want to use the rear locker. There, the ROCK setting on Multi-Terrain select works great.

I do not seek mud and have not had to go through mud even though I have done a lot in the 4R already so I cannot speak for how well it works in mud. I guess it works well.

But it is not a substitute for the locker. If you have your fronts on a steep rock and your rears in sand, you still want the rear locker or you have to air down, hoping to minimize spin. No spin with the locker and MTS even at street pressures on ledges where other trucks throw tantrums even if aired down.

Crawl control is a very aggressive mode of the same traction control system and it works extremely well for me when descending rough stuff and for going through rock gardens. I have never tried it uphill but I don't like rough descents and with no spotter I am happy to focus on steering while letting crawl control ensure that any hit I take would be at 0.6 mph. Its settings are 1-2-3-4-5 kmh.

I have not used my ATRAC, I use Multi/Terrain and think of it as a variable ATRAC controlling the amount of slip.

I set it for Sand and use it on sand, loose dirt and snow without the locker. It works well in snow. I can get all wheels spinning and it just takes off.

The normal traction control will limit engine speed and bog down, but M/T on my 2013 keeps going. When I use the the locker I set it to Rock but not sure it matters with 3 of the 4 wheels already locked together.

Get out on something slippery and try the settings to see what they do to help you decide which to use. You can have fun doing this part.

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I’m on my second T4R and first with MTS. Thanks for the excellent description on how it works! I’m not an off road type but like the features of what it can do in case I need it. I got my SR5 stuck in snow and based on your discussion I’m sure I could have gotten out in the new ORP
Thanks again


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