"Crawl Control" questions

Ray Dunakin

Ray Dunakin

Senior Member
My 2016 4Runner is the first SUV I've owned that has an automatic transmission. All my previous off-roaders were manual. So I have a couple questions:

1. How is Crawl Control any better than just putting it into 4L, first gear? Is Crawl Control even necessary, or is it just a gimmick for people who've never gone off-road before?

2. The one time I tried to use it, it made horrible grinding sort of noises and the vehicle moved in short lurches rather than a smooth crawl, so I immediately stopped and switched it off. Is this normal or should I have it checked out? I know the manual says there will be "noises and vibrations", but this sure didn't sound or feel healthy.

3. I still haven't tried the Multi-terrain switch, and after my experience with Crawl Control I'm not too keen on trying it. Again, is this feature something that's actually necessary for operating an automatic transmission vehicle off-road, or just a gimmick?
 
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Definitely not gimmicks. One of the reasons I wanted the Trail Edition was for these features. I recommend googling "crawl control" and watching some of the videos on it. That is the best way to see what it does.

Crawl Control is more like a cruise control. MTS is like a more fine-tuned version of A-Trac.

I'm not an off-roader from back in the day, so I can see how some people who have been doing this a while would not appreciate these features. But then again, there were people who questioned anti-lock braking back in the day, too. "I can pump the brakes just fine--don't need no fancy schmancy computer doin' it for me! And get off my lawn!"

As I see it, you have a lot of tools to choose from depending on the situation. And that is a good thing.
 
Thanks! I followed your advice and Google directed me to an older thread on this forum that answered my questions pretty well. I do think that the owner's manual could be a bit more specific about the use of this feature, as well as spelling out just how horrific the sounds can be.
 
Ray Dunakin said:
Thanks! I followed your advice and Google directed me to an older thread on this forum that answered my questions pretty well. I do think that the owner's manual could be a bit more specific about the use of this feature, as well as spelling out just how horrific the sounds can be.
Click to expand...

Once you figure it out you will be amazed at what it will do. When I sold cars I showed so many people and they freaked out, once they took it out and came back they were amazed. Crawl control even comes on the new Landcruisers!
 
Crawl Control is a feature that had me confused at first as well. Like you said, it seemed like a gimmick for people afraid to control the skinny pedal themselves. But after actually using it, I agree that the ABS example is a good one, because it can control the pedal way better than your foot. The times I have used it were on steep hills where my foot in 4-Lo and 1st gear was causing wheelspin. The times it makes a ton of noise from my experience are when your just driving on flat ground and and it constantly modulates the brakes due to the slow speed (a situation where it's not really needed).

MTS from my understanding is basically A-TRAC but based on the program you choose, mud/sand/snow, loose rock, moguls etc. it allows for a different amounts of wheelspin before the A-TRAC kicks in. Most of the time I just press the A-TRAC button instead of MTS because I just need it to act as a front locker, but there have been times going up muddy or rocky hills where I used MTS and it worked fine. FWIW the new Taco's don't have an A-TRAC button, and it must be activated via MTS.
 
Thanks for this thread! I'm also coming from a manual vehicle (2003 Taco), and all the different traction settings on this new TEP were a bit overwhelming :)

Curtis
 
Ray Dunakin said:
My 2016 4Runner is the first SUV I've owned that has an automatic transmission. All my previous off-roaders were manual. So I have a couple questions:

1. How is Crawl Control any better than just putting it into 4L, first gear? Is Crawl Control even necessary, or is it just a gimmick for people who've never gone off-road before?

Crawl control is awesome. Uphills, downhills, etc. - this was my first time using it and i loved it, but it felt like cheating. If you want to learn how to off-road, its best to use the gas/brake....but that said, its a great feature when you just want to sit back and steer while off-roading.

2. The one time I tried to use it, it made horrible grinding sort of noises and the vehicle moved in short lurches rather than a smooth crawl, so I immediately stopped and switched it off. Is this normal or should I have it checked out? I know the manual says there will be "noises and vibrations", but this sure didn't sound or feel healthy.

It's funny isnt it, it feels like the truck is going to fall apart and you are going to DIE!! Like there is no control, but there is. Once it gets moving it flows/jerks when it needs to. You are not damaging the truck. The grinding sounds and knocking/ticking noises are normal, make sure you are in 4L when using it, and always get ready to brake, never rely on crawl control to keep the truck in control as there is room for error/failure.

3. I still haven't tried the Multi-terrain switch, and after my experience with Crawl Control I'm not too keen on trying it. Again, is this feature something that's actually necessary for operating an automatic transmission vehicle off-road, or just a gimmick?
Click to expand...

It's just an added feature, you do not have to use it to off-road. Keep trying it, you will get used to it and like it for certain terrains.
 
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Crawl Control can be used even after you've gotten stuck:



<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lwQWjDaPgjM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
propain said:
It's just an added feature, you do not have to use it to off-road. Keep trying it, you will get used to it and like it for certain terrains.
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Could you indicate what types of places to try crawl control just to see what what it's like with versus without?
 
Frisco said:
Could you indicate what types of places to try crawl control just to see what what it's like with versus without?
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Any inclines/declines. Some terrains, mud, sand, rocks, etc.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7kcRkVZ6iwg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
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Ray Dunakin said:
My 2016 4Runner is the first SUV I've owned that has an automatic transmission. All my previous off-roaders were manual. So I have a couple questions:

1. How is Crawl Control any better than just putting it into 4L, first gear? Is Crawl Control even necessary, or is it just a gimmick for people who've never gone off-road before?

2. The one time I tried to use it, it made horrible grinding sort of noises and the vehicle moved in short lurches rather than a smooth crawl, so I immediately stopped and switched it off. Is this normal or should I have it checked out? I know the manual says there will be "noises and vibrations", but this sure didn't sound or feel healthy. There is a great course on 4 Runners as well.

3. I still haven't tried the Multi-terrain switch, and after my experience with Crawl Control I'm not too keen on trying it. Again, is this feature something that's actually necessary for operating an automatic transmission vehicle off-road, or just a gimmick?
Click to expand...

Youtube it bud. LOTS of videos on crawl control. As far as the 'gimmick' aspect goes, it's actually the real deal. Here are the vids. Enjoy ;)

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=crawl+control
 
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I use it quite a bit on rough terrain and an added benefit is that it reduces wheel spin significantly, thus helping reduce trail erosion which is good for all of us!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Steep climbs or descents are where it shines. At first I didn't use it at all but once you see what its all about, it really is an awesome system.
 
redkat said:
Crawl Control can be used even after you've gotten stuck:



<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lwQWjDaPgjM" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Click to expand...

Some of those features look pretty good but what happens when you start modding the rig? For example if you get ARB air lockers on the front and rear? Do you loose any of the factory capability?

I did like how it got itself out, very cool... I've buried my Silverado to the frame in sand when I tried to pull a friend out, something like this would have been great.

That said... it is 2016... with all the modern technology and phone cameras available to us, it blows my mind people can still take blurry photographs and blurry low resolution videos... unbelievable.
 
Saved my backside a few times up at Rausch Creek, especially on the washed out steep downhills.

It does feel like your cheating through.

My other vehicle I wheel with is my '74 Ford Bronco. That has an NP435 transmission with a really low crawl gear for 1st. Crawl control is just as good and maybe even better due to the anti lock brakes.
 
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