Doe anyone use DAC

[wfo9]

Downhill Assist Control

Always avoided it in the past, but I tried it the other day while wheeling in 4l on a steep slick decent. It was a horrible sound. It really seemed like it would kill the ABS pump, so I shut it off.

Does anyone actually use it or find it useful for any situation.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I used it occasionally on my 03. I have not off roaded much yet on my 14. I only found it useful on very steep inclines with a lot of rocks or other irregularities. It is very noisy. On my 03 it worked best putting the trans manually in 1st. It would go slightly faster in 2nd. Once the harder downhill section was past I turned it back off. It does make it nice that all you have to concentrate on is steering and watching for obstacles.

 

[BobsTrail]

Don't use it, too much noise and I think the manual says it will shut off after 12 minutes to prevent overheating the ABS system.

I use 4 Lo and select shift to keep it in first or second gear for steep decents.

 

[having fun]

I used to think the same thing using it, sounds and feels like the whole front end is going to rip off or disinagrate. Noticed it sounds worst the faster your moving when it in gauges.

I've learn to like this system now when doing serious wheeling. crawling over obsticals on the down side. You can feather it with your accelerator also, helps also with not having to use the brakes as much. It's my best friend out there now.

Same with the factory installed up hill assist.

 

[Jhalko]

Tried for the first time today, after a minute I turned it off as that racket was too much. But it was also a section I could easily go down with 4L, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on a section if my confidence was low as those engineers at Toyota make good stuff that works.

 

[1engineer]

I have used it several times on slick steep muddy hills. Works fine and the noise just means its working. Compared to some machines I have had designs on it is not bad at all lol.

 

[gm350reratliff]

I've used it a couple times on my 2008 but not yet on my 2014. Honestly, I'll probably never use it. The noise bugs me and I'm old school. I like modulating the brakes myself. I've never encountered anything that I wished I used it or that I thought I needed to use it.

I do think it is useful for someone that isn't very accustomed to going offroad.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

If you understand what it's doing, the noise is no big deal. I used the heck out of it in my 2003 and also in my New 14 TEP in Ouray, CO recently. Some of the down hills are very steep and very rough. It was great.

The implementation in my '14 is variable speed on the fly which is wonderful. In my '03 it was either on or off. The '14 version is WAY better.

In the truly rough areas it lets you focus on line choice and not braking, etc.

 

[BobsTrail]

If you understand what it's doing, the noise is no big deal. I used the heck out of it in my 2003 and also in my New 14 TEP in Ouray, CO recently. Some of the down hills are very steep and very rough. It was great.

After reading some of the posts, I think I will put up with the noise and use it for steep downhills. I do use it for uphill, it's quiet. On a Trail DAC = Crawl Control, it's variable speed and works for both up and down hills.

ToyotaDoodz -- Do you set it to first gear only or let it go higher and have DAC/CC do it all?

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Now I'm confused, on my 2013 Trail there is Crawl Control but not a DAC setting.

You are correct. My bad. My 03 Sport had a DAC button but my 14 TEP does not. The PDF manual I downloaded does talk about a DAC button on page 247 which is what I was quoting from. I though yours was different. Sorry.

To clarify, I only use the crawl control on steep downhills. It works just like the old DAC did except the speed is variable.