Downhill Assist is wonderful

[juneau92]

My buddy and I aired up the tires, loaded up the dog and gear the other day and went out to shoot the rifles and pistols, and to just go on an outdoors trip. We got *way* back in the middle of nowhere, it was great! Shot the guns for a few hours or so. Then we headed up along the road, a definate 4x4 road, which zigzagged up the side of a mountain. Holy crap when we were at the top there was snow and ice on the road! Don't see much of that here in the desert of Arizona.

As we travelled along, at one point, there was a major downhill section, all covered with snow and also plenty of patches of ice!! Was on top of it before I knew it, no way to turn back either.

The worst of it was, there was this BIG dropoff, more like a cliff to my left. Me and my buddy were nervous, it was definately a white knuckle experience. I'm like man, if we go over the edge, that's gonna be it!! :awais: I reached down and hit the downhill Assist button. I was already in 4x4 low gearing, 1st gear. Took my foot away from the brake. Definately don't want to hit the brake on downhill ice! Man o man, the 4runner started making that chattering sound, and it just WALKED US RIGHT DOWN to the bottom!!! 4Runner slid sideways a couple of times a little bit, a little scary with that dropoff next to us, but wow it tracked so well!

My buddy was totally impressed with it's performance, and so was I. First time I had a real need for the DA.

Luv my 4Runner for getting out into the wilderness, and for the safe vehicle that it is.

 

[TheBlueWave]

Our hills up here aren't as steep, but we sure do have snow and ice. DA is pretty cool, even though I only use it 1-3 times per year. It hasn't saved my tail yet, but glad to hear it saved yours.

 

[Kmvreter]

... Holy crap when we were at the top there was snow and ice on the road! Don't see much of that here in the desert of Arizona.

... it just WALKED US RIGHT DOWN to the bottom!!! 4Runner slid sideways a couple of times a little bit, a little scary with that dropoff next to us, but wow it tracked so well!

You obviously are hiped about this so I have to say...
:worthless

If you didn't take an pics then get your sorry @&& out there again and get us some!

 

[Koz]

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It has helped me a couple times but there wasn't a cliff next to me!

Koz

 

[mole177]

so how many times did your ass clench in fear?

 

[juneau92]

Re: Re: Downhill Assist is wonderful

You obviously are hiped about this so I have to say...
:worthless

If you didn't take an pics then get your sorry @&& out there again and get us some!

Man o man I wish I had some pics! At the time I didn't even *think* of taking photos! We just wanted to make it out alive.

Really, it was a memory. Because that's only half the story! On the way back, we were using my GPS to find another way out (no way at all we could backtrack, we were lucky enough just to make it down those icy hills without going off the edge!)

So we're going along, and finally get off this mountain. We're driving still in 4x4 low gearing, and basically on our way back. The road is looking good, and we're feeling good. "What a day!", we think.

All of a sudden, the road drops down into a wash, with about 8 inches of water running in it. The road is GONE, man. There is nothing but the top of BOULDERS and water!! $hit!!!

I ask my buddy "What happened to the road?!!!!" We go out and looked at it and I said "NO WAY!" If I went down this wash, I'd certainly end up with damage to the 4Runner. And I don't even know if it's the road or not. My buddy says that we must have taken a wrong turn, he says "Let's backtrack".

Crap, I backup reverse for seems like a quarter mile, just to find a place to turn around, and then comes a couple of guys in one of those newfangled 4x4 things, kinda like a 4x4 golfcart? You might have seen one of these, they are getting quite popular, and look like a lot of fun.

I tell them we are lost, and how to we get out? They say the ONLY way is to take the road, straight ahead. I say "You mean this road?!", as I point back down towards the wash and all the water running through it. They say "Yea, that's the only way out, unless you go way back up the mountain."

Well, there ain't no "going back up the mountain". And then I tell them that the "road" ahead is GONE. And now I'm thinking we'll need to spend the night. :awais:

They want to see, so we both drive ahead, back down to the wash. They look at it and say "$hit!". Then they say "We can do it." I'm like "Hmmmm.....ooooooookkkkkaaaaaaaaayyyyyy. They say "We'll spot you, you can do it."

At this point, I did think of a photo or two, just to show what the hell I was about to do. I got out the camera from the center console, and crap I had left the battery home in the charger.

I give my buddy one of my walkie talkies (these have come in handy so many times), and both he and the two nice guys (didn't get their names) spot me through the wash. One tire on this rock, turn a little right, move past boulder, another tire on top of this rock........

Thanks to those two friendly folks, and some help from my buddy with the walkie talkie, we made it out. Man o man I was so happy. Needless to say we drove home in the dark.

Next morning I checked the 4Runner. No damage, it amazes me, just lucky, I guess. Some medium scrapes on the skidplates, couple minor scrapes on the muffler, and also the rear differential, that's about it. Nothing major. Some brush scraches on the sides, nothing that won't buff out.

What a memory!!! :biggrin2: Overall that darn 4Runner pulled through for us!! :biggrin2:

 

[Fishy1]

Where were you at??? I live in AZ too....yep we had some weather last couple of weeks gotta be careful this time of year...

 

[juneau92]

Where were you at??? I live in AZ too....yep we had some weather last couple of weeks gotta be careful this time of year...

It's called the "Montana Mountain Trail", as outlined in my "Backcountry Adventures" book. It's east of Phoenix, past Florence Juntion, take "Queen Valley" Rd to the north. That's the general area.

 

[jwa898]

Can someone please explain how the downhill assist works?

 

[Koz]

You first must be in 4WD low, then push the DA button and just steer. If you touch the brake it will disengage. The system controls the braking system to keep the vehicle at 2/3 mph.

Koz

 

[jwa898]

You first must be in 4WD low, then push the DA button and just steer. If you touch the brake it will disengage. The system controls the braking system to keep the vehicle at 2/3 mph.

Koz

Sounds pretty sweet, and I can definitely see why it would be helpful in certain situations. I am also curious do any other SUV's have, do the Tundra and Tacoma have it?

 

[GatorGreg]

Sounds pretty sweet, and I can definitely see why it would be helpful in certain situations. I am also curious do any other SUV's have, do the Tundra and Tacoma have it?

My GX has it too. It's rather unnerving taking your foot off the brake but it works great.

<img src="http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attachment.php?postid=270916">

 

[jwa898]

It's rather unnerving taking your foot off the brake but it works great.

I couldn't imagine taking my foot of the brake at first, it would be natural instinct to try and tap it or something. I guess you get used to it pretty quick though, I'll probably never have to use it. Are Toyota and Lexus the only vehicles with this feature or do any other vehicles have a similar feature?

 

[juneau92]

I couldn't imagine taking my foot of the brake at first, it would be natural instinct to try and tap it or something. I guess you get used to it pretty quick though, I'll probably never have to use it. Are Toyota and Lexus the only vehicles with this feature or do any other vehicles have a similar feature?

I knew what the DA was going to do, as when I first got my 4Runner, I tried it on a very safe, but steep downhill dirt road. When I heard the sound it made, I thought something was wrong, that it was broke, and immediately turned it off.

Then I checked here to read about it, and once I knew it was supposed to make that noise, I tried it again. At that time I realized what value it could have in certain circustances.

My buddy (not the one I took this trip with, another one) is a total GM whore. I told him about it, and he said ya he thinks all 4X4 vehicles have it. Ya, right. I asked him if his Trailblazer had it, he said he "wasn't sure" Then I asked him if his 4x4 S10 had it? He said it was a 2003 model, and that was before it was developed. Ya, right!

But no I don't know for sure but I don't think too many other vehicles have it. But I tell you I think it is really nice to have on a 4x4 vehicle.

 

[GatorGreg]

Are Toyota and Lexus the only vehicles with this feature or do any other vehicles have a similar feature?

I'm pretty sure the current gen Range Rover had it too when it first came out, but there are probably several others by now too. Thai will probably have a comprehenisve list

 

[JB.]

juneau92,

Nice adventure. The way DAC is setup - 2-4 mph - limits its applications, but on the kind of thing you described - steep, slippery, not too bumpy - it's awesome. Matter of fact, DAC can easily get the truck down things it can't get back up. :hello: It's supposed to be even more aggressive in reverse, which sounds useful. Good move being in 1st gear. Might as well give DAC all the help you can.

I see the trail is rated 4 in the book. With the ice and water, it sounds like it turned into a 6 or 7.

 

[juneau92]

juneau92,

Nice adventure. The way DAC is setup - 2-4 mph - limits its applications, but on the kind of thing you described - steep, slippery, not too bumpy - it's awesome. DAC can easily get the truck down things it can't get back up. :hello: Good move being in 1st gear. Might as well give DAC all the help you can.

I see the trail is rated 4 in the book. With the ice and water, it sounds like it turned into a 6 or 7.

You've got the book, too! Great book my dad gave me for my birthday! Yep, rated a 4 in the book, but just like you said me and my friend said it was definitely a 6 or 7, with the ice and water!! Overall, I'd say it was a very strong 6! I would recommend the Montana trail, just wait until it's a little dryer, so you don't run into what we did!

In the same area of Florence Junction is the "Box Canyon Trail", page 450. I think we may do this one next time. Also looks like it might be remote enough for shooting, which we like to do.

 

[simple]

Is DAC something you have to wait to engage, or as soon as you press it it goes live? I've tried it just driving down the road to see what happens...and nothing changed. I've heard its pretty loud, but no change or strange noises.

 

[juneau92]

Is DAC something you have to wait to engage, or as soon as you press it it goes live? I've tried it just driving down the road to see what happens...and nothing changed. I've heard its pretty loud, but no change or strange noises.

Get yourself on a steep hill, going downwards. You must be in low gear 4x4, I recommend 1st or 2nd gear. Let off the brake, you're not going to go very fast down the hill anyway, while in low gearing 4x4 1st or 2nd. Press the DAC button, and the 4Runner will pulse the wheels. You'll either hear a clicking sound (kind of like a timer), or a louder chattering sound, as it pulses the wheels with the disk brakes.

 

[mtnet2000]

What book is this you speak of?