Never had this happen before. Los of power offroad

[parboy]

I really do not do any major offroading in my 4runner but today I did some light stuff
At one point there was an up hill section with a left turn at the top. I began up the hill and began into the turn near the top. It sounded as if i bottomed out a little at the crest. Here is the odd thing. After that the 4runner refused to move. The RPM dropped and I could not go up further. I floored it and the RPM still did not go up . No wheel spin no nothing. It is as if I lost all power.
I had the truck in 4H and the center dif was not locked. It was not such a spot I thought I would have trouble. I had to roll back down. It was a bit embarrasing. What caused that? I just held my foot down on the gas expecting it to go and it never did. Once I was off the hill it was fine.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

I really do not do any major offroading in my 4runner but today I did some light stuff
At one point there was an up hill section with a left turn at the top. I began up the hill and began into the turn near the top. It sounded as if i bottomed out a little at the crest. Here is the odd thing. After that the 4runner refused to move. The RPM dropped and I could not go up further. I floored it and the RPM still did not go up . No wheel spin no nothing. It is as if I lost all power.
I had the truck in 4H and the center dif was not locked. It was not such a spot I thought I would have trouble. I had to roll back down. It was a bit embarrasing. What caused that? I just held my foot down on the gas expecting it to go and it never did. Once I was off the hill it was fine.

If it was loose sand or dirt and the tires were spinning the brakes were being applied to stop the wheel spin. The more you floor it the more the brakes come on. Try it again with the diff locked and it will go right up. The first time I played in sand that happened to me. That bottoming out sound may have been the abs applying the brakes.

 

[M1911]

Lock the center diff next time.

 

[Axis]

I did some off roading myself a couple of weeks ago and to avoid this situation I kept the centre dif locked the whole time, which I know turns the VSC off. What I'm wondering is

a) is this bad for the truck (keeping centre dif locked)?
b) I noticed a slight loss in power on one steep incline, is there still some kind of traction control that stays on even if the centre dif is locked?

Sorry to hijack this thread, but it seemed related.

Here's a longish vid of the offroad action (you can skip from about 1:45-4:00 and 5:10-6:30 cause its just the tacos struggling to get up the big hill)

YouTube - Muskie Mud Company Ford Hill 09.19.10

 

[progress4m]

I really do not do any major offroading in my 4runner but today I did some light stuff
At one point there was an up hill section with a left turn at the top. I began up the hill and began into the turn near the top. It sounded as if i bottomed out a little at the crest. Here is the odd thing. After that the 4runner refused to move. The RPM dropped and I could not go up further. I floored it and the RPM still did not go up . No wheel spin no nothing. It is as if I lost all power.
I had the truck in 4H and the center dif was not locked. It was not such a spot I thought I would have trouble. I had to roll back down. It was a bit embarrasing. What caused that? I just held my foot down on the gas expecting it to go and it never did. Once I was off the hill it was fine.

What you have felt was “VSC” in action. That is a negative side of VSC.
Next time lock central deferential that turns off VSC and you will be impressed instead of being embarrassed.. :thumb3:
Alternately. you can do VSC mod and you will be able to turn of VSC without locking central deferential