Off roading with Traction Control.

Mesofluk

Mesofluk

New member
Hey all, hope all is good.

I have a 04 SR5 V8 and I love it, a great rig and never lets me down. My question is regarding the traction control while off roading. My 4R doesn't have a trac off option. I thought it would disconnect in 4H but only VSC turns off. I've seen a few videos and forms regarding adding a switch by distrusting the connection.

I'm asking what are your thoughts and tips on off roading with Traction Control? Should the empathy be keeps decent and just let it work it's way threw while it clicks away? Or is there some sort of technique? I haven't gotten stuck yet, but I felt pretty close with Trac Control.
 
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I am actually wondering the same thing. I just bought my 4R a month ago and was pretty bummed when I went cruising down a dirt road and tried to fool around and the damn traction control kept kicking in.
 
Guys, I know it is far too much reading, but succinctly: it is not TRAC, but VSC that you may be talking about. VSC is what kills the power. Fairly simple mod to turn it off in 4WD. Cannot be turned off in 2WD other than by a multi-step process involving going into 4WD first.
 
ok in 4wd or center diff locked for v8s it turns off VSC, VSC is the devil offroad and you want it off, the trac turns off and turns on Atrac. Atrac is a more aggressive trac that acts to replace a limited slip differential. you want this version of trac offroad because if you turn it off you would be wheeling with one wheel fire front and rear.
 
CruzadoBlanco said:
ok in 4wd or center diff locked for v8s it turns off VSC, VSC is the devil offroad and you want it off, the trac turns off and turns on Atrac. Atrac is a more aggressive trac that acts to replace a limited slip differential. you want this version of trac offroad because if you turn it off you would be wheeling with one wheel fire front and rear.
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So when I put it in 4H, it shows that VSC is off, but when I hit the snow it's felt traction control and it shows up in the dash. So In my case, what am I experiencing?

The ruts were deep and the snow was soft,11" deep or so. It felt like it slowed the power to the wheels and you can hear a clicking sound of the relay cutting traction and adding it. I had no issue, went threw some nasty sketchy snowmobile trails to get around but it was a good time.

Anything like that?
 
Mesofluk said:
So when I put it in 4H, it shows that VSC is off, but when I hit the snow it's felt traction control and it shows up in the dash. So In my case, what am I experiencing?

The ruts were deep and the snow was soft,11" deep or so. It felt like it slowed the power to the wheels and you can hear a clicking sound of the relay cutting traction and adding it. I had no issue, went threw some nasty sketchy snowmobile trails to get around but it was a good time.

Anything like that?
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Okay, if you are in 4H and have pushed the vsc button then those clicks you hear are the system doing its badass job of propelling you forward. I wheel the hell out of my truck and have had the tires completely off the ground. If I had done the mod to turn the whole system off I wouldn't have made it because I just would've had tires free spinning. Because I still have the atrac on like it is supposed to be it locked up the spinning tires and the other tires were able to propel me forward. Make sense??

Champ306 said:
I think you want to be in 4L. This will stop VSC from interacting.
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Wrong. It works the exact same way as 4H including if you push the vsc button or not. Also, you do NOT want to be in 4L for snow. 4L is for crawling slowly over obstacles where you need maximum torque. There are other circumstances where you need it, but driving on snow isn't one of them....unless you are just exercising the system, then go balls deep!! :flame: :preggers: <-----oops, did I do that?!
 
You can do it quickly by popping the hood and then unplugging the grey clip on your brake controller. I believe it has two cables coming out of it facing your drivers side headlight.
 
Mesofluk said:
So when I put it in 4H, it shows that VSC is off, but when I hit the snow it's felt traction control and it shows up in the dash. So In my case, what am I experiencing?

The ruts were deep and the snow was soft,11" deep or so. It felt like it slowed the power to the wheels and you can hear a clicking sound of the relay cutting traction and adding it. I had no issue, went threw some nasty sketchy snowmobile trails to get around but it was a good time.

Anything like that?
Click to expand...

in 4 hi or low with the center diff unlocked (i forgot the v6 was the same just with a 2wd position) you are getting regular trac, its only when you press the center diff lock button that it will turn on Atrac, and Atrac is awesome. ive found that regular trac can sometimes get in the way but it usually doesnt
 
Just to clear up some mis-information:

-ATRAC is only active in 4LO, center diff locked, below ~5mph

-Regardless of what you want to call it (TRAC and VSC can both interfere with the throttle, so says my manual) to turn off these electronic features in vehicles without the disable switch, you need to be in 4H/4L with the center diff locked. So for V8 guys, lock your center diff and all electronic traction nannies go away. V6 guys, put the truck in 4 Hi or 4 Lo and then lock your center diff.

-The two ways to bypass the system without engaging the center diff lock have been mentioned. 1) Unplug the gray wire bundle clip from the side of the brake master cylinder / module. Be sure and plug it back it in and restart your vehicle once you are done playing in the dirt 2) Do the Mod listed here

-Also, vehicles produced 07+ I believe came from the factory with a disable switch, works great.

Cheers
 
Synister said:
Just to clear up some mis-information:

-ATRAC is only active in 4LO, center diff locked, below ~5mph

-Regardless of what you want to call it (TRAC and VSC can both interfere with the throttle, so says my manual) to turn off these electronic features in vehicles without the disable switch, you need to be in 4H/4L with the center diff locked. So for V8 guys, lock your center diff and all electronic traction nannies go away. V6 guys, put the truck in 4 Hi or 4 Lo and then lock your center diff.

-The two ways to bypass the system without engaging the center diff lock have been mentioned. 1) Unplug the gray wire bundle clip from the side of the brake master cylinder / module. Be sure and plug it back it in and restart your vehicle once you are done playing in the dirt 2) Do the Mod listed here

-Also, vehicles produced 07+ I believe came from the factory with a disable switch, works great.

Cheers
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What does it do in 4Lo that it doesn't do above 5mph and/or in 4Hi? I've never noticed a difference with center dif locked.
 
I just bought my 4R a month ago and was pretty bummed when I went cruising down a dirt road and tried to fool around and the damn traction control kept kicking in.
4b.jpg
 
cclhuzhou said:
I just bought my 4R a month ago and was pretty bummed when I went cruising down a dirt road and tried to fool around and the damn traction control kept kicking in.
4b.jpg
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Read post #!0 but don't blame Toyota when you fishtail and smash your truck.

:blabla:
 
Oh yeah, for traction control to work effectively keep the rpm's under 2k, you'll be surprised how well it works when used as designed.
 
CXS said:
Read post #!0 but don't blame Toyota when you fishtail and smash your truck.



:blabla:
Click to expand...


I would never blame a manufacturer for something stupid I did. I used to work at a dealer and I would see that tons of times and just laugh.
 
CXS said:
Oh yeah, for traction control to work effectively keep the rpm's under 2k, you'll be surprised how well it works when used as designed.
Click to expand...


Thanks, now saying that keeping the rpm's low. Does selecting a certain gear work better for 4L and 4H driving? Eg, going threw mud or loose ground, crawling rocks. D-4-3-2-L
 
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