Bamboozler
New member
We got a foot of really wet snow last night, accompanied by 30 MPH winds & some pretty good drifting. I decided to pull the plug on the ATRAC/VSC/ABS as referenced in several threads on the forums here and see how it fared. As much as I hate the way the ATRAC brakes & slows forward momentum, in last nights conditions (the snow was like driving through wet cement) it was better with the all the electronics on, t-case locked, and spinning 2500 rpm to keep the tires cleaned out. Just so I don't get flamed, I was in my own rural, hilly neighborhood, not breaking any laws, it was after midnight and nobody else was out.
I'll probably add the switch so I can turn the ATRAC off for those times when it is a nuisance, like sand where it can get you stuck. But for rockcrawling, or more typical snowfalls, the ATRAC is pretty handy, and it's easy to forget how cool ABS is in the snow & ice.
And for anyone confused by which electronics are which, ATRAC uses the ABS to slow the spinning wheels, and cut fuel if necessary. It will allow all 4 wheels to bite & churn. VSC prevents you from spinning out when you lift off the gas in a snowy corner, or get going a little too fast on gravel washboard & the rear dances out. The first time it goes off, the alarm will startle you. Before we got the T4R, we had a 98 Jeep Cherokee & 98 Chevy Blazer, and the 'Yota is unbelievably more stable & safe due to the VSC. With all-terrain tires, the VSC rarely activates.
One last thing, Thai, I agree with you about Firestone, I have the AT's and feel they are equal to the BFG AT KO, for less money. Aired down to 18 psi they are sweet in the rocks, and bad washboard feels like fresh blacktop. How are the MT's in the rain?
Scott
I'll probably add the switch so I can turn the ATRAC off for those times when it is a nuisance, like sand where it can get you stuck. But for rockcrawling, or more typical snowfalls, the ATRAC is pretty handy, and it's easy to forget how cool ABS is in the snow & ice.
And for anyone confused by which electronics are which, ATRAC uses the ABS to slow the spinning wheels, and cut fuel if necessary. It will allow all 4 wheels to bite & churn. VSC prevents you from spinning out when you lift off the gas in a snowy corner, or get going a little too fast on gravel washboard & the rear dances out. The first time it goes off, the alarm will startle you. Before we got the T4R, we had a 98 Jeep Cherokee & 98 Chevy Blazer, and the 'Yota is unbelievably more stable & safe due to the VSC. With all-terrain tires, the VSC rarely activates.
One last thing, Thai, I agree with you about Firestone, I have the AT's and feel they are equal to the BFG AT KO, for less money. Aired down to 18 psi they are sweet in the rocks, and bad washboard feels like fresh blacktop. How are the MT's in the rain?
Scott
A few M/Ts nowadays are more ATs too.
