2WD? 4H? 4L? WHEN? WHY? Created some cheat sheets

[izzy]

My issue is that my truck cannot accelerate strongly at all from a stop, on dry pavement (much less wet or dirty pavement): the rear right wheel spins up quickly unless I am very gentle with both throttle and clutch.

First truck?

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[Texas Bob]

Yes, exactly. I am really not a truck guy by heart, rather by necessity. Just for driving I would have been much happier spending the same money on a Civic Type R. With all the various ways to reduce this problem (other than driving around with a bunch of dead weight in the bed), why do we still have to put up with it?

 

[stuckinsocal]

Alright, I'm sick of all the misinformation going on around 4th Gen Tacoma rear differentials and traction control systems. If you believe that A-TRAC is present on ANY version of 2024+ Tacoma, please reply with some documentation other than this pre-launch Toyota press release from May 18, 2023 which I believe is incorrect.

https://pressroom.toyota.com/2024-toyota-tacoma-is-the-ultimate-adventure-machine/

The above press release says "...four-wheel-drive models have an electronically controlled two-speed transfer case with high/low range along with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) and an automatic limited-slip differential (Auto LSD). An electronic locking rear differential is standard on TRD PreRunner, TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter grades."

To back up my statement that the above press release is not correct, I offer the following from the owner manual of my 2025 TRD Off-Road (manual transmission) though the manual covers every model of 2025 Tacoma. Page 406: "Auto LSD System Operation: The system can be used only on 2WD models." Searching the entire owner manual PDF, there is not one instance of the acronym A-TRAC nor of Active Traction Control. As for the electronic locking differential, it is only selectable while in 4LO as they call it, can be engaged only with no wheels turning, and must be disengaged above 5 mph. So it is useful off-road but not at all on pavement.

My issue is that my truck cannot accelerate strongly at all from a stop, on dry pavement (much less wet or dirty pavement): the rear right wheel spins up quickly unless I am very gentle with both throttle and clutch. If the truck truly had A-TRAC or Auto LSD (or old-fashioned mechanical/viscous LSD) then I believe it would be much better. The truck does have traction control (TRAC) but that does not seem to control wheelspin from a stop. I don't know what it does.

If anyone out there has a manual transmission 4th Gen Tacoma and does not agree with my complaint in the paragraph above, please give some documentation. And if the comments are correct, then maybe (MAYBE!) there's something wrong with my truck. The final possibility is that the loose nut behind the wheel is the real problem, and I need to drive the truck the way an old man should (I am one). But I don't want to. I don't see how it can be justified that rear wheel drive Tacos have better traction, due to Auto LSD, than the 4WD trucks do.

Hey so, I have the manual as well. ATRAC would only work in 4LO, as it is part of that programing now (no longer a button) and you are right that 4WD trucks don't have auto LSD. The traction control should stop you from lighting up your rear tires in 2WD too much, however, and maybe that is what you are feeling. Have you tried turning traction control all the way off and trying to launch in 2WD? For what it's worth I never have traction problems in 2WD in my truck unless I give it some extra beans; downsides of all terrain tires more than anything. Your tires will play a big part in how much traction you have; all the systems in the world can't add traction. They only redistribute power to wheels with more traction.

 

[Texas Bob]

Hey so, I have the manual as well. ATRAC would only work in 4LO, as it is part of that programing now (no longer a button) and you are right that 4WD trucks don't have auto LSD. The traction control should stop you from lighting up your rear tires in 2WD too much, however, and maybe that is what you are feeling. Have you tried turning traction control all the way off and trying to launch in 2WD? For what it's worth I never have traction problems in 2WD in my truck unless I give it some extra beans; downsides of all terrain tires more than anything. Your tires will play a big part in how much traction you have; all the systems in the world can't add traction. They only redistribute power to wheels with more traction.

Thanks for your comments, Stuck. I have tried to compare how much slippage vs. acceleration with the traction control turned off. I don't notice a difference, at least on dry pavement. I'll try it sometime in the rain; maybe the traction control actually would react better/faster than my right foot when the pavement is wet. And yes, when the original tires wear out I plan to look for an alternative with better dry and wet traction, even if that means I give up some of the knobbiness and butch appearance that off-roaders require.

 

[izzy]

happier spending the same money on a Civic Type R

There's no "fixing" trucks not having weight over the rear wheels.

why do we still have to put up with it?

Lay off the skinny pedal.

 

[stuckinsocal]

Thanks for your comments, Stuck. I have tried to compare how much slippage vs. acceleration with the traction control turned off. I don't notice a difference, at least on dry pavement. I'll try it sometime in the rain; maybe the traction control actually would react better/faster than my right foot when the pavement is wet. And yes, when the original tires wear out I plan to look for an alternative with better dry and wet traction, even if that means I give up some of the knobbiness and butch appearance that off-roaders require.

If you are just launching in a straight line, it doesn't hurt to do it in 4HI and turn it off after you are done. Just no sharp turns until after you turn it off; perfect if it is a bit damp and you have a short freeway on ramp or something. While a HT is the best for on road traction, there are plenty of mild / road biased all terrain tires that grip far better than your standard all terrain while still having some aggressive sidewalls and off road considerations. Might be good for what you want.

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Tire-Tests/2022-Tyre-Reviews-All-Terrain-Tyre-Test.htm

 

[Texas Bob]

If you are just launching in a straight line, it doesn't hurt to do it in 4HI and turn it off after you are done. Just no sharp turns until after you turn it off; perfect if it is a bit damp and you have a short freeway on ramp or something. While a HT is the best for on road traction, there are plenty of mild / road biased all terrain tires that grip far better than your standard all terrain while still having some aggressive sidewalls and off road considerations. Might be good for what you want.

https://www.tire-reviews.com/Tire-Tests/2022-Tyre-Reviews-All-Terrain-Tyre-Test.htm

Thanks for the link!

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