Best video on A-track on RU-vid INCLUDING Toyota's official video! I had to watch 3 bad videos on A-TRACK to find yours. You clearly show how it works. Thanks so much!
In Canada TRD Off-Road Premium upgrade is only $3500 it’s a no brainer to take that option package... that said, the vehicle is $60,000.00 including taxes
Fantastic video on A-TRAC. For those of us on the fence about whether or not a regular SR5 will get us where we need to go and back based on our primary needs, this is super helpful. Was looking at the TRDOR packages, but not so sure I now need the locker for 95% of where we go. Keep up these vids! Great rig!
Agreed, great video showing a track use. I too was looking at a TRD off-road and now have decided on an SR5 premium. The money I saved can be used down the road if I decide to start adding modifications
This helped me a lot. I have a 2018 sr5 4x4 and I was always curious of how it would do off roading and how good a trac will be. After watching this video i am more confident in my truck. Now I know which chances I should and should not take. Thanks man.
Great insight! I just bought a 2021 stock SR5. I have a ton to learn. I wanted to start with the basic 4x4. I now understand how that works, so thank you
Have an old 2001 with the center-lock and trying to figure out what this ATRAC is all about. Good, concise explanation. No kids freaking out while playing their ipads or ads every 2 mins. I figure this should be treated like the center-lock in the sense that just running it all the time when in "difficult" terrain and just ease on through is the best approach. My 2001 is stock with 32in tires and the front sway removed; it'll go through nearly anything.
I feel alot more confident on my sr5. I was thinking on trading it in for an offroad but seeing this makes me feel like i gotta do some extreme stuff to really put the locker to use. Thank you.
Nice video. Well explained in real situation. Good job! Btw, maybe you should consider changing your sparetire by a tire the same size as those you have mounted. (if it fits underneath)
I am looking at the TRDOR but I may save a few bucks and get the SR5 premium with a-trac. We do mostly fire roads. Forest Service roads. White rim trail (Moab), things of that sort. Nothing crazy. Been using my SIL built ZJ for the rock crawling. Thanks for the video and showing the Atrac ability.
It’s interesting that the 4Runner has a A-TRAC button to turn it on and off. Here in the rest of the world, our version of the 4Runner (i.e. Fortuner) automatically engages A-TRAC when you switch to 4WD. You can then manually disengage it by turning off traction control, and it automatically turns off if you engage the stock rear locker (standard on our trucks), which only works in 4LO.
Awesome video! Makes sense now. When would there be an occasion where A-Trac and rear diff lock would be used in conjunction? And, since you’re here, what kind of awning is that on the top rack? Thanks!
Thank you GSRider. Situations I use them together are heavier rock crawling sections or sections where you have a lot of wheel lifting front and rear. The awning is from ARB.
Nice video. I do have the same moab roof basket with the extension. How do you like it on the runner? My was on my suburban. How bad is the wind noise? There was none on the burb.
The wind noise wasn’t too bad until a low branch broke the faring off. I recently passed it on to my brother and will be acquiring a different basket/rack
Great video, thanks for making this. I noticed that most of your videos are a year old? Do you still owe on your 4Runner, and how have your experiences been over the last couple of years? I have never owned a 4Runner but and seriously considering purchasing one in the next couple of months
M Ladetto Hey thanks. I would love to make more videos and still intend to, my business has just been incredibly busy and not leaving much time unfortunately. I just made my last payment 2 months ago. I have owned it now for 4 and a half years and it has been absolutely great. The only issue I had and was covered under warranty was a leaking front axle seal. I highly recommend it. Probably the best overall SUV out there if you want reliability, capability. But you have to accept fuel economy to be not so great and not a lot whiz bang gadgetry. It’s pretty low tech but in my opinion that’s what lends itself to better overall reliability too.
I have many more video concepts drafted but just need the time for editing. Always feel free to let me know if there’s anything you want to see or have covered. Thanks for watching!
I was really hoping you had the camera inside the rig as you were using ATrac. I can't find a video anywhere to rest my stress that the noise my rig makes when ATrac engages is normal! AAAARRRRGGGHHHH!
that's the sound of the A-TRAC using the traction control to send power to the wheel that has traction instead of the wheel that has none. I believe it's applying the brakes to the wheel that has no traction so the dif will send the power to the other wheel.
It is basically the same system but ATRAC benefitted from better responsiveness and effectiveness in later years. What I mean by that is, forward momentum is better in later model years because of the tech advances.
@@TheSideTrak Thanks. I was having difficulty getting up a hill with loose dirt and rocks in my 2002 LX470. My spotter said that the ATRAC was robbing me of forward momentum. Glad to hear they've improved it.
@@Mumblix Yep, early versions of ATRAC simply cut the power rather than braking individual wheels and transferring power to a different wheel. Even the newer systems can have this effect if they are over driven, but as long as you feed the power slowly to the system, it won't be overwhelmed to the point where is shuts down the power.
To bad more people did not understand their vehicles and how to use them. The Mash and bash approach I see way too much. 40+ years of experience I can tell you this tech. that old schoolers put their noses up at will save countless $ if people learned how to use it. Like you were demonstrating here. A-Trac simply put is a part time AWD system. And you have to love the option. While I managed w/out all the whistles and bells back in the day.. I also had to get out a tow strap, hi-lift jacks and portable winches, shovels.. etc. Today, the 5th Gen. on stock tires I own manages all the same terrain and more w/out me having to get out and use any recovery gear. Nor do I have to mash the gas pedal and bash my way through obstacles.
It really depends on the specific conditions. I can see instances where it would be limiting i.e. deep snow when higher revs are necessary. Deep snow is all about floatation and keeping momentum, ATRAC can limit that.
I have a 5th gen 4runner as well. I'm confused about going thru deep mud/ruts. Is it better to leave A-trac on or off when going thru deep mud? I know with 4L traction control and stability control turns off which essentially should be off. But would a-trac work well in keeping momentum thru mud at speed? You said it in your vid that a-trac won't work if spinning too fast.
71502 I prefer to have all traction control off in deep mud so the tires can spin freely and shed mud. Traction control can inhibit momentum which is also bad in a deep mud scenario.
@@TheSideTrak well. But with A-Trac it doesn't cut power to the wheels correct? It only applies braking forcing to wheels that's slipping. But Traction control itself it does cut power.
@@TheSideTrak so you are saying it is better to leave A-Trac off when powering thru mud & sand to maintain momentum? I know A-Trac is probably better if it is on when you're "already" stuck, and trying to get unstuck.
@@robertwehlau8906 The best thing to do is to go out and experiment with all of the options you have. ATRAC, locker, MTS and Crawl Control. Get familiar with them in a more controlled environment so when you do need them, you’ll know what feature or combination of features is best suited for the situation.
Thanks for great explanation. I am trying to figure out which of 4Runner to get. Live in NE mild to moderate winters. Snow is biggest thing I may deal with, unless I start getting into off roading which will be no more than the trail difficulty of your video. No rock climbing. It seem ATRAC seems good enough for winters on road stuff and even off road. TRD off road trim seem to have a lot of confusing options. Any recommendations which trim to get.
Pall 511 I’d say, save some money and go with an SR5. I do a fair amount of technical off roading so for me having the rear locker is essential but unless you’re planning doing a lot of trails with wheels off the ground, the SR5 will be plenty especially with a suspension and tire upgrade.
