Which traction control setting for mud?

I've read multiple threads and still confused on this question. I have a TRD Sport 4x4, no locker.

In 4 HI I know to hit the traction control button once as this turns off the throttle kill when slip is detected. However, brakes will still be applied as the computer allocates power to the correct tires.

My question is, what about the setting when you hold the traction control button down for a few seconds and it turns everything off? Will I only have 2 wheels working in that mode when it is open diffs no traction control?

If that is the case, would it be better to use "trac off" in 4 HI where all 4 wheels can be used? The downside is brakes are applied to them as well with the traction control.

Or is it better holding the buton down to "VCS off" to have only 2 wheels working but no brakes applied while spinning wheels in the mud?

 

I went through some mud today that another Tacoma behind me didn’t try. The Taco squirmed around at a steady pace, but it got through no problem. Pedal control. As soon as I saw that I was moving, I stopped pedal input and let the system control. I had TRAC off in 4HI and it did very well. But I would have rather taken it with ALSD on both axles in 4HI. I just keep forgetting that if you are in 2WD utilizing ALSD, and you switch to 4HI, it will turn off TRAC. Annoying. So you’re just on two wheels. However, I recently installed an E-Locker. I can switch to the locker with TRAC off and have ALL the power on tap. But for a non locker, it can be limited. Although I have not gotten stuck in sand or mud with TRAC off in 4HI. Both times I didn’t realize that TRAC was off.

I prefer the brake actuators(?). ALSD is bad to the bone when you find the sweet spots to let it control. 4HI, don’t touch the LASD button. You’re going to learn to love your truck a lot.

Go play and have someone there with you just in case you get stuck. I bet you won’t!!!! Don’t use a lot of throttle. You’ll see, the ALSD will control the situation. But if you start with the throttle out attitude, you pretty much have defeated the system before you even gave it a chance.

BTW, if you need ultimate power, 4LO, 1st gear only in s mode. Let her snap at high rpm’s. Lovely sound above 3500rpms and she’ll pull hard.

 

This chart should help.

 

Hi, the "auto LSD" works in 4HI as well.

When you hit the button for "trac off" in 4HI all 4 tires still work. The only difference is the traction control won't cut your throttle.

It is a nice system, but very confusing the way Toyota labels everything.

Hitting the button for "trac off" in 4HI is the same as "Auto LSD" in 2wd except all 4 tires are working. If you don't hit anything, the traction control will cut your throttle and you can get stuck. Happened to me in snow I forgot to hit "trac off" and the computer cut my throttle as I was getting bogged down and I got stuck.

4Lo all 4 tires work as well, no need to hit a button. I was climbing up a very steep mountain with snow on my right side. When I hit the snow the tires on the right started to slip and I stopped moving. A second later my traction control light came on and the Tacoma sent the power to the two left tires that were on the dirt and my truck started moving again.

 

Here is a YouTube video illustrating how all 4 wheels can work in 4WD

https://youtu.be/BXYFxXUcdYA

 

Reading that chart, it says my truck has fully open differentials in 4HI and "trac off". Is that a mistake? Seems to be or I'm reading it wrong.

Does that mean only 2 wheels are working? That is different than what I read on another thread. It said "Trac off" just stops the throttle cut intervention but you still get the brake actuated limited slip on front and rear axels.

 

I think that chart has a typo unless I am reading it wrong. Here is a post from David K. As he says it, 2WD Auto LSD and 4WD HI Trac Off are the same setting and both utilize the brake auto LSD.

This makes sense and what I have seen when I put the truck in 4WD HI. Good explanation, his post:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-turn-off-lsd-and-traction-control.456171/

"The names Toyota uses are confusing...

AUTO LSD (in 2WD) and TRAC OFF (in 4WD-HI) are BOTH the same level of traction control: more than the standard TRAC that the truck is in.

AUTO LSD and TRAC OFF are BOTH limited slip systems that have NO engine output regulation, so gives the truck "more power" to get moving from a stop or stuck using only brake control on spinning tires.

TRAC alone has both engine regulation and brake control."

 

And his follow up post:

"Press Nothing...

H2= TRAC (Limited Slip with Engine Output Regulation)
H4= TRAC (Limited Slip with Engine Output Regulation, front and rear)
L4= No Traction Control
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quick Press (VSC OFF SWITCH) moving or stopped...

H2= AUTO LSD (Limited Slip without Engine Output Regulation, VSC OFF to 30 mph)
H4= TRAC OFF (Limited Slip without Engine Output Regulation)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Press and Hold In 3-5 seconds (VSC OFF SWITCH) while stopped...
H2= VSC OFF (No Traction Control)
H4= VSC OFF (No Traction Control)"

 

I think the general consensus for mud is no traction control (or as little as possible) with either 4hi or 4lo with 2nd or 3rd gear. Momentum is the most important thing, so any interference from the traction control will only help you get stuck faster. You also need wheel speed to continuously clear the lugs of the tire so they can grab new material and dispel the mud stuck between the treads so your tires don't turn into slicks.

 

It depends on the mud. For shallow and slick I personally prefer the short-press and crawl through. When in doubt, air down. For the deep but short puddle-cross, just momentum and maintain throttle, trac mode doesnt matter.

I don't do extended deep mud that requires momentum and full-goon send anymore. I did that once. I started dragging belly and cooked a transmission - it required a shift band rebuild and replacement of the t-case because I free-spun it for a little (a lot) too long. That was a harsh lesson on the world of four wheel drive. Mud sucks. I go around.

 

So for sand, I think I need the same thing as mud guys. I need wheel speed in 4x4, so 4Hi, and I also need to bang off the limiter without the power cutting out. What is the best mode for me?
4Hi, TRAC OFF & VSC OFF?

 

For sand I would do 4Hi TRAC OFF & VSC ON so that if one wheel starts spinning you can get that extra kick to keep a movin

 

Can you do MTS & Crawl at the same time? This chart makes it look like you can but I thought it was mutually exclusive

 

IME traction control is best turned off in mud and stay out of low range. There are situations where you finesse your way through. Sometimes you just have to muscle your way through, and mud is one of those times. You need wheel speed to keep the mud thrown out of the tire treads to get through mud. Otherwise, your tires fill up with mud and look like a peeled onion. Traction control prevents your tires from spinning and clearing the mud. The constant braking slows momentum and feels like driving while dragging an anchor behind you.

 

Crawl, as far as I have experienced, is for situations with enough solid ground for grip but enough incline to make rapid speed changes spinny. Speed under crawl is snail-slow (or just about my running speed ) with many jerking stops/starts.