[tlcruiserman]

I was wheeling my FJ Cruiser over the weekend and noticed some disapointing behavier on when the ABS was disabled and when the A-trac is even used. I guess I did not even think this would change over what happens on a 100 series but a real bummer. I think I will have to re-wire some systems. Here is what I am talking about.


I have the 6 speed stick, so full time 4wheel drive, no problem, then I have HL and H wich is H = High range, and HL= High rang lock, now in HL the center diff locks, no problem same as 80 series and 100 series with auto. However when I put it in LL=Low rang lock this is where it gets wierd, so I would expect and want it to turn off the ABS in low range, I can see now reason to have ABS on wheeling, and for the most part I don't see and long term driving in low range unless I am wheeling, hense ABS off in Low range. This is not the case, in low range it does not turn the ABS off, only when I engage my rear locker does it turn the ABS off, what a bummer. I really find many times when wheeling down an unpaved trail I have no need for the rear locker but still do not want ABS on, so this is the first thing I do not like.

The second problem is the A-trac so after reading the few sentences on it, I think it would be great for wet or snowy icey conditions or maybe going down unpaved roads, but in all those conditions I would most likely be using High range, but it seems that the A-trac never angages in high range only in low range (based on dash light) and in low range again most likely I would be wheeling, and I am not sure the A-trac would be good for that, still uses the same principle as ABS just based on wheel spin instead of wheel lock (or is that just the VSC) in any case it only works in Low range and of course if I have th rear locker on that will disable the A-trac, I really don't think I want A-trac for wheeling but again it is only available in Low range and that does not make any sense to me.

The VSC, I have seen this in action in H mode if I give it a little too much gas making a turn of from the line, this seems to leverage the ABS system and shifts power to traction wheel or cuts power until ther is not wheels spin. So this is fine, and it is turned off in low range and I think in HL as well, so maybe this is the one system that seems to active and deactive when it makes scense.

In wheeling with a lot of articulation and short hill and gullies the FJ did very well as long as the rear locker was on, the few times I had it off and forgot it was off, the FJ seemed to be stuck sometimes and traction was being shifted to non-traction wheels or stoped by one fo the other systems (not sure, but was going no where). In any of those situations I turned on the rear locker and it had no problems moving. I am not sure if this has something to do with the ABS being turned on or if it really makes that much of a difference on the FJ with the rear locker.

Just some more data, I have wheeled these same trails time an time again with my 42 series, 80 series, 70 series, 74 series and 75 series and 100 series and none of them ever needed the rear locker as much as the FJ did.

The FJ overall did really well, and for what I could wheel over with just a rear locker it was impressive. Of course it would have been a different story if I did'nt have the new Dobinsons suspension and some TrXus M/T on it.

If you have some thoughts on this or have answers to the some of the question or even if the automatic models act differently please chime in on this.

Thanks,

Michael

[Blues Dawg]

I have used both lockers and A-Trac when wheeling in LL. I'm still getting used to it, but in most circumstances the A-Trac is pretty effective on loose rock or dirt slopes and crawling over dry rocks. The place I have found the rear locker has an notable advantage has been on wet/muddy/slick rocks. I've considered the A-Trac/Locker Hack, but find that mostly the A-TRAC is really capable. It does take a little getting used to tho. I run most all of our trails in LL, as matter of fact w/ 285's I'd need to change the gearing to run in HL, and don't think the A-TRAC was intended for use on the road, the VSC and ABS does the trick.

On another thought, I used to run an 94 4Runner w/ ABS and hated the ABS deciding that some sand on a rock was a skid and taking over my braking. My 93 P/U had ABS that went off automatically in 4WD.