A 200 and some other rigs...

[Markuson]

that'll work! Crawl mode was very affective crawling over big wet roots in the swamps...

Hey Kreiten, I have a Locker question for u... (or others here)...

My 100 had center and factory rear lockers (99 was the last year US 100's had factory rears, I believe)...and there was no such thing as crawl control at the time.

So... My question is... How much should I care about lockers given the fact that the 200's crawl control is quite effective? On my 100, I felt it was a no-brainer...because no crawl control. But with crawl? Hmmm...

I know...I know... Try stuff and see. The trouble is...it's hard to really compare effectiveness based on my memories of my 100. Some here have both lockers and crawl...and can test the same spot with crawl and with lockers.

Do you have lockers on your 200? Or...others here who do have lockers (+crawl, of course) have any strong opinions about whether you feel you'd be happy WITHOUT lockers given crawl on your 200?

I've always assumed that I'd add lockers to my 200 at some point...but I'm curious what y'all think if you have both.

Any thoughts?

Markuson

 

[Willy beamin]

depends on how crazy you decide your gonna get.

 

[Markuson]

depends on how crazy you decide your gonna get.

I travel a lot in the boonies ALONE...meaning I need to give myself every chance of getting unstuck... But...not because I'm out rock-crawling by myself. More along the lines of ice, dirt, sand, snow, etc. A winch is definitely in my future...although I only ever used it in my 100 to pull OTHERS out...where there wasn't room for a strap-pull. But going out alone as far as I tend to go...means a winch for sure.

Anyway... That's my Q regarding locker if crawl is so effective...

 

[steenh]

I like the discussion on lockers vs. crawl/atrac. This is my first truck with crawl/atrac. My previous 100 had F/R lockers (ARB front) and my 40's have been locked F/R. I have plenty of experience driving that setup. Atrac is another story due to lack of seat time in difficult situations... haven't run into anything yet that was challenging for the 200 (I know, I need to get out more with it). I've been very impressed so far but still think there are situations where lockers would be very nice to have. As an example, last month at Hole in the Rock there were some pretty significant ledges. We had a 100 with Atrac that had tried it on a previous trip and was not able to climb it. This last trip he had installed lockers and got up it relatively easy. Would you guys use crawl in a situation like that?

The 80's on the trip with lockers walked up everything with no issues.

Also not sure how Atrac and Crawl differ in the real world? Seems that crawl is just auto-Atrac? I might be wrong on that though.

 

[ryanCA]

We had Nissan patrols going up and I had two pathfinders a 1990 and a 2001

They were very stout cars

THe current one is very sorry but that is what the craves here in cuv lust land


I don't think the 4 runner being body on frame has much to do with its success

All the ones I see are driven by old Asian women even in trail or TRD pro GUIse

I think the current look (excluding the ugly limited face), resonates with some people

They like the angry face 4 runner and they are willing to put up with harsh ride and thirsty v6 as a result

For a consumer it's good to have choices whether you want a cuv or SUV

Ya... I looked closely at the TRD Pro 4-Runner when I knew my 100 needed to go... But once you go Land Cruiser...nothing will ever quite compare to it in my head....

A lot of the "TRD Pro-ness" of it had to do with the front bumper...which I knew I'd want to replace anyway. The main benefit to the TRD pro is the suspension it comes with. But in the end, it's still a fairly under-powered V-6 engine in need of an update...or V8.



At least Toyota has kept the 4-Runner a truck-based SUV...unlike what a sad thing the Pathfinder has become...

The Pathfinder used to be a legitimate off roader back a few years...but now, it is literally hard to tell if it's a minivan. Sad. Here's the Pathfinder... Ugh!

View attachment 1171410

I think that's why 4-Runner sales have stayed so strong. What else is there that's still a TRUCK any more?

Markupoop

 

[kreiten]

Hey Kreiten, I have a Locker question for u... (or others here)...

My 100 had center and factory rear lockers (99 was the last year US 100's had factory rears, I believe)...and there was no such thing as crawl control at the time.

So... My question is... How much should I care about lockers given the fact that the 200's crawl control is quite effective? On my 100, I felt it was a no-brainer...because no crawl control. But with crawl? Hmmm...

I know...I know... Try stuff and see. The trouble is...it's hard to really compare effectiveness based on my memories of my 100. Some here have both lockers and crawl...and can test the same spot with crawl and with lockers.

Do you have lockers on your 200? Or...others here who do have lockers (+crawl, of course) have any strong opinions about whether you feel you'd be happy WITHOUT lockers given crawl on your 200?

I've always assumed that I'd add lockers to my 200 at some point...but I'm curious what y'all think if you have both.

Any thoughts?

Markuson

I don't have lockers on my 200 series, but have had experience with them in the past... The nice thing about lockers is that you can throw them on and still have full control of the throttle, where as "crawl control" you are at the mercy of the systems throttle(I do reach over and use the knob(1km-5km switch) as I'm going over obstacles if I need more momentum! Lockers are hard to beat for serious off-roading, that being said I do think "crawl control" might be better in certain situations, for one going down steep slick hills it works is a "hill decent"(I've used it down icy/compact snow hills with great success) I've only had rigs in the past with rear lockers, so my front locker experience is limited to watching others, but most people don't throw them on unless they have to do to loss of steering to an extent while engaged(what I've heard, no actually experience with a front locker) With "crawl control" you have full control over steering, in fact you can engage "offroad steering assist" while in "crawl" and cut your turning radius even more! I'm not trying to say "crawl control" is a full replacement for lockers, but I think in most situations for the average guy it works very similar to lockers. When you watch a rig with "crawl control" activated going up a steep hill or over an obstacle or with a wheel in the air you can see how similar it acts to a locker, all wheels spin! At some point I will be throwing a rear locker in my rig, I think having both options is the way to go! Just my 2 cents...

 

[Markuson]

I don't have lockers on my 200 series, but have had experience with them in the past... The nice thing about lockers is that you can throw them on and still have full control of the throttle, where as "crawl control" you are at the mercy of the systems throttle(I do reach over and use the knob(1km-5km switch) as I'm going over obstacles if I need more momentum! Lockers are hard to beat for serious off-roading, that being said I do think "crawl control" might be better in certain situations, for one going down steep slick hills it works is a "hill decent"(I've used it down icy/compact snow hills with great success) I've only had rigs in the past with rear lockers, so my front locker experience is limited to watching others, but most people don't throw them on unless they have to do to loss of steering to an extent while engaged(what I've heard, no actually experience with a front locker) With "crawl control" you have full control over steering, in fact you can engage "offroad steering assist" while in "crawl" and cut your turning radius even more! I'm not trying to say "crawl control" is a full replacement for lockers, but I think in most situations for the average guy it works very similar to lockers. When you watch a rig with "crawl control" activated going up a steep hill or over an obstacle or with a wheel in the air you can see how similar it acts to a locker, all wheels spin! At some point I will be throwing a rear locker in my rig, I think having both options is the way to go! Just my 2 cents...

Doh! Good point. Forgot that you have no throttle control in crawl mode! Like you, my past Cruiser always had lockers, and when I locked the rear in my 100, momentum was often a key factor in getting up and over (or through). Frankly still getting used to the idea of crawl, since it didn't exist in past Cruisers. OK. I want my lockers back...

 

[jclarke450]

I haven't used my Crawl on my 200, but I can say that Atrac on a 100 is nothing like F/R lockers on an 80 Not even comparable and I have done both enough to say it confidently. I am anxious to try my crawl now though.

 

[JDL]

View attachment 1165903

Any suspension mods on that?

 

[kreiten]

I'm rolling the ironman cellfoam pro kit with the toyota spacers up front for a little extra lift!

 

[Jooones]

Ya... I looked closely at the TRD Pro 4-Runner when I knew my 100 needed to go... But once you go Land Cruiser...nothing will ever quite compare to it in my head....

A lot of the "TRD Pro-ness" of it had to do with the front bumper...which I knew I'd want to replace anyway. The main benefit to the TRD pro is the suspension it comes with. But in the end, it's still a fairly under-powered V-6 engine in need of an update...or V8.



At least Toyota has kept the 4-Runner a truck-based SUV...unlike what a sad thing the Pathfinder has become...

The Pathfinder used to be a legitimate off roader back a few years...but now, it is literally hard to tell if it's a minivan. Sad. Here's the Pathfinder... Ugh!

View attachment 1171410

I think that's why 4-Runner sales have stayed so strong. What else is there that's still a TRUCK any more?

Markupoop

Learned about the Pathfinder earlier this month when renting a car in VA. Lady at the desk was like: "Pathfinder," and I'm thinking "All right!" When we got out to the parking lot, I was like: "I thought she said Pathfinder. What's up with this minivan?" Sure enough, a once great truck has been completely emasculated. I will give it credit for having solid acceleration and fuel economy, though.

 

[JDL]

I'm rolling the ironman cellfoam pro kit with the toyota spacers up front for a little extra lift!

Looks great. Does it ride/off road well?

 

[Markuson]

Learned about the Pathfinder earlier this month when renting a car in VA. Lady at the desk was like: "Pathfinder," and I'm thinking "All right!" When we got out to the parking lot, I was like: "I thought she said Pathfinder. What's up with this minivan?" Sure enough, a once great triluck has been completely emasculated. I will give it credit for having solid acceleration and fuel economy, though.

Ha! So true. I had the EXACT same reaction when I saw one on the street. Back when 4Runners were still kind of a new thing...the Pathfinder was truly considered a great over-lander and very capable. That only lasted a couple generations though, as the Pathfinder gave in, and decided to go all minivan. I supposed some would hurl the same accusation at the smooth-bodied Land Cruiser...BUT underneath the curvy body? The 200 is still a beast.

 

[kreiten]

Looks great. Does it ride/off road well?

rides really well offroad and the flex is crazy! When the rig was stock we had issues on washboard roads, almost a "floating sensation" that is now gone with the new suspension! Also handles way better on road!

 

[Canyonero]

To the lockers vs. ATRAC/Crawl Control conversation, I think it's nice to have both. In most wheeling situations I'm ever in, ATRAC/Crawl is plenty, but when you're in the loose stuff and you need momentum and tire-spin, ATRAC and Crawl control kill you. Sometimes you need to know your tires will dig.

Turn the elctronic aids of traction control, ATRAC and Crawl totally off and you don't have all the wheels spinning under your control.

My $.02 after having an FJ with ATRAC and a rear locker, and now a 200 with ATRAC/Crawl Control and an ARB rear locker is that the ATRAC system is nothing short of incredible in all wheeling situations that are NOT mud/snow/sand.

But when you need to know that both rear or both front tires are going to be pulling you equally, there is no substitute for lockers.

I rarely use my rear locker, but it's nice to have that added level of capability for the right situation. I actually needed my rear locker and winch going up Poughkeepsie Gulch's "Wall" in Ouray, and then also in the muddy obstacles that followed.

Just be careful if you get a rear locker not to use the "turn assist" feature at the same time. No one knows what happens if you do that...

 

[Canyonero]

Kreiten--I don't know how you found that many like-minded crazy people willing to wheel their expensive steel out there on the trails! Some nice rigs! I love that Tundra's front light bar, looks clean.