[FJSteveH]

Hi All. I've been reading this forum for a few weeks and it has been very helpful in guiding me toward my decision about purchasing an FJ. I will buy one new w/in the next couple of days.

First, my situation: I currently live in Florida, but will be moving to Denver in October. I am not a hardcore off-roader, but I will use the FJ to access trails for camping & fishing.

My question: how necessary is ATRAC for my application? The FJ I am looking at is 4WD, auto, w/ locking rear diff and, of course, it has TRAC.

I understand that the ATRAC switch can be installed later to enable the system, but is ATRAC really useful?

Thanks

 

[RoverGGM]

ATRAC is a wonderful tool to use if you ever find yourself in the situation where it is needed most. It allows you to just drive over things you couldn't without a lot more skill if it weren't available to you.

In particular, sideslopes and climbs involving turning in the middle or the wheel lifted scenario (which happens frequently because of the vehicle's less than stellar axle articulation) can be quite fun with ATRAC.

Get the switch, it's definitely worth it and a "signature" feature that enhances the vehicle's capability tremendously.

 

[CaliChaos]

buy the auto with the rear locker, but skip the dealer installed ATRAC.

buy a switch from a support vendor for $50 or so and save yourself $$$.


is ATRAC useful? Yes.

 

[martyr]

buy the auto with the rear locker, but skip the dealer installed ATRAC.

buy a switch from a support vendor for $50 or so and save yourself $$$.


is ATRAC useful? Yes.

X2, that's what I did...

 

[FJSteveH]

Thanks All. Any idea if it effects the warranty if I install ATRAC switch on my own?

 

[nineeight9898]

Not at all...its a genuine toyota part. you just plug it into the pre-existing wiring. Its as easy as plugging in a vacuum. will take you not even 20 seconds start to finish.

 

[nlk125]

As for USEFULNESS of ATRAC, I'd like to add that even while activated it sits there unobtrusively monitoring things UNTILL it is needed. It doesn't affect steering, or power delivery, and can be easily turned off if it's causing a hinderance and is not needed. I find it a great tool for even Mild (no wheels in the AIR) trails when conditions are very slippery, like SNOW/ICE, wet Grass/leaves etc. There have been a few occations, while climbing twisty slippery hills where ATRAC has been there to help out and allowed me to make a moderately challenging climb look EASY while others, with capable, but non-locked, non-electronic'd trucks have to pay close attention, and work a lot harder... Basically it's a great little "get out of jail free card" that can be played anytime you want to. Especially when youre right on the threshold of spinning a wheel, losing momentum and stopping your ascent, or worse, sliding backwards down a slippery hill.

 

[The Stig]

Atrac is great.
I've been wondering if Atrac is better in some situations(icy, slippy) than even being fully locked?

 

[JAXTOY]

Atrac is great.
I've been wondering if Atrac is better in some situations(icy, slippy) than even being fully locked?

Actually I use it extensively while wheelin' in Moab, it doesn't "bind" or "push" in high traction situations. I find the people that are fully locked have less manuverability than me, yet I am able to climb everything they can.

 

[The Stig]

I want to see someone with a front locker go up an obstacle first with lockers, then just atrac.

 

[DrSolar]

Atrac is great.
I've been wondering if Atrac is better in some situations(icy, slippy) than even being fully locked?

In some cases yes. Lockers can hamper your ability to steer the vehicle in tight places and it adds a lot of stress to the drive line. ATRAC does not, but with a locker you are not steeling power from one wheel, all wheels have power all the time with a locker thus a fully locked rig is a real 4x4 with all 4 tires spinning.

I use my ATRAC only 90% of the time and the locker only comes on for short spurts and then I turn it off to avoid possibly breakage. Problem is with the IFS front end, the locker is often needed when tires lift off the ground.

As for Ice and lockers, lockers will do crap on ice, maybe make it worse. ATRAC might do you some good...maybe. Best thing for ice are tire chains or tire spikes, 4WD on ice is just having four tires spinning rather than two.

 

[ballkillerxxx]

i have it just havent had the chance to use it yet

 

[The Stig]

In some cases yes. Lockers can hamper your ability to steer the vehicle in tight places and it adds a lot of stress to the drive line. ATRAC does not, but with a locker you are not steeling power from one wheel, all wheels have power all the time with a locker thus a fully locked rig is a real 4x4 with all 4 tires spinning.

I use my ATRAC only 90% of the time and the locker only comes on for short spurts and then I turn it off to avoid possibly breakage. Problem is with the IFS front end, the locker is often needed when tires lift off the ground.

As for Ice and lockers, lockers will do crap on ice, maybe make it worse. ATRAC might do you some good...maybe. Best thing for ice are tire chains or tire spikes, 4WD on ice is just having four tires spinning rather than two.

Ya thats the other advantage to atrac less broken diffs.
So is it the loss of power that means a front locker is better than atrac in hard spots? So on real smooth slippy rocks would atrac be better than lockers, like it is on ice?

 

[nlk125]

Ya thats the other advantage to atrac less broken diffs.
So is it the loss of power that means a front locker is better than atrac in hard spots? So on real smooth slippy rocks would atrac be better than lockers, like it is on ice?

Basically think of ATRAC as traction control for LOW RANGE. Some situations need wheel spin, and in others you want NO SPIN. If you're in a situation where traction is marginal, and wheel spin is not desired, turn on ATRAC (or, just leave it on all the time, and turn it off when you DON'T need it). However in sand, mud or similar, you sometimes need wheelspin for floatation/tread clearing, whatever. So if you couldn't turn the traction control off to allow the wheels to spin you'd be pooched. HENCE Switchable ATRAC. The only difference between Traction control (trac) and ATRAC as I understand it, is that Traction control will apply brake to the slipping wheel, AND reduce engine power. Atrac will NOT reduce engine power. There are MANY MANY thread covering ATRAC... Try searching for more thorough discussions on the topic.

Cheers!

 

[The Stig]

Ya I know traction control pretty well. I was just wondering how good it is on the rocks, or why a front locker is better(what specific sort of situation is a locker better).
Of course it's just like any traction control except that it doesn't reduce throttle... I didn't know about that...

 

[DrSolar]

Ya I know traction control pretty well. I was just wondering how good it is on the rocks, or why a front locker is better(what specific sort of situation is a locker better).
Of course it's just like any traction control except that it doesn't reduce throttle... I didn't know about that...

The easy answer...Yes and No
Do you want both tires spinning with a 50/50 split of power in the front or do you want one tire spinning faster than the other, thus getting more traction on one side as opposed to equal on both. If one front tire is in the air ATRAC should do fine by trying to lock up the tire in the air so the tire on the ground gets traction. If both tires are on the ground and traction is poor, the locker would do better.

A locker makes the vehicle a true 4x4. Without a locker only ONE tire spins on the back and ONE on the front (i.e. gets full power). As the powered wheel slips the power is transfered by the diff to the other tire. With a locked diff both tires spin with full power at all times which equals lots of traction. This can be good and bad at the same time.

ATRAC has to slow one tire to power the other, it fools the diff into thinking that one tire is slipping more than it really is. ATRAC is an old trick used by setting the hand brake with a Posi in the rear that would make it like a mini-locker (a very poor one), same concept new package. I used to do this in my XJ and drove over everything basically with open diffs.

With ATRAC on and the rear locked you should have no issues crawling over anything with exception to very extreme stuff. Rely on your skill over the hardware and you will be better off. The real question is how do you navigate over something that is slippery without the aid of a traction device when you need one.

Did that answer it or am I way off?

 

[DEWFPO]

Atrac is great.
I've been wondering if Atrac is better in some situations(icy, slippy) than even being fully locked?

If you are on any kind of sideways slope (camber), the ATRAC will be better on icy, slippery surfaces than a locker. If both wheels per axle spin and you have very little to no traction, then gravity is going to take you down slope (not necessarily the direction you want to go). The benefit in these conditions of having one wheel per axle not spin, is that it will try to keep you from sliding sideways. You may not move forward(or backward), but you rig should stay on track in most cases.

DEWFPO

 

[Biatch76]

I am locked front and rear and of course have the ATRAC. I have used both extensively and of course...it really depends on the situation on which is better. If you are trying to turn mid obstacle, ATRAC is very useful but I'd never trade having the option of being fully locked front and rear .

 

[FJSteveH]

Thanks everyone for all of the info. I took the advice and bought an FJ today (pick-up on Saturday): 4WD, auto, rear lock diff. Per everyone's input, I did not buy the $2600 upgrade package just to get ATRAC. I'll wait until I move to Colorado in October to get the ATRAC switch because I probably will not run into many icy roads here in Florida between then and now!

 

[frankv64]

Congrats on your new toy