Centre Diff Lock in Sand

[meatman61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close meatman61]

I have searhed for for this , so please point me there if i missed it.
I have studied the Toyoto book on correct use of the centre diff lock in sand , and are confused.
We have a GXL (with traction control). Before negotiating a steap sand hill, what is the best way to use the middle diff lock.
Planning to cross the Simpson soon .
Thanks, Trev

[Guest Close Guest]

I'd have it turned on if soft sand. Hate my traction control in sand. Bogs me more often than not.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Centre diff lock in and traction controll off for sand.

Cheers Andrew

[meatman61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close meatman61]

Thankyou, thats simple enough :-)

[Corigator Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Corigator]

Agree with that - Particularly for the Simpson.

[BlakMoth Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close BlakMoth]

I was told that if you can move the ground with your foot then lock the centre diff.

[mybo Member Find all posts View Profile Close mybo]

Can you turn the traction control off in the 150? I have a 120 with traction control, but it is always on.
If you do get bogged, and you find just your two diagonally opposite wheels spinning, then sometimes it can be worth trying the traction control to drive out (it delivers drive to the other wheels), but be careful not to overheat your breaks if you are really stuck.. Traction control uses the ABS system, and if it works hard for too long, your brakes will start smoking.. Found this out for myself..

[120D4D Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close 120D4D]

mybo - you should be able to hold your CDL button on for a few seconds and this will disable the traction control.
I believe that your CDL light on the dash flashes to confirm?

[ko7624 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ko7624]

Just beware whether your in high or low range when choosing to turn traction control on or off.

My understanding is that 'regular' traction control is only in use in high range and yes it can bog you down by dropping power and thus losing momentum in sand. However, when you're in low range the active traction control (A-Trac) kicks in which employs actively braking a spinning wheel rather than cutting engine power which will reduce your chances of digging yourself into a sandy hole. So for me (150 manual D4D) I prefer low range, centre diff lock ON, A-Trac ON, VSC OFF for sand driving....... plus a set of recovery boards on the roof!

Ken

[mybo Member Find all posts View Profile Close mybo]

I'll have to check that out 120D4D.. I just had a quick look at the toyota manual and couldn't see any mention of disabling the traction control (actually Active Traction Control, as Ken mentions). Anyway, the way I have dealt with soft sand up until now is as Ken says, low range, centre diff locked, traction control on, VSC off.

[LeighW Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close LeighW]

I tried holding the center diff look button on my 120, doesn't do
anything, and yes turning on the center diff lock turns off VSC.

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Centre Diff Lock in Sand

In the 150 in H4 regardless of centre diff, the TRC and VSC is on by default.

In L4 regardless do centre diff, the VSC turns off and the TRC changes to A-Trac mode which ignore the throttle and just brakes a spinning wheel.

In H4 you can turn TRC on/off with the button near your left knee, or turn both TRC and VSC. Off.

The difference between, centre diff open or locked isn't as big as you might think, the centre torsen is limited slip naturally. On sand this is better than locked because you can turn tighter and maintain more momentum when rounding curves when going through cuttings.

If in soft and slow driving, lock it, or be prepared to.

With sand, and with tyres at 18psi the TRC and VSC shouldn't engage, if it is your either in soft slow conditions or your tyres are too hard. Beach driving isn't slippery, just sometimes soft. The VSC and TRC doesn't engage on wet roads unless you do something wrong, so the same principle applies here.

If in doubt turn it all off and lock her up.

[meatman61 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close meatman61]

Thanks for the replies, will go the low range option first, if that doesnt do what i think it should, will have plenty of dunes to try other variants, Trev

[Symo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Symo]

Thanks for the replies, will go the low range option first, if that doesnt do what i think it should, will have plenty of dunes to try other variants, Trev

Umm, prob not, L4 has no business on sand, you want LESS torque and more speed,, you'll work it out though so don't over think it.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I drove most of the way across the Simpson in L1 and L2! Low range is often not the best in sand, but it certainly is useful in certain conditions.

Cheers Andrew