Another ATRAC vs Rear Locker video

This video ought to spur some comments and debate. I seldom get into off camber situations so I haven’t needed ATRAC yet.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JEBcA2heq_s&pp=ygUQQXRyYWMgZGVtbyBqYXBhbg==

 

The elevator music put me to sleep three minutes into the video.

I haven't had a chance to use ATRAC enough to form an opinion, all I can say is the one time I tried using ATRAC it didn't work for the given situation. Rear locker alone worked perfectly and without hesitation. Either will likely have their strengths for specific situations. Having both options is the best of both worlds.

 

I thought there would be more usable information. The history section was informative. I don't think the rest of it added anything (or even rose to the level) of the other videos out there. It was also too slow and too repetitive.

 

Subjective opinions..........

Could agree if he'd simply added "in given situations". My experience, ATRAC has its place more often than locker........but locker does have its place which ATRAC can't duplicate.

Regardless, you do you, be safe, have fun.

 

I agree, it seemed very biased, borderline propaganda. Sure it’s a great system, but as others stated, having an actual locker has advantages too.

 

Guy sounds like an airline pilot in a jazz bar smh.

 

I watched this one a while back. I couldn’t seem to look away. Half an hour of the same thing being repeated in slightly different ways. Weird combination of “facts” and “myths” that weren’t quite right. Also a lot of confused comparisons of things that aren’t comparable. And pitting a-trac against lockers isn’t really helpful, because they don’t actually do the same thing.

I mean, you can say one is better than the other as a way to rib each other in a joking manner. But it’s weird to devote half an hour to simply saying a-trac is better, using slightly different phrases. Then again, I watched the video, all of it. That might be weirder lol

 

It's sort of like a junior high kid who was assigned a three page essay, but he could only think of one paragraph, so he just used 20 different versions of it to fill the space.

 

Haha yeah, that pretty much nailed it.

 

I agree, I probably shouldn’t have posted it. The more I thought about it, I realized that it was more of a propaganda film. I guess I was enamored with the ATRAC rave.

 

I didn't watch the video but have watched many others like it. ATRAC is actually a pretty smart use of components that are already on the vehicle, such as the ABS system, which ATRAC relies on. Think of it like traction control for all 4 wheels. To a limited degree, it can simulate having a locker for each wheel.

If basic trails with a few off camber parts is all that your doing, ATRAC can handle those without to much fuss. It cannot handle the more extreme terrain, especially where 100% lockup of the differential(s) is more effective. As others have already said, both options have there place. Based on my personal experience using both systems, hands down I would get more use out of a locker everyday. But I tend to go toward the more extreme stuff.

Case in point, my 4th gen didn't come stock with a front or rear locker and only had ATRAC that's on all full time. There are many trails I have been on where ATRAC is not enough to overcome the obstacle, especially when traversing up a steep hill full of loose shale type rock. Momentum was the only way. Now I have a front and rear air locker and its a game changer, making the previous obstacles much safer and easier to traverse. In fact, I can practically crawl up these obstacles.

 

Twin locked > ATRAC

ATRAC is a fantastic system and I use it all the time. But, a front locker is better for slow wheeling where maintaining traction is critical. ATRAC essentially relies on wheel spin.

You can see where a front locker would have been useful here. Minimizing wheel slip would have been ideal.
ATRAC still did the job, but there was more wheel slip than I would have liked. Could have gotten me in trouble.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGPv9OujTlA

 

I watched parts of the video and have to disagree with the GX460 Off-Road channel. If ATRAC was superior to a locker, than why is a rear locker usually also equipped on many of the Toyota/Lexus platforms that are built with Off-roading in mind?

Again, I think ATRAC is an attractive feature, but it won't fully replace a mechanical looker.

Try doing the same in a loose rock or muddy terrain and see how far ATRAC will get you.

 

To be fair there are still situations where I would prefer ATRAC over lockers.

Here, I used ATRAC because it was a very loose surface with a very tight turn at the top. Instead of getting to the top and trying to turn the rear locker off (and waiting for it to disengage) I just used ATRAC. This meant less time fiddling with switches, allowing me to focus on the line.

ATRAC did it's job perfectly well here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl1-FZUhSA0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDUp6VBrhEk

 

To be clear, I am not against ATRAC. There are many cases where it's a very nice feature. I in fact prefer to have it as an option.

ATRAC is also nice to have when you have the factory e-lockers, which are not always easy to engage when the vehicle is not level. This was one of many reasons why I elected to go with air lockers as I can engage them with or without stopping (wheels still need to be spinning at same speeds) and regardless of the mess I get myself into.

That being said, I agree with you, 1SilverRunner, in that turning with lockers engaged can be challenging, especially front lockers and that is one area where ATRAC is more effective.

 

What trails are you on in the videos? What area?

 

Palo Duro Canyon, Texas. Merus Adventure Park.
The trail was called Starlight. A black trail they normally don't recommend for IFS vehicles.

 

ATRAC is dope. It's good medicine in situations where risk of body damage is low due to a slip up, and you can drive with a reactive system successfully. If you need a proactive system because you can't afford a loss of momentum or drive traction, that's where it shows it's a bit short of the mark, but most people don't actually end up doing that kind of wheeling and those that have done it know where that line is. I like ATRAC, see little sense in disabling it, and even when I'm twin locked I'll try to retain it, because I've yet to see anyone convincingly argue it held them back. Just an extra tool on hand, and one that basically every Toyota 4x4 gets at this point which is nice.