Trail control…am I doing it wrong??

[skytrucker]

Been exploring the mountains of Colorado this summer, forest service roads etc…nothing too rugged. I was coming down a steep shelf road downhill, rough rocky gravel, and decided it would be worth trying the Trail control out…after a few miles (only) at about 10 mph, I realized the TC must be dragging the brakes alone to regulate the speed, as I smelled the hot brakes, and came to stop and pulled off (on gravel, stage 2 fire restrictions prohibit parking hot vehicles in vegetation of any kind) each of the 4 wheels was almost too hot to touch, and seriously smelled of hot brakes.
took a bit of hike to the let the truck cool and then rolled on -this time in 4L and low manual gears to regulate downhill speed….much more better….and much more what I’m used to in older, less digital-controlled off-roaders…

so, is this the use case for trail control? Or is it purely for rock crawling at -15,20mph on more or less level grades?

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[Lion77]

I was under the impression that trail control relied on engine braking and brakes. I'm sure if its a steep enough grade, it will start using the brakes, but when I drive in the mountains in PA on some of the steep hills or going to KY getting into the Appalachians, my RR would use engine braking (down-shift). I was at highway speeds, and never noticed any "hot brake smell".

But I haven't used trail control off-road enough to really heat up the brakes if its using them.

 

[ShadowDragon24]

does say you may hear the abs engage. so it is dragging. trail turn assist actively uses abs to skid the inside tires in 4 low and maybe 4high to help turn. idk if the hill descent would work a bit better.

 

[stemplar]

I don’t interpret what the manual says as indicating that it’s dragging the brakes, but that brakes may be automatically applied as necessary and in turn, the abs may be activated.

it sounds like if the OP was in 4h on that long, steep downhill then engine braking wasn’t enough to keep the vehicle at the set speed so the brakes were used. IF that’s the case, maybe 4l would have helped.

 

[jensht]

Yes, trail control uses the brakes to regulate speed. I prefer 4LO and low gears if I need to really go slow. To be honest, I haven't really found a use case where I felt more comfortable with it versus just using 4LO. But I suppose it also depends on the experience level of the driver
I can see it helpful for someone that is just getting into four wheeling and giving them a bit more confidence on more technical obstacles.

 

[CaptAngry]

As was stated, Trail Control uses brakes. If you are going <10mph consistently down hill, you should 100% put the truck in 4LO to save the brakes and use the mechanical resistance of the drivetrain to allow the maintaining of speed.

It is one of the things I miss about my old manual transmission Tacoma... I could put that truck in 4LO and put it in either 1st or 2nd depending on grade and it would just hold speed. No brakes needed. These automatic slush boxes just don't have the same offroad goodness

 

[chasc]

These automatic slush boxes just don't have the same offroad goodness

I’m not sure I follow what you’re saying it can’t do. Just a couple weeks ago I used the manual control or high-gear lockout to force the automatic into 3rd gear so I barely had to use the brakes coming down Pikes Peak in 2HI. Is there some condition where it doesn’t allow you to manually lock to your preferred gear?

 

[superj]

Dang, it held on pike's peak? That's pretty dang good

 

[CaptAngry]

These electronic, computer controlled transmissions do what they want. "Manual" mode or not. I have never had one work as well as a manual

 

[Justchillin]

It is my understanding that trail control is only for level and uphill driving and at very low speeds.
If you were going downhill, you should have been using downhill assist or as you mentioned, 4 lo and driver controlled.

 

[stemplar]

As was stated, Trail Control uses brakes. If you are going <10mph consistently down hill, you should 100% put the truck in 4LO to save the brakes and use the mechanical resistance of the drivetrain to allow the maintaining of speed.

It is one of the things I miss about my old manual transmission Tacoma... I could put that truck in 4LO and put it in either 1st or 2nd depending on grade and it would just hold speed. No brakes needed. These automatic slush boxes just don't have the same offroad goodness

Yes they do, and more. As indicated in the comment immediately following yours you can use manual mode or lockout gears you don’t want to use, like 3-10 and let the transmission keep you where you can apply power or torque instantly rather than shifting gears and losing momentum or whatever.

 

[CaptAngry]

Unless the 10r60 is fully locking the torque converter and keeping it in that gear... then it isn't like a manual where the geartrain is linked mechanically from engine-to-axle. The computer is doing "things" to stop engine lugging and stall (in this case... engine braking).

It sure doesn't seem like it, but I also haven't had the chance to really offroad this RR yet. My old Canyon was pretty dismal in that regard. Keeping it at very slow speeds helps (like 2mph) but these modern vehicles WILL use the brakes.

 

[CaptAngry]

Oh, and back to Trail Control. It is designed like off-road cruise control, so it is designed for uphill AND downhill speed control. But in that downhill scenario, it will absolutely use brakes. Sometimes excessively to keep the slow speeds. Hence 4LO to help the system out.

 

[skytrucker]

Thanks for the replies - most are correct, the Trail control 100% uses the brakes to control downhill speed, which is likely better managed for long periods with 4LO and manual low gear selection. For level or ups and downs the trail control works great - as mentioned. Like slow speed cruise control, and helps with the foot bounce on the throttle I. Rough conditions making the ride more comfortable….
I don’t know (don’t think) my FX4 Lariat has decent control)

And as stated, totally miss my 98 manual wrangler for such operations, but the ranger does well, just need to try out all these spaceship computer functions and get used to when and how to make best use of them…
today it was the muddy creek road in Grand county, beautiful scenery, and dry (like the whole state lately) but also 4LO on the steep extended downhills proved the best use….

 

[chasc]

Unless the 10r60 is fully locking the torque converter and keeping it in that gear... then it isn't like a manual where the geartrain is linked mechanically from engine-to-axle.

I don't doubt that. But if you gave up on even trying the manual settings in the past it might be worth trying them again. I can't vouch for it being great in all conditions, but at least in the few I've found myself in it did exactly what I expected/wanted.

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