Terrain Management

[Curious Hound]

Hmm. Trail control and terrain management? I thought that was stacking rocks and removing logs.

Could be handy.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Hmm. Trail control and terrain management? I thought that was stacking rocks and removing logs.

Could be handy.

View attachment 57592

You needed Trail Sites!

All of that might have been avoided!

 

[Jim Oaks]

Hmm. Trail control and terrain management? I thought that was stacking rocks and removing logs.

Could be handy.

View attachment 57592

I though Trail Control and Terrain Management were just really long names for your clutch.

 

[Curious Hound]

I though Trail Control and Terrain Management were just really long names for your clutch.

I must have left all the smoke out in Ohio. Because it hasn’t smoked since then.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

Terrain Management:

Advanced technology provides an added measure of control, on or off the road. The Terrain Management System™ (included in the FX4 Off-Road Package) has four selectable drive modes. Choose Normal, Grass, Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, or Sand. The system, shifting on the fly, automatically calibrates engine responsiveness, transmission gearing and vehicle control systems to provide the optimum traction, driveability and performance.

If you’ve ever had the antilock brakes kick in when you start to spin the tires, you know how frustrating that can be. With Terrain Management, the system loosens up the traction control to allow more wheel slip so it doesn’t slow you down.

The Terrain Management is activated by the ‘TM’ button in the center of the 4WD knob. When you push the button, a window will appear in the instrument cluster showing the Terrain Modes. As you push the button, it will scroll through the different Terrain Modes until you find the one you want.

Ford Ranger Trail Control & Terrain Management – The Ranger Station

Did you ever get in any situations in the Loan Ranger that the TM came into play or was necessary? I have a locking rear diff from factory. Was pretty sure that's all I needed.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Did you ever get in any situations in the Loan Ranger that the TM came into play or was necessary? I have a locking rear diff from factory. Was pretty sure that's all I needed.

I used the Terrain Management in snow, mud and Sand. I can't honestly say how much it helped. Ford says that "The system, shifting on the fly, automatically calibrates engine responsiveness, transmission gearing and vehicle control systems to provide the optimum traction, driveability and performance."

If you've ever switched in to Sport Mode, then you know that the truck becomes a different vehicle and suddenly seems to have more power and torque.

Ford Trail Control Engineer Brandon Cameron does a good job explaining the Trail Control and Terrain Management systems to me in this video:

I'm the one behind the wheel that he's talking to in the video.

I had the opportunity to use Trail Control in Oregon. I was coming down off a mountain on a long windy gravel road and set the Trail Control to a speed lower than cruise control works at, and let the truck descend the hill on it's own. If you look at the video below, it will start at the point in the video (11:14) where I'm using it and talking about it. It was a nice feature. As soon as the video starts you can hear the light vibration of the Trail Control activating the brakes.

 

[Robertmangrum.rm]

https://www.ranger5g.com/forum/threads/

terrain-management-upgrade.4901/


Think this maybe useful if you read about halfway through it gives you instructions to enable TM and TC. That is if your not a dumb redneck like me haha

 

[wildbill23c]

Terrain Management:

Advanced technology provides an added measure of control, on or off the road. The Terrain Management System™ (included in the FX4 Off-Road Package) has four selectable drive modes. Choose Normal, Grass, Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, or Sand. The system, shifting on the fly, automatically calibrates engine responsiveness, transmission gearing and vehicle control systems to provide the optimum traction, driveability and performance.

If you’ve ever had the antilock brakes kick in when you start to spin the tires, you know how frustrating that can be. With Terrain Management, the system loosens up the traction control to allow more wheel slip so it doesn’t slow you down.

The Terrain Management is activated by the ‘TM’ button in the center of the 4WD knob. When you push the button, a window will appear in the instrument cluster showing the Terrain Modes. As you push the button, it will scroll through the different Terrain Modes until you find the one you want.

Ford Ranger Trail Control & Terrain Management – The Ranger Station

Honestly why suddenly do automakers seem to think the 4WD system cares what you are driving on? I mean other than trying to drive on dry pavement in a part time 4WD equipped vehicle, why is it after decades of just pulling a lever do automakers suddenly seem to think there's a need for the vehicle to know that you are driving in snow, sand, mud, etc. My 88 Bronco 2 don't care what I'm driving in I just pull a lever and turn 2 knobs LOL. It could care less if its in snow, mud, sand, etc.

Is there really that much need for that stuff in a vehicle that's supposedly "Offroad" capable? What happens if you are in mud, but drive over some rocks? Is the system going to just stop the vehicle and say hey bonehead you can't drive over those rocks because you are in mud mode LOL. Honestly do people actually fall for that type of system where they feel that without it they couldn't drive through the same stuff most of us have been driving through and over for decades in regular 4WD trucks?

Jim, I think you've got the most knowledge given you had that new Ranger and did a lot of offroad cross country type driving, did you use that terrain management system and was it worth it?

 

[sgtsandman]

The system probably does help in some regard as far as engine tune and telling the transmission when to shift. In the end, it's still going to take a driver knowing what they are doing. Some systems will actually hinder proper progress like the traction control system working the brakes and robbing engine power in order to prevent tire slip.

 

[wildbill23c]

The system probably does help in some regard as far as engine tune and telling the transmission when to shift. In the end, it's still going to take a driver knowing what they are doing. Some systems will actually hinder proper progress like the traction control system working the brakes and robbing engine power in order to prevent tire slip.

Does the system start off in 2nd gear in snow mode for example? Something I can do in my Bronco 2, and Explorer by simply selecting 2nd gear. I know a lot of vehicles don't have that capability anymore, wonder if the terrain management system will do that? It helps limit wheel spin in really slippery conditions, don't do it very often in the Bronco 2 as the tires and 4WD get it going pretty easily, but it does help on hills that have gotten packed down to solid ice.

How intrusive is the traction control stuff in these? My 2008 Toyota Tundra was excessively intrusive, to the point I considered it downright dangerous it would just cut all power at the slightest wheel slip, not good when you are trying to pull out into traffic for example. My 2008 Explorer doesn't seem to be that intrusive, its there, and it works, but it allows you to spin the wheels to a point without cutting all your power leaving you dead in the middle of the road. The Explorer so far has been pretty good at managing itself in low traction situations. Pretty impressed with it so far...sadly only had about 10 inches of snow one time this winter so didn't get much play time with it, but just that one storm it was pretty much enough to allow me to see how capable it is, in 4WD auto it did great, so that's all I really needed to know, in regular 4WD high range it handled just as good as any part time 4WD would do...I do plan on replacing the tires though before next winter as they're pretty worn, but they'll be fine through the summer and into fall.

 

[sgtsandman]

I don't know. The girlfriend has been driving the 2019 most of the winter. So, I haven't had much time to experiment. She's supposed to get her P.O.S. fixed this week. The 2019 is costing her too much in fuel and it's too hard to get clients in the truck as opposed to her clown car for Doctor appointments.

 

[JohnnyO]

How intrusive is the traction control stuff in these? My 2008 Toyota Tundra was excessively intrusive, to the point I considered it downright dangerous it would just cut all power at the slightest wheel slip, not good when you are trying to pull out into traffic for example. My 2008 Explorer doesn't seem to be that intrusive, its there, and it works, but it allows you to spin the wheels to a point without cutting all your power leaving you dead in the middle of the road. The Explorer so far has been pretty good at managing itself in low traction situations. Pretty impressed with it so far...sadly only had about 10 inches of snow one time this winter so didn't get much play time with it, but just that one storm it was pretty much enough to allow me to see how capable it is, in 4WD auto it did great, so that's all I really needed to know, in regular 4WD high range it handled just as good as any part time 4WD would do...I do plan on replacing the tires though before next winter as they're pretty worn, but they'll be fine through the summer and into fall.

I had two Rangers and a 1st Gen Sport Trac all with limited-slips, then I got a new 2008 Sport Trac (that I just traded in last week) without L/S and it had traction control. L/S was no longer available. In deeper snow I didn't really care for it because it would cut the power without warning although on a lightly snow-covered slippery road it was okay. I didn't like the way it jerked you around. In deeper snow I would turn off the traction control and lock it in 4-hi although then you have two open diffs and no limited-slip. I assume my new Ranger STX works the same way. An FX4 was over my budget but realistically I don't go off-roading any more, I have 4wd for getting around in snow and wet boat ramps.

 

[wildbill23c]

I had two Rangers and a 1st Gen Sport Trac all with limited-slips, then I got a new 2008 Sport Trac (that I just traded in last week) without L/S and it had traction control. L/S was no longer available. In deeper snow I didn't really care for it because it would cut the power without warning although on a lightly snow-covered slippery road it was okay. I didn't like the way it jerked you around. In deeper snow I would turn off the traction control and lock it in 4-hi although then you have two open diffs and no limited-slip. I assume my new Ranger STX works the same way. An FX4 was over my budget but realistically I don't go off-roading any more, I have 4wd for getting around in snow and wet boat ramps.

My 08 Explorer doesn't seem to cut power, it does if I hammer the throttle in a turn in snow/ice, but normally it doesn't seem to intervene hardly at all compared to my Toyota Tundra which I swear cut power before you even moved LOL. No limited slip in my Explorer either....had it in my 98 Grand Cherokee, it would get you sideways quite often LOL.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

My 08 Explorer doesn't seem to cut power, it does if I hammer the throttle in a turn in snow/ice, but normally it doesn't seem to intervene hardly at all compared to my Toyota Tundra which I swear cut power before you even moved LOL. No limited slip in my Explorer either....had it in my 98 Grand Cherokee, it would get you sideways quite often LOL.

My wife's '08 Edge is very happy to pull power and all around be a PITA until you push the magic button.

 

[wildbill23c]

My wife's '08 Edge is very happy to pull power and all around be a PITA until you push the magic button.

Would the system be calibrated different with a V8 since my Explorer has the V8, I'm wondering if possibly the system is calibrated to be less intrusive...who knows, I just know I like it much better than my 2008 Tundra just killing everything at the slightest bit of wheel spin.