Terrain Response & ATSes explained - Part 1

#terrainresponse
Land Rover's Terrain Response has been around since the Discovery 3 of 2005, and constantly evolved since then. Most other 4x4 makers have copied the idea of using electronics to reconfigure the vehicle to a specific terrain such as Jeep with Selec-Terrain and Toyota with Multi-Terrain Select, but how do these systems work, and how effective are they? And, how do you as a driver work with them?
More info: l2sfbc.com/ats/
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[@L2SFBC]

More detail on various ATSes: l2sfbc.com/ats/

[@apostolis2939]

One of the beauties of the systems on older range rovers (late classics, p38s and early l322s), quadra drive jeeps (wj, wk, commanders) was that you had all of their capaility all of the time (apart from low range of course), so the only thing you had to do to go off road was turn the wheel and venture off road. As a car guy I of course love messing around with levers lockers and switches but there is something elegant about that approach especailly on the jeeps that there is no air suspension either and even more on the wj grand cherokee that it's a fully mechanical system that offers partial locking capability on all 3 diffs.

[@fenflyer]

Old P38 run rings around l322 or l405 TDV8 in deep muddy field........ In my experience, my l322 and late l405 with all terrain response set for mud ( general grabber ATs 19") get stuck in deep muddy fields when towing - many times got the old P38 to tow them out (BFG ATs 16") using 12 ton kinetic snatch rope 🙃

[@glenwillson5073]

2006 manual Hilux diesel - High range or Low range - heaven!

[@KarlGreaves]

Good evening Robert, you may have already covered this, but have you ever done a video testing the load capabilities of wheels and tyres? And possibly the different combinations of sizes for each? For example, a 16inch wheel with more sidewall compared to an 18inch with less. As always, keep up the great work, this research and testing is really informative and eye opening. Thank you

[@L2SFBC]

I've covered Wide vs Narrow tyres, and low profile vs high profile. High profile tyres tend to have greater load carrying capacity than low profiles.

[@KarlGreaves]

@@L2SFBC Thank you Robert

[@nealesmith1873]

This is great information! I really like knowing about these systems, even though my vehicle is from 1995 and much more primitive!

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nicknick7052]

Nice representation. So many modes, I got headache 😄. My car has just a lever low/high speed and a rotary knob for front/rear differential locks, that's all.

[@cameronwood1994]

Our Discovery 3 engages HDC in sand mode when low range is selected (and re-engages every time you select an off-road program, regardless of your previous setting - very annoying). The throttle in sand mode is very aggressive too, so I'd imagine the tapered throttle was bought in on later vehicles because it's very easy to spin the wheels in sand mode! Rock crawl defaults to first gear and only changes out of first when absolutely necessary. Also, on grass/gravel/snow, it starts off in third gear in low range and second gear in high. It is a very early 2006MY (actually October 2005 build) though, so I'd imagine it's got a lot more clever since then.

[@L2SFBC]

hmm don't recall that on my '08 D3! As for gears; the D3 could allow you to move off in third low and even third high. That was changed in the D4 in 2nd low and 2nd high. Also, the D3 allowed range changes hi/low on the move. Land Rover got rid of that in D4 because nanny state.

[@cameronwood1994]

@@L2SFBC 2013MY is when they stopped high to low on the move, but you could still do low to high.

[@AndrewMcDonald]

Super helpful. And to your point, testing out personal vehicles in a controlled environment helps understand how the modes work. I had no idea what Toyotas MTS did until I just went out and tried it over and over again.

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@jerrymyahzcat]

Toyotas MTS is a bit average really. Nothing like the OG Terrain Response (or the newer TR2).

[@inevahdie]

Been waiting for this vid. Thx!

[@L2SFBC]

Hope you enjoyed it!

[@jerrymyahzcat]

Grass/Gravel/Snow will also cut the power if too much wheel spin occurs so if you want spin you need to turn off DSC or change to Mud/Ruts. Some Land Rovers also have ATPC and Rock Crawl mode even when they don’t have lockers or low range. So just to clarify Rock Crawl doesn’t require low range (Evoque and Discovery Sport). Also Low Traction Launch is great for sand extraction.

[@nicholasmoore2289]

Evoque and Discovery Sport do not have Rock Crawl. The latter version has ATPC (All Terrain Progress Control) which is a very different system. So to clarify, Rock Crawl is only available in JLR products with a Low range gearbox. Some Range Rover Sports and Discovery's are High range only

[@jo5778]

Fantastic video and very useful info. What mode do you suggest using in water crossing? Usually its small rocks/ gravel underneath- hence do you go with mud ruts? thank you

[@L2SFBC]

Not a slippery mode as it shifts up too quick and reduces power. A rough mode is best.

[@paulbarry1044]

The Land Rover system differs from some or maybe all,as it does not have a manually controlled center diff lock,which can be a downfall in some cases.Sure one can use "rock crawl",and hope it is electrically activated,but is it at all times?

[@L2SFBC]

We are going to get into CTR. I can say the CTR system does NOT manually lock the centre diff, actually clutch. All it does is hint to the computer you'd like it locked. Here is a preview. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5raZZh-pK55nNE

[@markelliott6105]

Great video, again. Ultimately, these systems need wheel spin to make decisions then use brakes to stop it and cut engine power to limit overload. Those would normally be the enemy of forward progress. Black magic indeed.🫣

[@L2SFBC]

Yes, but very minimal wheelspin these days!

[@MegaAnufriev]

Useful video. I guess AI driven selection of the most appropriate terrain is not far away.

[@sodbury6426]

Land Rover have been using it for a few years now

[@MegaAnufriev]

@@sodbury6426 you're right. Terrain response 2

[@L2SFBC]

Auto mode isn't AI, it's automatic. AI means the system can learn new things and do things it was not specifically programmed to do. TR Auto Mode is simple reactive programming, it's not AI.

[@nirfz]

Got a bit confused with the rough and slippery about ice part: I would think you could encounter icy parts offroad that are basically like a field of rocks that got frozen over. Which if rocks are rough that would be too if i understand it correctly. But you said icy can't be rough: So does rough then mean "hard uneven surface with *a lot of traction* for any wheel that has contact?"

[@L2SFBC]

It's generalisations; like I said you can get dusty/wet rocks, well that could be icy too. But generally, rough rocks are not slippery like sheet ice. It is also possible to get ice that isn't very slippery and so on, and sand that is not soft etc etc. Main thing is to get into the mindset of thinking what the terrain actually is, not what it typically is.

[@nirfz]

@@L2SFBC Thanks

[@lighthunt]

It would be more easy to think soft/slipery/rough of the modes would actually be called that way. I found the names of modes quite confusing. BTW, there is no Rock mode in new Ford Ranger, what is the closest mode to Rock?

[@L2SFBC]

Soft/slippery/rough has two problems; first, it requires people to think, needing them to look at sand and know "that's soft". Second, it's not as sexy as saying "sand mode" in marketing. Mud/Ruts is closest. l2sfbc.com/ats/