Proper use of GX550 OT 4x4 modes and lockers (1 Viewer)

[rangertrace]

We're headed to Moab in a couple weeks with another couple who have a place in Durango. They have a rock crawler Bronco and we plan to do 3 days of trails with them. Anybody have a link to a video with in depth instruction on how/when to use the tools Lexus gave us on the 550? I searched Youtube without much success.

Thanks,
Trace

 

[deadlikeme]

I have been in the same place as you when I got my OT. I did not find anything specific for the GX, but found Ronny Dahl as a good introduction to using lockers and 4Lo. And Driving Sports TV for a good overview of the MTS, DAC and Crawl Control on their reviews of the GX and the LC250. My basic cliff notes are: 1) air down 2) use the trail cameras (they are excellent for a novice) 3) use 4LO (and go slow) 4) use crawl control. I never felt out of control. The car handles so so much of off-roading, it might be boring for someone more experienced with these tools turned on.

 

[Bluegill]

This is a very good video - short and to the point - even though his steering wheel is on the wrong side of the vehicle!

YouTube · L2SFBC - Robert Pepper - auto journo · Feb 22, 2025

I'll admit that I've barely played with the Multi-Terrain-Select (MTS) feature on the GX550. I haven't even tried the DAC/CRAWL yet.

I didn't even realize (until watching this video) that MTS applied to high range as well as low range driving. There are MTS modes for high range driving with settings for Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, and Deep Snow. Like the guy in the video says, you really don't need the MTS in high range because the GX550 is so good at doing things automatically.

I'm more of the old school approach where I just drive along off road in high range as if I'm driving to the grocery store and then, if I find the truck struggling in a climb or low-traction dirt, sand, mud, etc., I'll start to think of changing some settings, usually shifting into low range to get up & over an obstacle.

One thing I don't like to do is drive off road forever in low range. You'll find that a lot of people will stay in low for miles and hours at a time. This can get annoying, especially if you're in a group. There may be a big obstacle that you have to crawl over in low range and then there will be a half mile of level or easy ground...no reason to crawl along at 6 mph in low with the engine screaming. That's just my opinion, others will teach you to keep it in low all the time but all it takes is the push of a button to chill the truck out. Then slap the auto stick to manual mode and keep it in 2nd or 3rd so it doesn't start to run out too fast and you don't have to ride the brakes.

As mentioned in the video, the GX550 lets you, the driver, have a lot of control over what the truck is doing. This is one reason I like this truck - it has a lot of cool modern electronics but also a bit of an old school approach, rather than a big dummy button that says "push when off road and don't even think about what's happening mechanically with the truck."

I always lock the center differential when I'm in low range. The GX550 doesn't automatically lock it when you shift to low (again, the driver gets to choose) but I go ahead an push the button. If I'm lumbering along in low range I'm there for a reason and I want the front & rear axles pulling their weight (OK, IFS front I know but humor me). The only reason I'd unlock the center diff while in low in previous trucks is if I'm on high-traction slick rock (like Moab) and have to do some tight turns. Same goes for engaging/unengaging the rear locker. BUT....I think that both the center and rear locker in these GX550s are "smart" and not full-time mechanically locked. They are obviously electronically actuated (with a button as opposed to gear knob and linkage) but I think that they automatically engage & disengage when appropriate. This is something that I am not 100% entirely sure of, someone please chime in if you know for sure. If this is true, then no need to worry about turning the center diff lock or rear diff lock off & on to avoid binding.

Speaking of the rear locker, the video is right when he says that it's really not needed. On Moab slick rock trails, switch to low range and Rock MTS setting, lock the center diff, and enjoy the ride. Shift back to high range when low isn't needed. If you're really struggling, then hit the rear locker. Note that the center diff lock has to be on for the rear locker to engage.

The best advice is to not get overly obsessed with the buttons and settings. People will get to the top of a big uphill or downhill rocky obstacle and panic that they are not pushing the right buttons. When in doubt, be in low range, and hit the DAC/CRAWL button and forget about it. Don't spend all your time staring at buttons and forget to enjoy the scenery.

Oh, one more thing...the cameras while you're in low range are awesome. They are worth playing with - you can really place your wheels strategically and avoid body damage. On one of my first off road trips with this truck, my buddy and I put the windshield sun shade up and crawled on rocks for about a half hour. A few jeeps came the other way and they were like, "What in the hell are you guys doing?" I just drove around them with the sun shade up and waved at them through the closed, tinted windows.

 

[swarnerus]

This is a very good video - short and to the point - even though his steering wheel is on the wrong side of the vehicle!

YouTube · L2SFBC - Robert Pepper - auto journo · Feb 22, 2025

I'll admit that I've barely played with the Multi-Terrain-Select (MTS) feature on the GX550. I haven't even tried the DAC/CRAWL yet.

I didn't even realize (until watching this video) that MTS applied to high range as well as low range driving. There are MTS modes for high range driving with settings for Auto, Dirt, Sand, Mud, and Deep Snow. Like the guy in the video says, you really don't need the MTS in high range because the GX550 is so good at doing things automatically.

I'm more of the old school approach where I just drive along off road in high range as if I'm driving to the grocery store and then, if I find the truck struggling in a climb or low-traction dirt, sand, mud, etc., I'll start to think of changing some settings, usually shifting into low range to get up & over an obstacle.

One thing I don't like to do is drive off road forever in low range. You'll find that a lot of people will stay in low for miles and hours at a time. This can get annoying, especially if you're in a group. There may be a big obstacle that you have to crawl over in low range and then there will be a half mile of level or easy ground...no reason to crawl along at 6 mph in low with the engine screaming. That's just my opinion, others will teach you to keep it in low all the time but all it takes is the push of a button to chill the truck out. Then slap the auto stick to manual mode and keep it in 2nd or 3rd so it doesn't start to run out too fast and you don't have to ride the brakes.

As mentioned in the video, the GX550 lets you, the driver, have a lot of control over what the truck is doing. This is one reason I like this truck - it has a lot of cool modern electronics but also a bit of an old school approach, rather than a big dummy button that says "push when off road and don't even think about what's happening mechanically with the truck."

I always lock the center differential when I'm in low range. The GX550 doesn't automatically lock it when you shift to low (again, the driver gets to choose) but I go ahead an push the button. If I'm lumbering along in low range I'm there for a reason and I want the front & rear axles pulling their weight (OK, IFS front I know but humor me). The only reason I'd unlock the center diff while in low in previous trucks is if I'm on high-traction slick rock (like Moab) and have to do some tight turns. Same goes for engaging/unengaging the rear locker. BUT....I think that both the center and rear locker in these GX550s are "smart" and not full-time mechanically locked. They are obviously electronically actuated (with a button as opposed to gear knob and linkage) but I think that they automatically engage & disengage when appropriate. This is something that I am not 100% entirely sure of, someone please chime in if you know for sure. If this is true, then no need to worry about turning the center diff lock or rear diff lock off & on to avoid binding.

Speaking of the rear locker, the video is right when he says that it's really not needed. On Moab slick rock trails, switch to low range and Rock MTS setting, lock the center diff, and enjoy the ride. Shift back to high range when low isn't needed. If you're really struggling, then hit the rear locker. Note that the center diff lock has to be on for the rear locker to engage.

The best advice is to not get overly obsessed with the buttons and settings. People will get to the top of a big uphill or downhill rocky obstacle and panic that they are not pushing the right buttons. When in doubt, be in low range, and hit the DAC/CRAWL button and forget about it. Don't spend all your time staring at buttons and forget to enjoy the scenery.

Oh, one more thing...the cameras while you're in low range are awesome. They are worth playing with - you can really place your wheels strategically and avoid body damage. On one of my first off road trips with this truck, my buddy and I put the windshield sun shade up and crawled on rocks for about a half hour. A few jeeps came the other way and they were like, "What in the hell are you guys doing?" I just drove around them with the sun shade up and waved at them through the closed, tinted windows.

That was a great video. Very informative. Robert Pepper has a lot great videos on winching and off-road equipment. These convinced me to get a front-mounted winch instead of a hand winch: