Manual Control of 4x4 system instead of silly GOAT like modes

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CarTechGeek

Scout Community Veteran
Oct 28, 2024
353
646
Canada
Please treat buyers like adults when it comes to controlling the subsystems when off-road.

I've always disliked mode based control like Ford "GOAT" modes (I hate them on cameras too), and this was brought home when I watched a video comparing some 2 door 4x4s. When it got the Ford, they were basically cycling through GOAT modes trying to get it to behave. If you must have modes, have one be manual, and remember you were using manual the last time...

When you push a Button for Off-road, bring up a screen with the important parameters:

1: Accelerator Pedal Mapping. This is where you are basically choosing 4 High, or 4 Low - 4 High is the normal default mode. There is no need for 2WD on an EV since there is no driveline binding. 4 Low is the important one. It drops the speed range down to about 25 MPH max, and give more fine grained crawl control. It also enables control over diff locks, and Sway bar disconnects.

2: Differential Locks. Only enabled in "4 Low".

3: Sway Bar disconnect. Only enabled in "4 Low".

4: Traction Control.
  • 0 - Off - Completely Off (aside from driveline protection) - Perhaps Only in "4 low".
  • 1 - cross axle Brake Torque Distribution Only - Basically this just an inferior substitute for diff lockers - not everyone will have them. large amount of spin still allowed if it's both wheels on an axle.
  • 2 - Only moderate amount of spin allowed.
  • 3 - Spin tightly controlled.
5: Trail Crawl Control. Allow automated slow progress mode 1-10 MPH.


IMO, this is MUCH better than a bunch of silly modes (sand, mud and ruts, rocks, etc...) that simply create mystery about what the drive systems are doing. Just let people control what they want the systems to do directly.
 
Upvote 12
Regarding motive power and differential lockers: My Wrangler has an Atlas II transfer case and independently selectable ARBs front and rear. This enables 2wd front, 2wd rear and 4wd. Further, it enables locked front / open rear, locked rear / open front or both axles locked. I would love to see the same flexibility in the Scout, although I know that is probably fantasy. The ability to do a front dig, while not oft utilized, sure is handy when you need to do it.
My understanding is that might be just software, not fantasy. There is no physical connection between the front and rear drive units, no need for a transfer case. With selectable front and rear lockers it seems like they just need to provide software for front only, rear only, or any split. Even front and rear in opposite directions.
 
Regarding motive power and differential lockers: My Wrangler has an Atlas II transfer case and independently selectable ARBs front and rear. This enables 2wd front, 2wd rear and 4wd. Further, it enables locked front / open rear, locked rear / open front or both axles locked. I would love to see the same flexibility in the Scout, although I know that is probably fantasy. The ability to do a front dig, while not oft utilized, sure is handy when you need to do it.
Front Dig (power to front axle only) would be a game changer on some trails. Totally doable with their existing hardware too since the front and rear drive train are already divorced.