Trail Turn Assist, What Am I Doing Wrong?

[Callelk]

I need a little help here as I may be engaging the trail turn assist at the wrong time.

Twice, while traveling up a trail and encountering locked gates, I have attempted to engage trail turn assist. Both times I heard loud mechanical noises coming from the driver’s side engine compartment and immediately turned trail turn assist off. Fortunately, the Bronco can maneuver in small spaces and was able to "K" turn out and no back a mile or so down a hill.

Both times I was in 4-hi and the steering wheel was cranked to the extreme, once left, once right when I engaged it.

Any thoughts?

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[Techun]

That's normal

 

[russ472]

trail turn assist works by activating the antilock brake system ( which is under your hood ) when the steering wheel is sharply turned and you are moving at a slower speed. your description sounds as if it was operating nomally

 

[Beach_Bum]

I need a little help here as I may be engaging the trail turn assist at the wrong time.

Twice, while traveling up a trail and encountering locked gates, I have attempted to engage trail turn assist. Both times I heard loud mechanical noises coming from the driver’s side engine compartment and immediately turned trail turn assist off. Fortunately, the Bronco can maneuver in small spaces and was able to "K" turn out and no back a mile or so down a hill.

Both times I was in 4-hi and the steering wheel was cranked to the extreme, once left, once right when I engaged it.

Any thoughts?

You are doing everything right. It is the ABS system engaging as it drags the inner rear wheel.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

I would also caution against using it too much, and in anything but the loosest ground. There have been a few have their axles damaged.

 

[Bugkillah]

Interestingly, this was the only hero switch that they didn’t/wouldn’t go over at off-roadeo Tennessee.

 

[RagnarKon]

Interestingly, this was the only hero switch that they didn’t/wouldn’t go over at off-roadeo Tennessee.

They didn't use it when I went to Off-Roadeo New Hampshire either.

They did explain how it works, but said the ground wasn't soft enough in the demo area to safety do it, which probably goes back to what @GI_Jo_Nathan said about not using it on unsuitable terrain.

 

[Callelk]

They didn’t go over it in Moab either.

 

[HolidayDog]

I definitely tried it out at the beach in the sand. My kids loved it….so much that my wife said drop me off and I will watch. She was getting dizzy. We were essentially doing brodies. The

It does take some getting used to and will behave slightly differently on gravel vs sand vs snow. You might fine an open area with loose dirt, pea gravel, pit run; some surface that will allow some pivoting of your rear inside tire to test it out. Once you get a feel for how it functions at different speeds you can use it on the trail.

I did try it on a trail to try turning around 180 from a stopped position and it didn’t feel good. You might need more space than a tight double track trail to turn around with turn assist.

I would put this hero button on the shelf with the very rarely actually used hero switch buttons. I keep mine right next to the snrokel and the winch. It’s there but may only be needed once, possibly never.

 

[CitrusBronco]

From the Ford videos I have seen you want to use this feature while giving it some decent throttle, it does not work well at low rpm.
The sounds appear normal as other explained it’s the ABS doing it’s job.
Be sure to use this on loose terrain, not for use on packed dirt.

 

[Callelk]

From the Ford videos I have seen you want to use this feature while giving it some decent throttle, it does not work well at low rpm.
The sounds appear normal as other explained it’s the ABS doing it’s job.
Be sure to use this on loose terrain, not for use on packed dirt.

Ah, low speed and packed dirt was where I tried it and it sounded horrid.

 

[Callelk]

All that said, I have used the other hero switches, especially the rear locker. Quite often really even though I air down.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

They didn't use it when I went to Off-Roadeo New Hampshire either.

I wondered about that. I figured they weren't abusing their Bronco's with TTA every day.

 

[RagnarKon]

I wondered about that. I figured they weren't abusing their Bronco's with TTA every day.

Truthfully I was super curious how these Off-Roadeo Broncos were holding up given they are used everyday. I asked every instructor about the reliability of them, just to get a sense for it. Apparently the component that broke the most was the electronic parking break switch... so... I guess that's a good sign.

They definitely do use Trail Turn Assist when they're able, there was a spot in the demo course where it's pretty well worn due to it. But yeah... weather didn't cooperate the day I went.

 

[Figmo]

Discussed it but didn’t use it @ Nevada Off Roadeo. Discussion was mostly how you shouldn’t use it because it rapes mother nature. Personally - I trust my own judgement on that but I still rarely use it on the trail. Just been so few instances where I needed it (2 door).

To use it - hit the Hero switch, turn your wheels full lock one way or another and give it some gas. It’s gonna sound like your axles are coming uncunted out from under you - but that’s normal.

Side note - while you should never use this on a high-traction surface such as dry pavement - it is FUN FUN FUN to use on snowy and icey roads!!! Love playing with it in winter. I can pull a u-turn in one lane.

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