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

[CarTechGeek]

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.

 

[CarTechGeek]

Isn’t this documented in the car’s manual? It seems like a real fail to not explain what they do and when they’d be applicable.

They explain big things like Lockers coming on. But they are opaque on traction control.

 

[Scoutsie]

They explain big things like Lockers coming on. But they are opaque on traction control.

That’s annoying. Everything that’s engaged by a mode should be documented and explained in some depth like you were talking to a kid. Anything less than that’s irresponsible and lazy. I really hate it when the manufacturers skimp on documentation.

I’d be delighted to have a giant book with a lot of info. I know people don’t like to read, but it’s to their own peril if they don’t RTFM. If there was some kind of training that was more in-depth than an overview of the controls, even better.

 

[J Alynn]

That’s annoying. Everything that’s engaged by a mode should be documented and explained in some depth like you were talking to a kid. Anything less than that’s irresponsible and lazy. I really hate it when the manufacturers skimp on documentation.

I’d be delighted to have a giant book with a lot of info. I know people don’t like to read, but it’s to their own peril if they don’t RTFM. If there was some kind of training that was more in-depth than an overview of the controls, even better.

Maybe these things should be added as an add on class if factory delivery is selected. Like $300 for a second day to run courses and be walked through one mode after the next and put vehicles into the situations that require knowledge on hi/low, sways, etc…. I’d probably pay for that to fully understand capabilities and the dos and don’t of the Scouts

 

[Scoutsie]

Maybe these things should be added as an add on class if factory delivery is selected. Like $300 for a second day to run courses and be walked through one mode after the next and put vehicles into the situations that require knowledge on hi/low, sways, etc…. I’d probably pay for that to fully understand capabilities and the dos and don’t of the Scouts

I’d do it. I’d want to know what the hell I’m doing and to be shown by someone who knows what the hell they’re doing who is specifically the hell trained on the vehicle I just the hell bought hell.

 

[MountainDad]

GOAT mode is for people who have zero experience & are just learning to those who understands the fine points of it & just don’t want to deal with what can be pre set and forgotten

I want my lockers to be available in 4H, they are quite useful even in 2H without going to 4X4 mode

4L is a torque monster, allowing you to crawl over obstacles & the real low gearing is what keeps your speed down


Traction control, on or off…it’s very simple

With an EV, you don't need 4L. Torque is max at zero RPM up through the useful range of wheel speeds to very high RPM and would be very close to rated motor torque (little/no driveline losses esp to rear since the motor is in the axle). So you're talking several hundred ft-lbs from the instant you touch the accelerator.

Others have offered there should be settings for better accelerator modulation, so that you aren't having to tickle the accelerator with your toes to avoid wheel spin in low traction/climbing/rock crawling situations. I like this idea - my Land Rover adjusts throttle mapping for certain modes for this reason, to make for a smoother and more precisely controlled off-road driving experience.

 

[Mousehunter]

Mostly as a joke, as I do not see using my Scout for this - but I feed cattle. Low is great to get the speed I want so the feeder drops with the intervals I want. Not like you can set cruise control for 2mph - well at least not in an ICE vehicle. Flip side, I doubt many Scout purchasers will have be driving a tractor in their free time. (FWIW, while I do feed with my truck - it is easier to just tow the wagon with my tractor). I generally only feed with my truck when I need to refill the wagon.

 

[Rampy]

Mostly as a joke, as I do not see using my Scout for this - but I feed cattle. Low is great to get the speed I want so the feeder drops with the intervals I want. Not like you can set cruise control for 2mph - well at least not in an ICE vehicle. Flip side, I doubt many Scout purchasers will have be driving a tractor in their free time. (FWIW, while I do feed with my truck - it is easier to just tow the wagon with my tractor). I generally only feed with my truck when I need to refill the wagon.

My Raptor had a crawl mode, you engage it & set the cruse control at 2mph & the truck did the work for you