RAV 4 PHEV Using ''Trail'' mode - advice ?

[Dave Alan]

Hi

I am about 4 weeks into owning my PHEV. It has a ''TRAIL'' mode which I haven't used yet.

 

Are there any words of wisdom about using/not using this please? I broadly understand the principles but in the real world any advice gratefully received. 

 

Dave

[philip42h]

Don't bother! 🙂

No wisdom really ... Trail mode allows more slip at each wheel in the hope that one of them might scrabble through the loose stuff and find a bit of grip. So, when all else fails, try Trail mode as a last resort. But better still, don't get yourself into such a pickle in the first place. 😉 

[Dave Alan]

39 minutes ago, philip42h said:

Don't bother! 🙂

No wisdom really ... Trail mode allows more slip at each wheel in the hope that one of them might scrabble through the loose stuff and find a bit of grip. So, when all else fails, try Trail mode as a last resort. But better still, don't get yourself into such a pickle in the first place. 😉 

Yes, that was my gut feeling really. How many of us do serious trail work ? I took m vehicle onto a chalk trail ''C'' road type of thing and it performed brilliantly in EV mode tbh. Fair comment thanks .

[ernieb]

I’ve used it once in anger and it was on very wet downhill grass where we’d been parked. Of course it was dry when we arrived and very low grip when we left. It did seem to help add some additional traction and you could certainly ‘hear’ the locking/unlocking of the wheels. Other than that it’s not been used in 3 years.

[Dave Alan]

20 minutes ago, ernieb said:

I’ve used it once in anger and it was on very wet downhill grass where we’d been parked. Of course it was dry when we arrived and very low grip when we left. It did seem to help add some additional traction and you could certainly ‘hear’ the locking/unlocking of the wheels. Other than that it’s not been used in 3 years.

thanks for your reply, interesting to see if anyone has used it in anger much at all ?

[ernieb]

2 hours ago, Dave Alan said:

thanks for your reply, interesting to see if anyone has used it in anger much at all ?

The car is very effective in its handling ability even with the standard OEM tyres fitted. Relax and enjoy.

[SimB]

I regularly have to traverse a muddy farm track full or ruts and wet mud over the winter months and engaging trail does feel like a difference to the wheel engagement,   It feels at least like it acts at least in part like a limited slip diff to limit any free spinning of the the wheels distinct from each other and improves traction 

[Nick72]

Done a fair amount of off road now up in the Lakes where I go to regularly. Rocky trails, forest trails, steep wet muddy banks, waded through streams, snow and ice on mountain roads and more.

All on stock tyres. Almost always in EV mode and Sport mode. The latter because the acceleration onset is faster (different throttle response) and the increased more aggressive regeneration is helpful down hill given the car doesn't have a descent control option. 

I've used trail mode on occasion but it hasn't made a big difference to any of the circumstances I was in. Largely because I've never had a problem I've never had to use it. The car works well on light to light-moderate off road. 

2021 PHEV.

The car gets swapped over to a GR Sport PHEV early September, and just for some extra snow, ice, and very wet traction insurance I'll be swapping the tyres over for Michelin Cross Climate 2 SUV tyres. 

 

[Dave Alan]

On 6/7/2024 at 5:23 PM, Nick72 said:

Done a fair amount of off road now up in the Lakes where I go to regularly. Rocky trails, forest trails, steep wet muddy banks, waded through streams, snow and ice on mountain roads and more.

All on stock tyres. Almost always in EV mode and Sport mode. The latter because the acceleration onset is faster (different throttle response) and the increased more aggressive regeneration is helpful down hill given the car doesn't have a descent control option. 

I've used trail mode on occasion but it hasn't made a big difference to any of the circumstances I was in. Largely because I've never had a problem I've never had to use it. The car works well on light to light-moderate off road. 

2021 PHEV.

The car gets swapped over to a GR Sport PHEV early September, and just for some extra snow, ice, and very wet traction insurance I'll be swapping the tyres over for Michelin Cross Climate 2 SUV tyres. 

 

sounds good thanks for the reply, we get little harsh conditions in Sussex but it does occur and the South Downs can become a little snowy and icy in winter.

[nlee]

On 6/7/2024 at 5:23 PM, Nick72 said:

the increased more aggressive regeneration is helpful down hill given the car doesn't have a descent control option. 

Although there isn't a specific hill decent control, I've found putting into S1 reasonably effective. Admittedly not off-road, and definitely not as effective as true HDC, but I managed to descend Honister (on the side down to Seatoller) with hardly any braking at all. In fact in places, I needed to knock it up to S2 because it was holding back too much.

[ernieb]

Sport mode will add a degree more regeneration and has a decent braking effect.

I’ve been using Sport mode for downhills more recently and been impressed how much more braking and regeneration can be achieved.

[Dave Alan]

My recent ''off road'' (farm track really I suppose) adventures, here in West Sussex.

Yes I did try ''TRAIL'' mode just for the sake of it, probably not really needed ! As expected the RAV performed faultlessly. The area was on the edge of the South Downs and the surfaces deteriorate in parts quite badly. It was really more for my own reassurance and a bit of fun on (very) light trails. 

[philip42h]

That's a road Dave ... the wheelie bin is a dead giveaway, just waiting for local authority collection ... 😉

The lane up to our place was resurfaced the other year - prior to that the surface was worse than your track, and far steeper!

🙂

[Dave Alan]

12 hours ago, philip42h said:

That's a road Dave ... the wheelie bin is a dead giveaway, just waiting for local authority collection ... 😉

The lane up to our place was resurfaced the other year - prior to that the surface was worse than your track, and far steeper!

🙂

You found me out LOL - to be fair the unphotographed bits were when I was gripping the steering wheel for sheer grim survival 😜. I jest of course, it deteriorated rapidly.........honest !!!!! It's grim on the edge of the South Downs, aye lad it is (shhhh it is quite gentle really but very pretty).....😇