ABS and TRAC OFF Kits Compared
A B.O.T.C.K. bracket bolted to the factory axle mount. Powder coated quarter-inch mild steel, no welding required.
Traction control is tuned for pavement. On a loose climb it can read wheelspin as a problem and cut power at the moment you need momentum most. There are a few ways to get authority over that, and they are not equivalent.
What the factory gives you
Most Toyota and Lexus platforms have a TRAC OFF button that does less than people expect. It reduces intervention rather than removing it, and on many vehicles the system reasserts itself above a certain speed or under certain conditions. That is fine on pavement and frustrating on a climb.
The approaches
Dash switch. A separate switch that reads as factory equipment. The factory fit dash switch sits in a blank and does not announce itself as an add on. This is the cleanest option for a truck that spends most of its life on road.
Switch plus harness. The switch is the interface, the control harness is the wiring. Buying them together is the usual path. The harness only option exists for people who already have a switch they want to keep.
Standalone switch. The ABS TRAC OFF switch for builds where matching the factory dash is not the priority.
Choosing between them
If the truck is a daily driver that goes out on weekends, take the factory fit switch. It looks stock, and there is real value in a build that does not advertise every modification to everyone who sits in it.
If it is a trail only rig, the standalone switch is simpler and you can put it where your hand actually is.
If you already have hardware, buy the harness and keep what you have.
What this does not do
It does not make the truck better at climbing on its own. It gives you the choice about when the computer intervenes. Wheelspin is a tool sometimes and a mistake other times, and the point of the switch is that you get to decide which.
It also does not touch KDSS. The hydraulic sway bar system and the traction systems are separate, and a TRAC OFF switch has no effect on lean, articulation or geometry.
FAQ
Will this throw a check engine light?
Follow the instructions supplied with the kit. If you see a fault after installation, recheck the connections before assuming a fault in the vehicle.
Does it work on both the 4Runner and the Lexus GX?
Fitment varies by year and platform. Check your specific vehicle on the product listing.
Does turning off TRAC turn off ABS?
They are separate systems. What a given kit controls depends on the kit, so read the listing for what you are buying.