Locker usage (wheeling tips)

[Riley]

I was working up a narrow very rocky creek bed today. Full of a fair number of (what looked to me) larger and sometimes loose bolders ect..

I locked up the rear diff when entering the difficult section. Because it was very narrow I kept it locked even when I had an easier stretch (we are talking about a 50 to 80 yard distance of creek bed). Things were so narrow that I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to -

a: unlock it without doing the tight turn thing
b: relock it again when another difficult section came up

I didn't wait till I got stuck, I just kept the rear locked.

Was this a mistake? Should I have tried to lock and unlock it ect?

Looking for some advice on when others lock and unlock the rear. I've read some comments about only locking when stuck but I'm not sure it would lock up when I really needed it.

The front is pretty obvious (i.e. I never use unless really stuck).

The 80 is a great truck BTW, very capable. ;p

edit - I know a lot of guys are going to tell me that I should get some experience with a local club and I agree. I did have a buddy spotting but both of us could use more experience. I'm having a little trouble finding a local club that I feel that I can wheel with my young son along. A lot of the conversations might not be suitable.

edit_2 - I was thinking maybe the rear would lock real quick if one tire is spinning freely. In other words once you are stuck, stop the rear wheels and then lockup, would it engage right anyway then? I've never experimented with it enough to know.

 

[Tools R Us]

I have found that the "turn the wheel" trick is only needed to get them to lock on flat ground where you dont need them. On uneven ground as soon as a wheel slips they lock right up and as you leave the obsticle if you turn them off they will disengage. One wheel going up on rock has the same effect as turning the wheel, one wheel turning slightly faster than the other allowing alignment of the splines and lock/unlock.

 

[e9999]

seems like my lockers now after having been exercised a bit in the last few months are locking and unlocking much faster and I don't think I need to be turning much to get them to engage any more, even on flat ground. Happens very quickly too.
E

added: will check next time

 

[NorCalDoug]

I typically use them when I need them -- but if I'm working through a particularly tough section of trail, I'll leave the rear locked.

I use my lockers when necessary on the trail, so I don't worry about them being available when I need them -- they're there. Unlocking is sometimes an issue, but it's not all that bad with the rear diff locks.

 

[Safado]

Forward progression is the key to me. If I'm in a section where there's a loose rock base, and it's very narrow, last thing I want is for tires to cut loose and hop me into a rock wall. I keep the center locked most all the time and the back on those sections where I know I just want to go straight on thru.

 

[Doc]

Like Safado, I keep the c-diff locked at nearly all times, There is one spot at a local trail that requires a very tight corner on flat grassy surface. I unlock for that.

I also only lock the rear diff when getting into the really steep stuff or big articulators. I tend to un-lock as soon as that section of trail is clear.