Mechanical Locker and SNOW???? (1 Viewer)

[cruiser88]

I am with mace on this one .......i love the traction you get.


I have been running around the last 2 winters in 2 wheel drive except for 1 time. Just be easy on the skinny pedal and in a short time you will get used to the difference.

 

[Sarcastro]

2 snowy winters with a rear aussie - no problems. As long as you aren't hammering the throttle all the time and TRYING get the rig sideways you won't have a problem. Make sure your tire pressure is always even and your rear end is within specs before you button it up.

LOL 6 feet of snow this winter!!

 

[RredFJ40]

LOL 6 feet of snow this winter!!

No kidding, it's been a wacky one - lookin' nice now, though

 

[nuclearlemon]

daily drove/wheeled my 60 in the snow with an aussie in the rear for a couple years. loved it. never had an problems.

 

[Sarcastro]

Honestly, I hate not having a locker in the snow, at least with my Samurai, I would tool around town in 2wd, even with the SWB if I spun out into a snowbank, I would giggle, hit reverse and keep right on going. really the only time I needed 4wd was when I prolly shouldnt have been out in the weather, and I live on a hill in the mountains...

( City of KFalls is at 4200' ASL, my house via GPS is 4675' ASL )

 

[RockDoc]

i will be installing an aussie locker in the rear of mine this weekend. i think it'll be fine.

also, icy roads and snow are different. snow=traction ice=sideways.

i-70 can get pretty icy at times. just slow down a bit and get in the right lane... thats what i plan on doing. and doughnuts finally too. jesus i hate doing peglegs in this truck.

That's what I worry about. Snow is one thing, and isn't really a problem, but the roads up here do get icy at times, and the ditches between here and Calgary can turn into parking lots (it always amazes me how people think they can do 110+ when there has been freezing rain ). It sucks when you drive for a couple hours without needing to slow down, then find the highway has "seamlessly" changed to glazed over from drifting. I've been surprised by that a few times on my Trans-Prairie trips.

 

[Mace]

That's what I worry about. Snow is one thing, and isn't really a problem, but the roads up here do get icy at times, and the ditches between here and Calgary can turn into parking lots (it always amazes me how people think they can do 110+ when there has been freezing rain ). It sucks when you drive for a couple hours without needing to slow down, then find the highway has "seamlessly" changed to glazed over from drifting. I've been surprised by that a few times on my Trans-Prairie trips.

So you are saying that you just have to be cautious then

I would still rather have a locker..

 

[RockDoc]

So you are saying that you just have to be cautious then

I would still rather have a locker..

Yes, cautious is the key. It sure helps to have grown up in it though, hell I even took driver's ed. in the winter. A fair bit of time spent purposely losing control in empty lots helps develop proper reaction and a good seat of the pants feel.

Thinking it over though, it is almost always stopping situations that get touchy, and the locker shouldn't have much effect there. After all, it isn't often you need to accelerate hard to avoid trouble in the winter.

I've been in vehicles with a few driver's who didn't have a clue. Sliding sideways on a main street because "obviously" the best thing to do is lock up the brakes when you lose traction , 360 on the same street when one corner of a chevette got caught in a ice rut (IIRC, that one was recovered and we carried on without even stopping), one of the students in our group is up from Tennessee, while he is safe, I think I could walk faster than he drives in the snow....

blah, blah, blah

 

[83bj60]

Ok here's my bit, driving a JDM on snowy roads with lockable center, rear and front diffs.

Normal driving on ice and snow: the tires make the biggest difference. All wheel drive is best.

Lots of deep snow (up to a foot or so of dense snow or 18" of powder): locking the center differential improves stability.

Heavy snow of up to 18" and snow banks at speed up to 24": locking the rear diff improves the situation quite a bit as it provides a more even power transfer, but you have to keep your speed slow (D'Oh!) and maintaining momentum becomes important. One remark, backing up while turning becomes very difficult. Keeping the front open is a must to allow turning, especially if your tires have good traction, otherwise it's just plain impossible.

Stuck (high-centered) in the snowbank: lock all and hope the snow is not dense and solid enough that it will prevent the tires from touching more solid ground, lock all four, put it in low and gently rock front to rear to get out (not as effective with an auto tranny, in which case you simply use the pedal and let it rock down).

If you're really stuck in wet, slushy or otherwise compact and cohesive snow that could support the truck (I always look at snow before attempting to get through the snowbank in front of my driveway - both type, height and length of snow bank is important to consider), you'll have to use your shovel to remove the excess under the body. Always carry a shovel if you're expecting to 'have fun in the snow', and a one piece insulated suit for when you'll need to crawl under to remove the 'cement'...

 

[Mace]

BTW, there is a big difference between a selectable locker and a automatic locker in the snow/ice.

A auto locker only locks under reasonable throttle. So, you can very easily coast around corners.

When the selectable locker is engaged, you HAVE to slip one tire to go around the corner when it is engaged.

 

[eleblanc]

So I am looking at different locking options. I cannot necessarily afford two ARB's so I am looking at a Aussie in the rear and ARB in the front.

Anyone out there running a mechanical in the rear that drives in the snow covered roads??? My rig is my daily driver so if a mechanical sucks in the rear for snow I may just need to go ARB in the rear and what until I can get another one for the front.

I have also thought about putting in 80 series lockers in it. so what do ya'll think?

side thought. I centered my rear diff. can you center a 80 series axle the same way as a 60 series?

If you ask the question you need a ARB in the rear....

 

[Hank]

Saying lockers in the snow is dangerous is just like calling a gun a murderer. My Fj62 has a lunchbox in the back shimmed tight enough that it rarely if ever unlocks. In this state it is quite predictable. However I have been driving in the snow and crap since 13. LWB, SWB, all of them, open, selectable and spooled. If you understand what you have and have the seat time experience lockers are great.

Don't be a hater until you have ample seat time locked and unlocked. IMHO the questionable disadvantage for some of having a locker on the street/highway is far outweighed by the off highway advantage. That is if you actually wheel.

 

[Mace]

If you ask the question you need a ARB in the rear....

How's the logic work?

 

[Hank]

Nobody 'needs' an ARB. Everybody needs seat time to adapt to a mod. I suggest finding a fellow Cruiserhead with a locked 60 and going for a drive, then make up your own mind.

 

[88chevota]

Mace,

you always seem to have the most sound advice. Thanks man.

I have driven before with a locker in the rear before, just not it snow and ice conditions.

I actually liked the way it drove, just wasn't sure about the whole snow thing.

I did not think this thread would get that much attention but wow. There's some good discussion here.

Thanks everyone.

 

[cody c]

i like mine with the aussie in the rear, mind you i didnt get to do a lot of highway driving with it this winter, but it has been very predictable.

 

[eleblanc]

How's the logic work?

well, if you ask is that you have concern, if you have concern then i wouldn't let you drive a rear locked rig....

It is really a self confidence thing, the rear will tend to swing and if you do not have the experience you may get caught and even with experience, you need only once to regret it.

It was one of my most concern when i was shopping for a locker. My logic was that even tho i'm pretty confident with my driving, i would feel really really bad if i ever would end up wrecking my BJ42 for a bad decision i made......i ended up with ARB...

Unfortunatly, there is alot less people that knows what is really icy road. You know snow with a wet temperature is one thing...black ice on the highway at -20 deg C is a other story. There are some condition here i'd be worried with my audi 4wd, i'd even wouldn't dare to use my 42 even if it wasn't lock and on winter tires....it is all about the condition you are used to. Driving around town at less then 40mph is different then driving on the highway morning and night all week...

If the worse you see is slushy road then no big deal. If you often drive on cold icy road.....well your gambling.

 

[wyomingben]

Good Choice and logic, I like the part is all it takes is once. Let us know where you find the best deal on one.

-BBD

 

[Mace]

well, if you ask is that you have concern, if you have concern then i wouldn't let you drive a rear locked rig....

It is really a self confidence thing, the rear will tend to swing and if you do not have the experience you may get caught and even with experience, you need only once to regret it.

It was one of my most concern when i was shopping for a locker. My logic was that even tho i'm pretty confident with my driving, i would feel really really bad if i ever would end up wrecking my BJ42 for a bad decision i made......i ended up with ARB...

Unfortunatly, there is alot less people that knows what is really icy road. You know snow with a wet temperature is one thing...black ice on the highway at -20 deg C is a other story. There are some condition here i'd be worried with my audi 4wd, i'd even wouldn't dare to use my 42 even if it wasn't lock and on winter tires....it is all about the condition you are used to. Driving around town at less then 40mph is different then driving on the highway morning and night all week...

If the worse you see is slushy road then no big deal. If you often drive on cold icy road.....well your gambling.

Wow..

 

[eleblanc]

Wow..

What is the wow about?