The one thing that these auto-locker fans haven't told you is that it's better to have your diffs open when Side-hilling ( driving at an angle to the rise of the hill ). Just my 4 cents.
Hey Slabzilla….
Again, there are lots of different perspectives and experiences.
Most people here would agree that real 4-wheeling is just that – 4 wheels driving with power and traction.
In a 4x4, on a typical trail, an open differential equipped vehicle is a 2-wheel drive - 2 wheels driving with power and torque most of the time. In my trucks, with open diffs, it is the right rear and left front when it's in 4-wheel drive.
If the objective is to drive the vehicle from point A to point B, given any typical or atypical off-road or 4-wheel drive required trail or terrain, there is virtually NO terrain or trail that a 2-wheel drive open differential is better. PERIOD.
Now…. There are many different terrain conditions and situations where the vehicle cannot maintain traction or positive direction. Under power, a locked axle will apply torque to each tire providing traction to move forward. Due to gravity, a vehicle on a sidehill will always loose traction on the uphill side.
With an open diff, will the tire on the downhill side receive the torque?
If you cannot negotiate and drive a fully locked up vehicle forward on a sidehill condition, you will have NO better ability to negotiate the vehicle and drive forward with open diffs!
I understand where Slabzilla's comment comes from. A locked up front or rear diff will tend to make the tires break loose under too much torque. If you can’t control your right foot on the gas pedal on a sidehill, you probably should not be driving on it.
In what 4-wheeling terrain condition or vehicle situation is having LESS traction better?
That's just my 2 cents.
Gnarls.
