Let me know what you think
Yes, I set them in place and left them there for a week or so to "try" them out.
Then once I got used to them I screwed them in, so now they are part of my truck.
Then once I got used to them I screwed them in, so now they are part of my truck.
Video makes sense, I know I was confused by that shifter the first time I drove my Disco.
I would say as far as snow goes, low range is only useful for very deep, very heavy snow or slush: stuff that actually grabs your tire and wants to slow it down. Light fluffy snow, shallow snow, or any condition where ice may be present would make low range very undesirable - too much torque can cause unnecessary wheelspin. I also recommend against diff-lock on icy, hilly roads (the kind that is 100% snow coverage packed solid from tire tracks), even if you think you need the traction. Slow down and drive in high-open, diff lock will just make you spin out faster. Ask how I know.
Most trails I ride I choose low range or high range depending on conditions (steepness, muddiness, and expected speed) and then lock and unlocked as needed. Actually I seldom come out of locked mode while off-road because most trails around here are pretty loose.
Good info overall, just contributing my $.02.
I would say as far as snow goes, low range is only useful for very deep, very heavy snow or slush: stuff that actually grabs your tire and wants to slow it down. Light fluffy snow, shallow snow, or any condition where ice may be present would make low range very undesirable - too much torque can cause unnecessary wheelspin. I also recommend against diff-lock on icy, hilly roads (the kind that is 100% snow coverage packed solid from tire tracks), even if you think you need the traction. Slow down and drive in high-open, diff lock will just make you spin out faster. Ask how I know.
Most trails I ride I choose low range or high range depending on conditions (steepness, muddiness, and expected speed) and then lock and unlocked as needed. Actually I seldom come out of locked mode while off-road because most trails around here are pretty loose.
Good info overall, just contributing my $.02.
Valid point, I think it all depends on your tires and how fast you are going though too.
We drove 200 miles in a blizzard with the truck locked in hi at speeds upto 60-65 mph.
Subraru's and Explorer's were going into the median and ditch, we just kept on trudging along in our sure footed ride.
The 3.5 hour trip took 5 hrs, once we got home the truck literally sat 3 inches lower because of all of the added weight from the ice and snow build up on the glass, body and undercarriage.
I wish I had taken a pic, the windshield was completely covered except for where the wipers ran.
You would have thought we were in a movie about a end of the world ice age or something.
Winching
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 3
From: Sugar City, ID
Valid point, I think it all depends on your tires and how fast you are going though too.
We drove 200 miles in a blizzard with the truck locked in hi at speeds upto 60-65 mph.
Subraru's and Explorer's were going into the median and ditch, we just kept on trudging along in our sure footed ride.
The 3.5 hour trip took 5 hrs, once we got home the truck literally sat 3 inches lower because of all of the added weight from the ice and snow build up on the glass, body and undercarriage.
I wish I had taken a pic, the windshield was completely covered except for where the wipers ran.
You would have thought we were in a movie about a end of the world ice age or something.
We drove 200 miles in a blizzard with the truck locked in hi at speeds upto 60-65 mph.
Subraru's and Explorer's were going into the median and ditch, we just kept on trudging along in our sure footed ride.
The 3.5 hour trip took 5 hrs, once we got home the truck literally sat 3 inches lower because of all of the added weight from the ice and snow build up on the glass, body and undercarriage.
I wish I had taken a pic, the windshield was completely covered except for where the wipers ran.
You would have thought we were in a movie about a end of the world ice age or something.
The specific circumstance that I'm advising against diff-lock is winding, hilly, mountain roads with hard-packed snow, ice, and slush. You end up thinking you have more traction than you do, until you hit that downhill, reverse-banked hairpin turn and power-slide into a 5' tall snowbank. If you're quick, you'll recover the spin enough to aim for a spot between trees. If you're lucky, you'll have a gap where you can cross oncoming traffic to get to that spot between trees. While diff-lock may often help you prevent a skid, conversely it's much better at doing donuts, if you catch my "drift". I've driven in snow all my life, and the only time I've ended up in a snow bank was my first winter with the Disco.
Tires=mud terrains, M+S rated but not siped. This scenario was probably due 50% to operator error and 50% to tire choice. I'll practice more next winter and will consider having my next set siped. One thing is for sure, I started unlocking the diff when I came down that hill from then on, and never had another problem.
(No Rovers were harmed in the filming of this production, by the way. 40 MPH head-on into a 5-foot snow bank and all I needed was an alignment.)
Mudding
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nice job Now I understand how it works I must have read the manual about ten times but not sure it is written in english. I was amazed how easiely it went into lock up mine must need some grease. thanks again
Winching
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 3
From: Sugar City, ID
Most of them do need some grease, especially after sitting for a few years in high-open. Mine's still pretty stiff but has gotten a little better through routine use. Perhaps I'll get up the gumption to dig into it and lubricate parts before long, but there are so many other more important items on the plate just now.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 319
Likes: 1
From: Gaithersburg MD