Friday, Jan 07, 2005 at 23:41
Hi Muzz, I read that article too. I have a diff lock in the front of my GU patrol, its a lokka, so when I am in 4WD the diff lock is in, although it has a "ratchetting" arrangement that releases when turning corners, which is very handy, drive straight ahead and everythings locked up, trun a cirner and it repeatedly unlocks and locks and one can feel it happening, its not disconcerting although the noise sounds scary unless you know what it is.
I found the locker to be very helpful in mud and rocks (the high country especially) and also in the sand along the
border track. So overall of you can be sure that all wheels are turning then one is better off. The steering is overall heavier but not too bad goven the benefits.
As far as getting stuck better, hahahahaha, I always said 4WD just gets you bogged further into the paddock, same argument I reckon, the locker will get you thru if thats all that you needed to get thru or gets you further in, the key is to know when to keep going and when to back off (and OUT), thats the experience of 4WDing.
As far as air lockers go, they are in or out. Air lockers in the front and rear and swiched on means that all wheels are turning the same. Steering is very difficult which is why you need to turn off the front locker at times to wrestle it around th corner. On mud steering is a real handful with the front air locker in. I weould point the vehicle at the mud drive thru and switch off the locker once you're thru. Iffits only in the back its not so bad but you'll still get an overall propensity to drive straight forward so the rear locker may also need be turned off in muddy corners.
It all comes down to driver skill and in the long run, go on a 4WD driving course, and then do lots of trial and error stuff in a safe environment, before tearing at a mudhole all locked up with a 90 degree corner on the other side and a 200m drop straight ahead.
Its only one letter to change corner to coroner.
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