arb diff lockers

I notice your question is 2 part Jason.

Just quickly lockers are least useful when you have even
distributed pressure over your 4 wheels, so driving the wheels
puts equal ground force on all of them and hence minimal
slipping occurs, hence lockers not so useful.

The collary is that when ever the force on your wheels
is not equally distributed then its more likely that a wheel will slip
and that slipping wheel needs control.

When towing a trailer you put more weight on back wheels, making the front lighter.

The lighter front end will lift or bounce a wheel more when a hole or side slope is encountered, and effect is worse uphill.

Hence front benefits more from locker in most senario's.

Robin,

Was the 80 series a part time (DX) or full time (GXL) 4WD?

Not disagreeing with your conclusions, but a spinning front wheel wont affect the drive to the rear two if the centre diff lock was engaged (assuming it is fitted). Without individual diff locks, the 80 should only be in trouble if one front AND one rear wheel loses traction.

Matt.

Part time Matt - no disagreement there , the front is just the most obvious going uphill

Also consdering lockers for an 80 series - what are OX lockers & how do they differ from Air pressure or electric solenoid operated lockers?.

Lastly - whos the best 4wd place in WA to buy & have installed a front & rear locker on a 80 series?

Cheers

OX lockers may be a bit of a bum steer unless you have a jeep or F250 ......

Might still be worth an e-mail to them though.

http://www.ox-usa.com/ox/

Simple cable operation ... Only activates / disconnects when you make it do so ... not when you have an electrical short / loss of air pressure etc.

Is there a reliability issue on ARB air lockers that I'm not aware of?

I do know of a couple that have had problems ... but that could be style of use too.

My comment was based on the " the more simple the design ... the less to go wrong " rule.

The more electrical cabling and pressure lines you have running around under your vehicle ... the more likelyhood it will get ripped out by that stick on the track.

An informative link Doug T
Axle Diff locks are useful when the circumstances require the use, on a straight drag up a dune, in my opinion they don't achieve a lot except perhaps where the dune is that scalloped out traction may be lost with a wheel lifting off the ground.
If the terrain you are travelling could result in a wheel coming off the ground that is when Difflocks work best, have two wheels off the ground and still have drive, not "Dry Bogged", to me the biggest advantage is that with locking up both axles you can slowly climb through rough ground where without Locks you would need a lot more momentum to get through, causing the possibility of other damage to both vehicle and cargo.
A lot of drivers are not aware that with Difflocks engaged the vehicle will want to carry on in a straight line and be reluctant to turn,more so in greasy, slippery,and soft sand conditions.
Pop up over the top of a dune and as the bonnet comes down you see a big blow out in front and then wonder why the vehicle won't turn, probably the Locked Diffs won"t let it.

Russnic
I have had the experience on 2 visits to the Simpson Desert and your theory is incorrect, (I talk Auto Lockers only) and had no problems turning what so ever ,
In my opinion dual lockers work best when all 4 wheels are in contact with the ground, 4 wheels driving is better than 3 .
in greasy, slippery conditions I do agree with your comment,
Your last comment is why Auto Lockers are far better in that situation.

.

Casper
Your comment No 3 is something you don't have to worry about with full Auto Lockers .

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