boogie86

i'm in iowa and have an open diff prerunner with a 4 cyl engine. im wondering if an aussie locker coupled with sandbags and my aggressive AT tires would yield me decent results or just get me into more trouble? i'm also wondering if the aussie locker would be smoother or rougher with my automatic transmission? with winter coming on, i'm wondering if a locker could keep me in the game as far as being snowed in my rural neighborhood goes.

boogie86

i'm curious as to how its road manners would be coupled with an auto tranny. most off road enthusiasts use standard transmissions. i appreciate your word, as i've made some personal touches to my truck and its starting to really grow on me. i'd hate to see it go after all its done for me.

bain

Yup..just having a locked rear end makes a huge difference. Ive been on some rough trails in 2wd with a locker but i knew i had 4wd to bail me out if i got into trouble. But then again Ive had some scary moments on snowy roads with a rear locker...But it will definitely go much better..

bain

lockers are less noticable with autos. IMO

boogie86

awesome bain! unfortunately, snowy ice driving is all i'll be doing. the only thing i have going for me is i was raised in iowa winter driving conditions, so my best tool is my judgment and skill.

bain

you just have to get use to the locker and then you're golden. I aways tried to free wheel through curves so it wouldnt spin out. And judgement and skill goes a LONG way..


Do you have any pics of it? Theres some prerunners around here with 6" lifts that look really nice..

crolison

nope, add hills or incline to that situation and not as good.

trust me i've had to tug a prerunner all up and down harlan

boogie86

crolison, are we talking in snow or on a trail?

boogie86

i read matt16's review of his aussie and he seems to think its suitable for winter weather. several jeep sites think that once you get accustomed to braking with a locker in ice and snow it's a valuable resource.

4x4Lamm

crolison is correct. I had a summer job at a thousand acre camp with a 2WD pickup with a locker. It was worse than the other 4WD unlocked trucks in every situation. Better than "1 wheel drive" but horrible whenever the weight was not on the back wheels, and in a pickup that is most of the time.

4x4Lamm

boogie86

last winter i put 280 lbs of sandbags in the bed of my truck. i didn't get stuck per say, but did have a few moments of me shouting at the windshield because i couldn't go the way i wanted to or had to do a few running starts and then reverse and try again in unplowed driveways. i don't really want to wheel or trail ride in this truck since i won't have 4wd. i'm just looking for an insurance policy to get me to work or the store when there's powder on the ground.

4x4Lamm

In that case a think a high quality limited slip and tires with a severe winter weather rating would serve you better than a lunchbox locker. Yes it will cost more but it will be much better for the 99% of the time where you don't need any extra traction.

4x4Lamm

Matt16

I can only speak for 4 cyl 4Runners (heavy arse-end). They've got enough weight to give traction and not enough power to break it.

I would agree that in a lot of situations, locked 2wd is almost as capable as 4wd.

boogie86

now doesn't an LSD have clutches in it that need to be replaced? is this the same as the aussie lunchbox style locker? or is the aussie a "set it and forget it" type deal?

4x4Lamm

There are two types of LSDs. One is clutch driven and will eventually require replacing the clutch packs although it takes a very long time under normal conditions. The other is gear driven and does not require anything other than standard diff oil changes. The Aussie locker is mechanical, it has no friction clutches to wear out.

4x4Lamm

boogie86

does an LSD just turn into an open diff on a slick surface like ice?

snobdds

Sounds like you need tire chains more than anything. Put some chains on a 2wd truck for snow you won't get stuck in the snow.

4x4Lamm

Open diffs send 100% of the power to the wheel with the least traction.

Lockers send 50% of the power to each wheel all the time (when locked).

LSDs send a ratio of the power to each wheel. 70/30 is pretty common. When you are on ice one wheel will be spinning faster than the other but both should be going around. It's not to ideal for off-road but if both wheels are on the ground its useful.

4x4Lamm

Lumpy

Get some good tires and go with it. If yo want to lock it then Aussie would be the way to go. LSD would probably yield better icy conditions but if you going to spend the $ then Just lock it. With saying that I'm not locked "yet" and as you I read Matt16's review and Install and this has convinced me in locking. Just need the funds to do so. If all goes well spring I'll be locked.

From all that I have read gotta watch the turns and she will slide sideways more when leaning to one side or the other. Need to relearn how it's going to react and prepare for a pucker moment or two.

boogie86

thanks for all the replies, guys.