This weekend I got stuck in the mud. When I gave the truck gas, only the passenger side wheels turned (they had the least resistance), even in 4 wheel low. I know that trucks have limited slip rear differentials, but doesnt it defeat the purpose of 4WD to have LS diffs on both front and back?

 

Thats why everyone that wheels hard has lockers.

 

not limited slip, open diff. Which is what you have that is why the tire with least resistance spins!

 

thats what lockers are for.... even though its 4wd the power gets diverted to the wheel with the lest resistance... this is why everyone loves lockers...

 

check out http://auto.howstuffworks.com/four-wheel-drive.htm & http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm its a lot better than askjim.com

 

Are lockers expensive? I know nothing about how to lock a differential. Somehow I doubt it's a valve you turn on the axle.

 

No its a mechanism you have to install in the differential. You are thinking of locking hubs probably. YEs they are expensive

 

All about lockers and other traction aiding differentials:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/4R_TechInfo.shtml#DiffInfo

 

also, check out the locker FAQ in the "off road tech" forum.

also, consider that you were in mud too. other factors include the type of tires you have and your air pressure. in short, even if you were locked in back, these factors may still prevent you from getting yourself out.

...and to answer your next inevitable question, search "winch"

bob

 

^^^^^^ (winch)