its a shame big brother has to save us from ourself but i guess thats the only option when some of the customer base has more money than brains. lockers with no nanny system would be a disaster with those type of people behind the wheel

 

The locker is a gem in true 4x4 trails, as most holes in trail are front left and right rear in standard 4x4, having a rear locker is a no brainier if you need if for your attended application. I've lost count on how many Jeep guys that have looked at me puzzled on how I can get my truck thru the same stuff as there Jeep's! LoL

 

We can do it to. Simple toggle switch (or upfitter switch) on the +12v wire going to the locker.

 

you sure it isnt a bit more involved than a toggle and 12v? that would probly set off error codes. pw version runs through the factory dash switch and doesnt set off any warning lights

 

Is there a Forescan method that would allow higher wheel spin speeds when trying to get unstuck, through rough terrain. I totally experienced the traction control, even though I tried Sport Mode, TC Off and TC really off 6 second push, I could still feel it limiting power to the point you come to a stop. This is in 4*4, Rear Locker On, TC settings, basically just brought me right down to a stop on a steep hill, with a side hill on compact snow and gravel. I almost ended up sideways upside down off the road. I ended up having my Brothers SD pull me up, or pull me out. Even with TC off, locker in place, 4*4, still could not get up some areas without a pull. Brothers truck is non TC, 6 litre 4*4 with LSD. His tires were better, no problem pulling me out or up the hill.

I am thinking upfitter for lock up and hoepfully a full Forecsan mod for disabling TC at times would be what is needed.

 

I believe that if you switch to 4Lo then the traction control is completely disabled. Spin the wheels all you want.

 

An old cowboy and hunter taught me this trick. I never use 4-Low to go into hunting areas, only to get out. If I use 4-Low to get someplace, and I get stuck, I have no other means of egress besides a winch. I go as far as I can in 4-High (which is pretty deep), and keep 4-Low as my emergency backup.

 

I was taught pretty much the same thing. I stay in 2Hi as long as (safely) possible. I carry tire chains and a tow strap. My prior truck had winches on the front and back. This truck I could put one on the hitch, but I need a battery in the bed to make it work.

 

All of my rigs are locked to one degree or another. I've had detroits, tru-tracs, Jeep's worthless rendition of a LSD, ARB's and several vehicles with factory electric locking center, front AND rear differentials.

I'll never waste my time with a LSD ever again as a LSD is only slightly more effective than an open differential and most significant is that almost all LSD's are installed in the rear axle if a vehicle is equipped with one.

With 2/3's of your vehicles weight on the front axle, the most important thing you can do in a traction limited environment is to engage 4wd to get 200% more traction assuming all 4 wheels are on the ground. If you are rock crawling and lifting a tire, yes, open diffs suck more than a LSD, but both are pretty much worthless IMHO.

Ford's factory rear locker coupled with their part-time (locked transfer case) and an open front differential is a fine combination. A fully locked rear end is not desirable if you are going down an icy road at any significant speed for this important reason....a rolling tire has more traction than a spinning tire. If your rear end is locked and you break traction, both tires will spin equally and if you are on a crowned road, the rear end will begin sliding toward the ditch. With an open diff, only one tire spins and the rolling tire maintains the lateral stability of your vehicle so an open diff is actually much safer in this icy road scenario.

If you find yourself in a ditch, I'd then like every corner of my vehicle turning equally (locked on both ends) but the open/open with the option to the lock the rear end is perfectly fine. A locking front diff would be nice, but I'm certain the general public does not have enough experience and common sense to avoid damaging their vehicle by driving around with both axles locked up when they shouldn't be.

 

That old cowboy was smoking some good grass. If you are stuck in 4hi...you will still be stuck in 4lo. I've been fourwheeling for 20 years and have never heard the saying that way.
What I have heard, is that you go as far as you can in 2wd. If you get stuck, THEN you have 4wd to get out or to continue on if still feasible.

Now that lockers are becoming more and more available, I'd leave it unlocked until absolutely needed.

*everything said above is on a case-by-case basis. No two offroad situations are the same and with that they will need to each be assessed differently.

 

The version of that which I learned from "an old field guy" was he used 2wd to get IN.

 

In my Jeep I use 4x4 until I get stuck, then use the winch.