Thread: Is rear diff lock necessary?

Only got 500,000km out of my Turbo Safari. But those were 500,000 hard km. Lots of 4WDing, and heavy towing. Without an intercooler it was limited to 1Bar of boost, but it still got along very nicely.
Rear diff lock, and swaybar disconnects got me out of a lot more situations than the shovel and hand winch.
There was something about the Safari / Patrol platform that made them very capable offroad, and something I have not been able to replicate with modern vehicles.
Lack of onroad safety features was the main reason for not repairing it, and lack of money meant I could not have a dedicated offroad vehicle.

The answer to the original question is no.

Until it is needed, then very much yes.

A rear diff lock is also good if you want to get really really stuck

Originally Posted by Shamus_

A rear diff lock is also good if you want to get really really stuck

I see diff locks and low range as how I get home from where high range unlocked has announced the end of my drive in. Take a hint Ross, nature is saying at that point.

Do any of you fellas use the diff lock(s) as a precautionary measure before you know you need them? Its a normal procedure for us - I'll engage the rear locker and see what's what. Most of the time its just continue on maybe after a bit of tail wagging, but if its at all iffy, I'll pull back a tad and flick the front locker switch at which point Unreal Crab mode is engaged. The other pre-emptive measure I don't mind doing is putting chains on the front. A muddy track that could be a pain in the arse and tough on the drivetrain suddenly becomes a relatively easy low range 2nd or 3rd. Just means you're slower between hazards. Gets us around and that bit further. Much more of a precautionary toolset than a "get there hell or high water" 4WD-24/7 type thing. The Overlander mindset vs. gung ho balls to the wall.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Do any of you fellas use the diff lock(s) as a precautionary measure before you know you need them? Its a normal procedure for us - I'll engage the rear locker and see what's what. Most of the time its just continue on maybe after a bit of tail wagging, but if its at all iffy, I'll pull back a tad and flick the front locker switch at which point Unreal Crab mode is engaged. The other pre-emptive measure I don't mind doing is putting chains on the front. A muddy track that could be a pain in the arse and tough on the drivetrain suddenly becomes a relatively easy low range 2nd or 3rd. Just means you're slower between hazards. Gets us around and that bit further. Much more of a precautionary toolset than a "get there hell or high water" 4WD-24/7 type thing. The Overlander mindset vs. gung ho balls to the wall.

Yeah but way more front than rear, rear is good for a heavier vechiles,front is way useful in extreme off road
Howat or tomlin lockers in the front and rear on mirco switches give the options of using the fiddle brakes to steer the truck.


Sent from my SM-S936B using Tapatalk

No, not necessary, just a nice-to-have. If the vehicle has traction control, then that helps a lot and goes some of the way toward achieving what a diff lock is set out to do. I have a 2005 prado which just has traction control, and I easily get anywhere I want to go hunting. Hunting in the South Island does not usually involve doing crazy 4WD tracks, just a few casual off-road tracks and river beds etc. That being said I rarely see the traction control come on so I could probably still go anywhere I wanted to without it.

Interestingly, Ronny Dahl did a video on YouTube of a situation where he got stuck with the rear diff lock on in a Hilux. Hiluxes disengage the traction control system when the rear diff lock is on (and probably other vehicles with stock rear diff lock). Then he turned off the rear diff lock and the traction control system engaged, and he got out. Sometimes the traction control system will get you further than just a rear diff lock evidently:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad-UCZelHvA

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Do any of you fellas use the diff lock(s) as a precautionary measure before you know you need them? Its a normal procedure for us - I'll engage the rear locker and see what's what. Most of the time its just continue on maybe after a bit of tail wagging, but if its at all iffy, I'll pull back a tad and flick the front locker switch at which point Unreal Crab mode is engaged. The other pre-emptive measure I don't mind doing is putting chains on the front. A muddy track that could be a pain in the arse and tough on the drivetrain suddenly becomes a relatively easy low range 2nd or 3rd. Just means you're slower between hazards. Gets us around and that bit further. Much more of a precautionary toolset than a "get there hell or high water" 4WD-24/7 type thing. The Overlander mindset vs. gung ho balls to the wall.

Yep definitely. I've been stuck too many times with 4wds that don't have diff locks. Makes me wonder how you can call them a 4wd. I wouldn't own a truck for off road missions without diff locks

Originally Posted by BRADS

Yeah but way more front than rear, rear is good for a heavier vechiles,front is way useful in extreme off road
Howat or tomlin lockers in the front and rear on mirco switches give the options of using the fiddle brakes to steer the truck.

My air locker system doesn't allow me to switch the front on before the rear. And I definitely don't have fiddle brakes. That is until I try and replace the shoes. Then I definitely have fiddle brakes.

The OP wants to get to hunting spots in the SI. He said he is not interested in river crossings or serious 4x4ing. Locking diffs are a nice to have, definitely not a need to have.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

My air locker system doesn't allow me to switch the front on before the rear. And I definitely don't have fiddle brakes. That is until I try and replace the shoes. Then I definitely have fiddle brakes.

Oh interesting
We run fully independent of each other lockers so if a line gets ripped off we still have one or the other.
These are hydro locker systems though, the straight old air arb locker is probably the most solid but you cant pull a fiddle brake or your cv will leave the chat.
The arb air locker also involves you getting off the horsepower for a split second before pulling it on the hydro doesn't mind.

Sent from my SM-S936B using Tapatalk

ARB default is that when front & rear lockers are installed the front will not engage unless the rear is engaged.
With my level of club 4wding I've 'rewired' the switches and I can engage the front & rear lockers independently.

However...I think we have seriously digressed from the original question...myself included.
Old mate asked about the benefits of a rear locker and I think that question has been answered,

If you can afford something that is factory equipped with a locker whether it be rear and/or front then do it!.
I remember a 4wd mate back in the late '80's who bought a tidy swb 70 series Landcruiser...he peeled the carpet back and found factory oem front & rear cable lockers, definitely a score.

But...as mentioned, putting yourself into a locked 4wd and thinking your bullet proof and can drive anything is gonna probably end up in a post on social media as a plea for help. Locker, yes...go for it, but learn your vehicle capabilities, how to use the locker and recovery gear and you'll be cosha. Contact a club even and get yourself included on a training day.

Just remember every were you want to drive in this land A series 1 landrover or a mb 42 jeep has been there before on 600 x 16 tyres .

Originally Posted by Flyblown

My air locker system doesn't allow me to switch the front on before the rear. And I definitely don't have fiddle brakes. That is until I try and replace the shoes. Then I definitely have fiddle brakes.

you can rewire it so you can use front only google is your friend...

Originally Posted by DemocKot

you can rewire it so you can use front only google is your friend...

indeed. But I don't want to. Or need to.