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Can the open diff fishtail on dirt/gravel?

Frenchy

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With the snow coming in, this old topic got me. I really want to see in the snow if the E locker is really different from the old school LSD...and does it make it better for off road in general
From my own experience with a few different vehicles I can say that an E-Locker is very helpful for OffRoad conditions. For Winter driving? That depends on the definition. If on the street, then no. If OffRoad then yes as long as the situation calls for it. As for an LSD I have found those to be extremely versatile. I had a nice one in my old 93 Pathfinder and I rarely had to go into 4WD for general winter driving on the street. I even made a few Jeep and Toyota guys mad by passing them while they were stuck in a ditch(I'm not a tow truck company so not my problem)
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With the snow coming in, this old topic got me. I really want to see in the snow if the E locker is really different from the old school LSD...and does it make it better for off road in general
4x4 has been enough for dealing with snow for me... wouldn't use locker unless stuck. I have used the locker on steeper dirt/rock inclines so as to minimize slippage (rock throwing) or loss of momentum.
 

subquark

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For Christmas, I was stuck in my daughter's steep driveway. I was able to get up half by going incredibly slow to avoid wheel slip but then ....

So I floored it and got nowhere. Then I locked it into first gear and turned off traction control, then, phew, I was able to power out.

LOL, it was like 12° and I didn't feel like getting on the ground to put chains on for 20 feet. I also contemplated my folding traction boards as they would have been easier for this momentary stuckness.

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AzScorpion

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For Christmas, I was stuck in my daughter's steep driveway. I was able to get up half by going incredibly slow to avoid wheel slip but then ....

So I floored it and got nowhere. Then I locked it into first gear and turned off traction control, then, phew, I was able to power out.

LOL, it was like 12° and I didn't feel like getting on the ground to put chains on for 20 feet. I also contemplated my folding traction boards as they would have been easier for this momentary stuckness.

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You should've drove Soupie 2 to her house. That way you'll never be stuck. lol

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Motorpsychology

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With the snow coming in, this old topic got me. I really want to see in the snow if the E locker is really different from the old school LSD...and does it make it better for off road in general
E-locker is slightly better in a modern truck than not. Slightly, because today there is traction control which performs the same function as old school Positraction, plus it will decrease power overall in the case of a spinning wheel. But with an e-locker, you can apply more power to the rear wheels if you turn the traction control off. like 4WD, the e-locker shouldn't be used on dry pavement.
 


JerryRange

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so basically "E-" means there is some kind of electronics that blocks the diff just like the LSD which doesn't utilize electronics? Guess it's made to decrease production cost of the truck. A piece of plastic with wires is for sure cheaper than something mechanical
 

Cabose-1

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Like everything an eletronic locker has pros and cons. For me the elocker is great. Pulling trailers in mud (i have no 4x4) i turn on my eletronic locker and put it in slippery mode (i have a 2024) and the truck and transmission donits thing. I think i am going to get stuck but the wheels just creep along as it drives. If i had one of the lsd i would have to give it the beans! Hammer down! Wot! Instead i just crawl through hoping i have cell signal. Its not as strong as a mechanical locker but i am not rock crawling, and the elocker works real good on the yards with all gravel driveways and parking.
 

specialKody

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so basically "E-" means there is some kind of electronics that blocks the diff just like the LSD which doesn't utilize electronics? Guess it's made to decrease production cost of the truck. A piece of plastic with wires is for sure cheaper than something mechanical
An Electronic Locker uses an electronic signal to tie both axle shafts together (aka lock the differential). There are other forms of lockers like Air lockers for example. If you want a mechanical locker then you're looking for a 'spool'. This is where you weld the axles to be locked.

An LSD uses momentum to sense when to engage. This can make LSDs lock the axles more unpredictably than a locker.

I'm not sure which of the two is stronger (except spooling of course - that's very strong). The size of the differential tends to determine the strength.
 

Frenchy

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An Electronic Locker uses an electronic signal to tie both axle shafts together (aka lock the differential). There are other forms of lockers like Air lockers for example. If you want a mechanical locker then you're looking for a 'spool'. This is where you weld the axles to be locked.

An LSD uses momentum to sense when to engage. This can make LSDs lock the axles more unpredictably than a locker.

I'm not sure which of the two is stronger (except spooling of course - that's very strong). The size of the differential tends to determine the strength.
Correction, an E-Locker uses an Electric Magnet to bring in pins to engage the locker. Air Lockers are similar, but use compressed air.
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