8 SITUATIONS NOT TO USE DIFF LOCKERS  

Great video! Do more with air lockers, e lockers, and auto lockers. Keep up the good work.

Wanted to let you know that between you and Robert Pepper you've literally saved my life with your information on winching and safety. All your other content has made me a better more well rounded off roader and I truly appreciate you and your content. Thank you

As a guy on a budget the auto-locker is what I have, front and rear in my 2022 Jimny. Yes, I had to learn to drive the car again but after less than three months it became all natural to me and I’m very happy with what I have. No regrets what so ever!

That classic 'look' from Ronny on the Flinders, love it. Your teaching videos are awesome, the explanations with visuals plus years of experience make it a 4x4 educational blast.

one other thing to keep in mind in an open diff, if one tire is stuck and the other is free spinning, the free spinning tire can spin up to 2x faster than it would in a normal situation vs what ur speedo reports cause the way open diff works. if that spinning tire suddenly catches, thats more shock load than you might expect.

Very informative, thank you! My vehicle has a rear locker and I havent had to use it yet, but this really helped me understand that there is definitely a wrong and right place to use it. Cheers

So the ultimate solution is to keep all lockers on all the time and negotiate every turn via 4 wheel drifting...

Thank you for the great video. Appreciate sharing a video with tips for 4x4 vehicles that do not have lockers and everything is manual, like for old land cruisers . Many thanks.

Mate, I love your videos even though I don't do four-wheel driving and don't own a 4wheeler but one day I will! You seem like a real gentleman and a genuine man. Thanks and keep'em coming!

I didn’t think there was much more I could learn on this topic but I stand corrected. Thank you!

Very informative. Looking at how "brutal" electronic traction controlsystems in modern awd vechicles act, i always thought that that shockloads and stresses the driveline even more than when both wheels are locked together. (There's more seemingly sudden "stops" of a fast turning wheel, loading the stress via the diff onto the other one)

Excellent explanation and synopsis. Thank you for posting.

Yes please mate, I would love to work out what would best suit my needs regarding lockers, and having the differences and pros/cons explained like you did with the campers. I enjoy your videos and look forward to more mate. Keep up the good work. Stay off road

Great video, with good tips! Greetings from Germany! I drive an 80 Series Land Cruiser in forestry and hard offroad and will remember when to use which locker 👍

Great information to help others that are new to the 4WD Scene!! Even I had trouble explaining when and when not to use and this helps a lot!! I would also like to see a deep dive video of different locker types against each other

A great video, Ronny! Lots of useful information, do's and don't of using diff lock. Nicely presented. I have a question: what if we don't have manual control or don't have diff locks in the vehicle. E.g. Suzuki Jimny 4x4 setup, will this be possible for you to make a quick 3-5 minutes video on do's and don't or how to efficiently use Jimny 4x4 without breaking anything. I don't have the luxury to have these trucks but I drive Jimny. One quick video will help me or many others a lot. Thanks again mate ❤

Great video! Tend to not use the rear locker or think of it as a resource tool but got me out of trouble once recently on a sandy bumpy hill that tyre pressure and momentum didn’t help. Rear locker on, climbed the hill like a breeze.

Very informative and helpful! Thanks.

Yes would love to see a deep dive on diff locker types. Keep up the great work!

Thanks. Learned a lot!

I have ARB lockers front and rear on my 80 landcruiser diesel I’ve owned for 20+ years since I was a teenager when I bought it. I’ve broken three rear diff centres (once was the air locker bolts) and one front. But that’s in Victorian high country. I also have a PTO winch running from gearbox. Good set up. But you’re right, and one thing I know for sure, never reverse up hill with a locked front diff. The rest of the time, I hardly ever get stuck. Especially when I put front and rear chains on in snow season and lock both diffs. Cool info. Many people are totally ignorant and wonder why they always get stuck and cannot follow my path 😅

Outstanding coverage of the matter.

Over here in Florida USA (sand and swamp) we try to keep the diffs unlocked as much as possible to reduce driveline stress also. We also add as much flex as possible to the suspension to keep the tires on the ground.

Awesome video and explanation, thanks!

Great advice. It’s confirming my thoughts have been spot on.

Great video. And the talk about differentials and high traction surfaces is another point of data to support the need for the old 2L feature ... it used to be available on some vehicles, and disappeared. On rock surfaces where all 4 wheels aren't needed, 2L would be a godsend.

Good video. Thanks for sharing it clear and simple. All makes sense and could save a lot of drama. Hard pill to swallow eventually if you’re not wanting to go with this advice Keep it up, good job 👍

Thanks Ronny, I wasn't sure if I should watch as I don't have lockers yet but super helpful. You explain things very well.

Top vid mate. A long time ago I put an auto locca in the front diff of my 2002 hilux. Wasn't much info about any locca back then. I figured I had LSD in the back and the ifs was limited travel. Still does me good with limited height and articulation also I didn't have as much weight as what every one is carrying now

Very well prepared that video. thx :)

Been waiting for a video about this, thankyou!

Great Video! Everyone applicable should watch this. A+

Great content! I like the visuals.

Great animations and explanations! Best I've seen explaining what a differential does and how it operates in 'open mode'. (grasshopper speak) Also what lockers do and how they 'level up' the 'mod'. (again) 100% agree. Tho will say that full-time rigs (80series for example) and 'part-time' or AWD rigs can be operated differently still. That'd be a good video if you could wrastle up the rigs to demo for it.

One of the best Videos on You Tube!!! Well done

I think this will be helpful! Thank you.

My Grenadier has the factory front and rear lockers, which I’ve never had before. Turning left off a beach on the run up to the big “escape dune”, I discovered the effect the front diff lock has on steering.

Totally awesome Mate! I learned a lot! Did not really know the finer points of lockers. We have front and rear on our Gladiator Ecodiesel.

Best tutorial info I’ve found on lockers!

Great video. Well put together.

Another great video legend. Please do a deep dive into all the diffrent types of diff lockers.

You answer all my questions. Thanks and Greetings from Germany

Hello mate! Here from the states. I wanted to comment on using the rear lockers in high speed. I currently own a ford Bronco with 35” tires and front and rear lockers. My Bronco allows me to travel at very high speeds in Baja mode. Great video!

Those info are great thank you

Old video but very interesting and informative, thanks!

Excellent video. I have rear Harrop E locker in the 07 Prado 120 V6 and its handy on the beach/sand tracks. Thought about adding one to the front diff as well but have not made my mind up yet

Awesome, thanks!

I love the 4x4 system of the Mercedes G-Wagon. I drive these cars in the swiss army on and off road. The nice thing on these cars is that they have permanent all wheel drive. You can drive these cars with open diffs on snowy roads up hill with alot of traction and controll (not just RWD). Then when you go offroad, you can engage center locker, rear locker and front locker. The transfer case is also two speed with a low range for creeping really slowly over obstacles. I love driving the G‘s and I am constantly looking im the internet for a „less expensive“ one to buy. Thanks for your Videos! I love watching them.

Awesome vedio Ronny. Thanks

Great video man! I'd like to see others about the different types 👍🏻

Yes Ronny i would love to see a deep dive into all the different types of Lockers & their pros & cons, thanks.

Thanks Ronny! This was a very very good and education episode.

Great video Ronny. Some vnew vehicles HiLux - downhill desscent engaged, do not engage rear locker, that will turn DAC off.

Brilliant content as always!

What a great video. So many things to learn in 10 minutes. One option for a front differential is a Torsen dif. I would be very interested to have your opinion on this.

Great informative video. Thanks

Awesome info , thank you once again.. Buuut, I’m a silly bugger that owns an Iveco Daily 4x4, they are an AWD system…maybe in the future a remake of this but with info about those types of vehicles would be grouse… 😁 . Either way, awesome job on your uploads.

Great job on this video!

Nice one Ronny as you know you do learn from mistakes experiences and you have plenty would, love to here more about the different type of lockers good and bad points cheers man 👍

This was a great video. I would really like to learn the differences between say ARB and my factory Nissan rear E-Locker. I am absorbing as much info as I can so I can better tour the USA. Cheers!

great vid ronny, these videos are ur best

GREAT Great Video. I admit I learned a lot from this very well done video. ❤🎉🎉 Thank you for the amount of work that went into making this Professional grade informative video.

Great information! I always something new with your videos. Keep up the great work and it would be nice to see a video on the different type of lockers! Still trying to figure out what would be my best option.

Great stuff - thanks!

Very good info!

Would love to see a more in depth video on lockers. I have heard that if you have a Patrol, go front because their rear LSD is so good. If you have a Cruiser, go rear. I have a 105 so I get could flex out of the front. Things like this I’d be really keen to know more about.

One thing I like about Land Rover traction control on my old solid axle disco is that instead of just having open or Locker I can have open, TC and then a locker when needed . I don't like just having open or Locker because the TC is very very fantastic and makes using a locker less often

Nice 👌 exactly what I'm looking for

there needs to be a winter/snow/ice version of this video

Thank you for this video.

Top notch splainin' Ronny.

Useful video, Ronny. Love the new Akubra :)

Great demonstration

thanks for a good informative vid, would have loved it if you had talked a little about LSD's and how they work in similer situations and thow you can tighten or loosen them depending on the type of offroading you do.

Running an E locker on a 2wd truck. Just enough to get out of trouble but I don’t count on it when deciding what to get in to. I’d love to see some comparisons of what a locked 2wd can do compared to an open 4wd

I have dropped my front wheels in a trench and was resting on my frame/skidplate. I used a high lift jack to raise my jeep up and backed off of the jack freeing my tires.

Great vids again! Lake Havasu 🌞 Az USA

definitely do the deep dive on the types of lockers :)

Great information, please do that follow up video. Also when you do that one could you cover the use of the Prado rear and centre locker setups that some of the models come with

Ive got twin air lockers in my jimny. Its amazing what extra capabilities it adds.

Great explantion thanks

Ronny your videos are outstanding, thank u for sharing u knowledge, Vasili South Africa

Nice Ronny Great video Thanks heaps Cheers

I always manage to learn something new from you, thanks! Lockers comparison video please, if possible including cable lockers! Majority opinion seems to favor air lockers (like arb) over e-lockers (like harrop), I hear that they engage more quickly, are (maybe?) stronger, don't disengage on rollback, etc. But I really, really dislike the idea of airlines running the length of my chassis. So many places to spring a leak! Diagnosing n repair would terrible on the trail, seems to me! And I have a nice portable air compressor that I like to throw in the back for 4x4ing, n take out the rest of the time when using my kzj78 as my daily driver. So I lean towards elocker, since mine does not have factory locker. But i live in Africa and I love simplicity! What about a cable locker? I see virtually NO reviews, bug 8m the kinda of guy would is open to that option, if they are any good - simplicity is a beautiful.thing!

A deep dive on lockers from you would be awesome, given the detail & no BS approach you do in your vids. I personally run an auto locker front & factory vacuum locker on the rear & have done for many years with no issues, however I mainly run on clay/ mud up in Northern Rivers NSW. It would be very interesting how they all stack up against each other...........😃👍

Cool informative video which leads to a lot of questions. I've just bought but not yet installed an auto lokka for the front diff in my car. How does this compare with what you've just said in this video

That's what I like about a Detroit Locker in the rear. It will ratchet when needed and rolling

Excellent!

Thanks Ronny! You da man.

Thanks again for the great content! Question, approximately what speed do you consider to be high-speed and dangerous to use the rear locker…?

Thanks for the interesting video! Would you put the diff in, when crossing deep rivers with round loose gravel?

Nice video, I have only / mainly experience of Toyota's electrical motor actuated diff lock and have wondered about the speed compared to air lockers (or is it leakers). The Eaton mechanism is flawed in my opinion / understanding. Plus magnets should in my opinion only be on the drain plug. Another question that I have about the use of stiffer side shafts is how much are you now impact-loading the ring gear and rest of the drive line if you do not have flex. This is similar to the impact forces if you should increase your snatch rope rating and reduce stretch Or to make a ridiculous exaggeration to snatch with a chain. I have driven in mud with a Ford that engage and disengage rear diff quickly, but my cruisers are sometimes slower to engage or disengage especially under load - most probably not recommended. Steering in mud if you slide off course is so much easier and sometimes even possible if you are not engaged, but when you need traction, you need quick engaging diff locks before you lose momentum. Diff locks can cause you to lose control / steering without the ability to disengage quickly enough even at low speeds - colleagues ended on their Hilux's roof at low-low speed. thanks for your video.

how to break your driveline: use rear locker for drifting on the supermarket parking. cool video, always great to learn.

Great video, would be interesting to see a comparison between diff locks and atb's

This was great, Ronny. What do you think about adding a rear air locker to a rwd vehicle? Worth it? I hear a lot of poeple say a 2wd vehicle with a rear locker will go 98% of the places a 4wd will go, but for me, it's about getting out of sticky situations (muddy mountain roads and sandy beaches).

great video mate. id like to put lockers on my 2014 sr5 but dont know which is best to use.

So, we were on the asphalt 2-lane highway to the ski lodge st Flagstaff, Arizona and my friend with the 4-door Jeep Wrangler Rubicon was doing fine but my 2-door Wrangler Rubicon was all over the snowy road and locking the front, to pull me along did nothing, locking the back and then both axles still had me practicing really fast steering. Turns out that my BFG tyres that are great in the rocky desert, mud and soft snow with those big knobby chunks of traction giving rubber had so much rubber, without tread, on the icy asphalt that it was like I was on racing slicks. .... Also, my lockers have run almost half a kilometer before they finally gave in and disconnected, which is a bloody pain in the arse.

It's great to see Wayne back in the videos ........

Realllllly great content. Thank you! What about the Raptor’s limited slip diff locker that’s supposed to be high speed desert running?

Fantastic video, would love to hear the difference in the types of lockers. Looking at getting a rear locker in my 08 200 series