I just purchased a 2013 FX4 equipped with the locking rear differential. I understand how it works but I'm not real clear when to use it. I live in a warm climate so ice isn't a big issue. The truck will be my daily driver/hunting vehicle and will be driven down pretty muddy/deeply rutted camp roads. Should I engage it only when a wheel starts to slip or should I engage it preventatively? Any other tips or best practices?

Thanks in advance.

 

Soon as you hit the dirt.

 

I lock it in every time I think it could need it. So almost every time I go off road.

 

Whenever you have way more weight/traction on one side causing the other side to lose traction, like this:


0 - 24 seconds = diff unlocked
25 - end = locked

As you can see, the back left tire had an exceptional amount of traction. However, due to the diff being unlocked, the back right and front left tires just spun. Once the diff was locked, it forced the back left tire to turn resulting in getting up the bump. This is not the way you would approach a little bump like this as I did this for demonstration purposes only.

 

ahhh... that makes sense. Thanks for the replies.

 

When U pull the boat out. If one wheel can slip/mud.