Raven2210

Some examples would be if you have an inclined driveway you need to get up with an inch or so of snow you could probably just lock your axle instead of useing full on 4x4. But if you need to travel on unplowed roads with 6-8 inches of snow you should probably use 4x4. Or in the extreme case you can use both for even more traction.

Coyote4x4

Those videos explain it very well and I agree with all of the above examples. Try this tread if you would like to see it in writing: https://www.f150forum.com/f38/differ...lained-118873/

Here's some more examples of when to use what:
- 2wd: regular driving
- 2wd with rear diff locked: use to get out of a slick spot (like a driveway) without needing to shift into 4hi

- 4hi: slicker conditions, like 2-6 inches of snow
- 4hi with rear diff locked: deeper snow (6+ inches or so), slick mud. Use when going mostly under 30ish miles per hour

- 4low: typically when I'm in 4low I lock the diff...
- 4low: extremely slick conditions. I've used it when plowing through very deep snow with ice underneath when off roading. Very slow speeds only of course in 4low! I'd recommend checking out your owners manual for how to shift into 4low and when 4low is needed if you haven't already.

Hope that helps

eurovw89

Coyote4x4 exactly what i was looking for....thanks a million!!

Coyote4x4

Glad it helped!

Bryce919er

That video is so wrong...
1:49-1:50---it is not "receiving 50% of the torque"--no torque can be generated because one wheel is in the air--the tire can only push on the road as hard as the road pushes back on the tire.
"but because there is resistance it can't (spin the grounded wheel)"--no there is no torque available--that is why the grounded wheel can't spin. 50% of zero is still zero.


2:20
"this tire here (the tire in the air) is not going to rotate" --oh yes it is---it will rotate at exactly the same rate as the opposite tire, hence "locked"


An open diff evenly splits available torque & allows the axles shafts to turn at different rates. In the example no torque is available but is still evenly split (50% of zero is zero).


A locked diff does not split torque & does not allow the axle shafts to turn at different rates--the tires are in effect on a common shaft that transmits 100% of available torque. Since the common shaft can transmit 100% of available torque if either wheel has traction you will move (the road can push back on the tire). Even with a locked axle on ice you again cannot generate torque & are stuck (the road cannot push on either tire).

Coyote4x4

Wow! Didn't watch that one until I saw your post. It is total for sure!

Apeman

Ok now I have a question. I thought I read somewhere that you should only drive in a straight line when the locker is engaged. I haven't needed it yet but my driveway is steep and sometimes covered in snow or loose dirt. Only thing is I have almost a 90 degree corner in it. So can you take slow speed corners or not with the locker engaged in either 2 or 4 wheel drive?

TonyG_FX4

All I am going to say when your stuck rear locker can save your *** like it did for me tonight when I got stuck on a ice bank.

Hemirunner

Yes you can. We run spools (think of it as a locker that's always locked) in street cars and drive everywhere with them. You don't want to be running it locked on clean, dry pavement as you risk everything from tire wear to busting an axle(we do it with spools, but hey....), but in a situation were you need 4wd, running the locker is an added bonus. I'm gong to swap to the raptor switch and TCM so I can run the locker in 2wh at the dragstrip.

AutoLysis

Yup... LOL..

F***ing youtube, had good comments so I assumed it was accurate. You know what happens when people assume, right?