Low range or locking diffs?

[Major Fallout]

Hypothetical 2 identical cars automatic 4x4 300bhp diesel loads of torque, but one has a low range reduction box and the other has locking difs.
You have to drive across a muddy flat feild, not a race just have to get across it.

So what would you choose.
Personally and I have no experience off roaring I would chose the locking diff car.

[TooMany2cvs]

Major Fallout said:

Hypothetical 2 identical cars automatic 4x4 300bhp diesel loads of torque, but one has a low range reduction box and the other has locking difs.
You have to drive across a muddy flat feild, not a race just have to get across it.

So what would you choose.
Personally and I have no experience off roaring I would chose the locking diff car.

If it's just a muddy flat field, neither are really necessary - but the right tyres WILL make a difference.

Different tools for different requirements.

[LouD86]

Tyres are important. A case I made this week greenlaning, my disco on Agressive Muds, with only a centre diff lock, pull my friends Terrano with LSD, locking centre diff, and BFG muds on it. The Terrano was spinning all four wheels, the disco had already been over it, and then I backed up and pulled him the next 500 yards until he got traction.

For extreme mud though, Id rather locking diffs than low range I think.

[100SRV]

You need to get the torque to the ground, in slippery conditions you need to keep the rate of change in applied torque to a minimum. Aggressive tyres (but mild ones with snow chains perform much better) and locked differentials are the key on slippery surfaces. Low range is for control in climbs, descents or manoevering (e.g. rocky stream bed).

[Spare tyre]

i find things a lot easier to control in low range

but i never really know what im doing!

[longblackcoat]

Major Fallout said:

Hypothetical 2 identical cars automatic 4x4 300bhp diesel loads of torque, but one has a low range reduction box and the other has locking difs.
You have to drive across a muddy flat feild, not a race just have to get across it.

So what would you choose.
Personally and I have no experience off roaring I would chose the locking diff car.

Mine is auto, has 300hp, locking centre and rear diff AND a low ratio box. Do I win a prize....and do I have to cross a muddy field to collect it?

[balls-out]

Major Fallout said:

Hypothetical 2 identical cars automatic 4x4 300bhp diesel loads of torque, but one has a low range reduction box and the other has locking difs.
You have to drive across a muddy flat feild, not a race just have to get across it.

So what would you choose.
Personally and I have no experience off roaring I would chose the locking diff car.

Muddy and flat, grip is all important. given equal tyres then diff lock is the key - "normal" 1st gear would be fine, no need for low.

[bigblock]

Locking diffs will give it true four wheel drive which is what you need for slippy surfaces. Low range will provide little benefit on a flat surface in assisting with traction.


I would also say that an offroader with locking diffs and no lowrange box is not something I have ever heard of

Edited by bigblock on Tuesday 13th January 17:18

[PhillipM]

I can point you at a fair few

[Wollemi]

With a big high torque engine low range isn't needed on the flat - you'll need it for very steep hills (both up and down). Also for control going very slowly over very rocky terrain.
Diff locks are what you need for gaining traction on slippery surfaces, without diff locks the power / torque all goes to the wheel with least resistance. However modern electronic traction controls do much the same job by braking the otherwise spinning wheels.