I'm looking at a 2006 4x4, 4 cylinder, manual, with SR5 package. This
does not have limited slip, and is not an option.

I live in southern Calif so seldom see rain or snow. Several times a
year I might go to the ski areas, but then you primarily have fresh
snow, and I'm just on the roads.

The main reason I'm looking at 4x4 is to go to hiking areas. Most of
the areas I visit only require high clearance, but the occassion road
is rated as recommended for 4x4.

So my needs are driving in fresh snow on roads, and on the easy end of
off-road 4x4. It seems that even the TRD package does not have limited
slip either, so given that I don't go on really crazy roads, I assume I
would be ok without the limited slip or the locker that the TRD does
have.

Do I have this right?

I think an open differential will suite you fine. I had an '87 Toyota 4x4
with open differentials and it performed very well. Just remember that
opposite corners will be able to spin - that is if the left front and right
rear wheels slip you will loose traction, but if both left wheels slip you
will have at least one tire giving you traction.


<dc.nc (AT) verizon (DOT) net> wrote

I live in Canada and off road year round in my Jeep CJ7 4x4. It has
open diffs and works great. Folks with lockers have a hard time keeping
up in the snow packed trails.

Guys with lockers or limited slips can get into big trouble easily
because of the 'low side finder' effect of a locked diff. When you spin
tires, they go to the low side of the road if both spin on the same
axle. This leads to having to crab walk up trails. If the trails
aren't wide enough, the arse end is in the ditch.

The open diff lets one wheel act like a rudder so it is way more likely
to track straight in the snow.

Now if I am stopped on real slippery stuff and have one front and one
rear wheel merrily spinning away, I can hit the brake pedal hard which
loads up the torque on the spinning wheel until it matches the break
away torque needed on the stopped tire and bingo! Away I go with 3 or 4
rooster tails shooting out. This is an old trick and is even mentioned
in both of my owners manuals. They say you can do it using the
emergency brake also, but I have better results with the brake pedal.
It takes a bit of practice.

If I was to ever get a locker, it would have to be a manual one I can
turn off when not needed.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

dc.nc (AT) verizon (DOT) net wrote: