Do you use low range, CD unlocked?

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Originally posted by disco95
I tend to disagree with you guys here, I often take the family down some pretty easy tracks, no need for locked centre diff, and really no need for low range. The thing is though, that it's easier to go slower and make the ride less rough and bumpy. I like to take the missus and kid with me, if she was getting thrown around the cab too much I'm sure she'd want to go less. That means I don't get to go out as much. Not all my bush track work is tough and difficult tracks, just being in the bush is part of the lure of 4WDing for me. I can crawl along a track for for a while, then something difficult comes up and the CD gets locked. It's not a matter of "I can do it in 2WD" but a matter of comfort for myself and the passengers. I'd be one of the first to say tread lightly.

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I'm not disagreeing with you there, but in general I think some people tend to leave putting the traction aids in a little late.

I agree with that. It really annoys me to see 4WDers doing the wrong thing. For instance: when we were out doing the Yarramunmun track we were fortunate enough to have someone along who had a key and permission to drive it. When we got to the end of the track though there was a well worn path around the gates and three or four vehicles getting ready to drive the track illegaly. It's this sort of behaviour that gives the rest of us a bad name. Same goes with the yahoos that chew up tracks and drive like maniacs.

To follow on from my previous statement (and apologies for taking this thread slightly OT), I feel that people don't use the CDL enough in high range. Granted, fast gravel roads feature more in SA than some other places, but if you were to compare the difference in vehicle stability between high locked and high unlocked (especially over corrugations as I said before), I'm sure a lot more drivers would be pushing that little lever to the left, more often. :wink:

I feel that the potential for transmission wind up is overplayed a bit sometimes.


Paul [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Originally posted by Defender200Tdi
To follow on from my previous statement (and apologies for taking this thread slightly OT), I feel that people don't use the CDL enough in high range. Granted, fast gravel roads feature more in SA than some other places, but if you were to compare the difference in vehicle stability between high locked and high unlocked (especially over corrugations as I said before), I'm sure a lot more drivers would be pushing that little lever to the left, more often. :wink:

I feel that the potential for transmission wind up is overplayed a bit sometimes.


Paul [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Of the 4 choices available with the little stick this would be the least used.

I for one am interested in exploring this slot before it grows over through lack of use.

Any tricks/advice apart from selecting it on the appropriate surface?

I'd use it if I had to but the D3 does it by itself. It's electronically controlled like the rear diff lock that I optioned. I don't know when it's engaging or not because I don't have SAT/NAV which has the message centre graphic showing the CDL and Rear Diff lock.

Chris

really often
i have a fairly steep driveway that i have to give my ute heaps to get up in reverse and then try to thread it into a narrow carport, so quite often i'll shove it into low range so i can do it slower and safer.
aside from that, if the kids next door are running around, i have to take extreme care because their combined road sense is less than that of my dumbest dog



and the CD is running the whole time :wink:

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Originally posted by one_iota+--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(one_iota)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-Defender200Tdi
To follow on from my previous statement (and apologies for taking this thread slightly OT), I feel that people don't use the CDL enough in high range. Granted, fast gravel roads feature more in SA than some other places, but if you were to compare the difference in vehicle stability between high locked and high unlocked (especially over corrugations as I said before), I'm sure a lot more drivers would be pushing that little lever to the left, more often. :wink:

I feel that the potential for transmission wind up is overplayed a bit sometimes.


Paul [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

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Of the 4 choices available with the little stick this would be the least used.

I for one am interested in exploring this slot before it grows over through lack of use.

Any tricks/advice apart from selecting it on the appropriate surface?[/b][/quote]

Use it when you can. When you can means whenever you are on a surface that permits the wheels to slip enough so the front and rear axles can turn at the same speed around a corner without stress. In other words, whenever you can avoid windup.

Examples of when windup isn't a problem include:
- most dirt roads, especially corrguated/gravel
- icy, snowy roads
- mud
- sand
- rocks

When windup IS a problem
- bitumen, even wet bitumen
- slick, smooth rock
- concrete
- other high traction surfaces.

You'll feel windup very quickly. To remove it, reverse with the same amount of lock you used to get it on, or drive with 2 wheels in the dirt and 2 on high-traction, or entirely on a low-traction surface. There is a technique of jacking the wheels up but while that will remove the windup it is likely to remove body parts too.

Wind up is the big bogie. For the newby it is underlined in the manual. Just find somewhere for the wheels to slip.

I guess I am interested in the different handling characteristics at higher speeds like around a sweeping corrugated bend on a gravel road.

Without the CDL engaged the rear will slip out (understeer) and backing off the throttle gently will bring the tail back in line.

I guess I'll have to go out and try it with the CDL engaged.

Like the others here, I generally use it for reversing or freaking the hell out of boy racers from the lights [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

The first thing I do on the beach is lock the centre up,,
makes a huge difference in steering,

When I was commuting bwteen Boonooroo and Tiaro through the forest, I ran with the CD locked for a week or too and noticed an increase in Fuel usage(if thats possible [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img] ) ran without it for a fortnight and had to slow down considerably to negoitiate the corners.