Thread: Drove off the track - Vic High Plains

Good save there Dave
One wonders when you travel with Yota`s

The track did not look that bad for the detroit to cause a issue but then the camera footage does not show the steepness or how rough it really was as usual
Yeah there is always that argument over which locker is best and they all have there merits and i know what camp im in with selectable

How did the Detroit contribute.....front or rear??

If it was a front locker was it the inability to steer?

If it was just a rear locker than I’m lost.....unless it unlocked at the wrong time.

I’m in the process of considering which locker I should go with.

I followed a 130 up blue Rag just the other day, he had a rear Detroit and I didn’t see any unusual behavior.

Cheers

I've been driving with a Detroit locker for years. Can't see how that incident could possibly be blamed on the diff?

Looked like it went right, almost into the bank, then left, and simply drove off the edge. There was no really loose stuff on the track that could have caused the diff lock to overcome the steering inputs.

The only issues I've ever had with the Detroit setup, is when travelling on a side-slope on either gravel or mud, where the back end tends to want to slide downhill. Once you've experienced it, it is quite easy to anticipate and allow for.

I'm a bit perturbed by the fact that the driver had to be told to stop, when he'd already gone over the edge! Perhaps a concentration lapse?

Originally Posted by weeds

How did the Detroit contribute.....front or rear??

If it was a front locker was it the inability to steer?

If it was just a rear locker than I’m lost.....unless it unlocked at the wrong time.

I’m in the process of considering which locker I should go with.

I followed a 130 up blue Rag just the other day, he had a rear Detroit and I didn’t see any unusual behavior.

Cheers

Detroits are definitely not for front axle fitting! That's the domain of Tru Trak (like mine), selectable locker or an ATB - type diff.

The fact that they were driving uphill means the diff can't unlock - the only time a Detroit unlocks is on a trailing throttle.

Originally Posted by donh54

Detroits are definitely not for front axle fitting! That's the domain of Tru Trak (like mine), selectable locker or an ATB - type diff.

The fact that they were driving uphill means the diff can't unlock - the only time a Detroit unlocks is on a trailing throttle.

Cool, thanks for explanation

Thanks for the comments,
Its a rear Detroit, - & front ATB and maybe I'm being a bit kind to the driver by ( partly) blaming it, he has travelled thousands of 4WD KM in Africa, and I was about to say that he needn't weave around the track, bad timing from me.
As far as the Detroit, many years ago I did once lose steering & drive off a track as the McNamara rear diff lock was not disengaged between 4wd sections, - it was nearer to 30 kph but the memory remains. I didn't want to start a debate about diff locks, but my experience has been that a rear diff locked will change steering dynamics, especially on turns.
David

Originally Posted by DeeJay

Thanks for the comments,
Its a rear Detroit, - & front ATB and maybe I'm being a bit kind to the driver by ( partly) blaming it, he has travelled thousands of 4WD KM in Africa, and I was about to say that he needn't weave around the track, bad timing from me.
As far as the Detroit, many years ago I did once lose steering & drive off a track as the McNamara rear diff lock was not disengaged between 4wd sections, - it was nearer to 30 kph but the memory remains. I didn't want to start a debate about diff locks, but my experience has been that a rear diff locked will change steering dynamics, especially on turns.
David

Well said and that it will

It wasn't until I saw the still shots that I understood how steep it was, looked pretty tame until then.