Thread: ETC vs Lockers vs Tyres?

Manually locked diffs are 'active' if you will, whereas TC is 'reactive'.
AT tyres; To a lesser degree, they have more rubber contact with the surface so the larger footprint gives less penetration. To a larger degree, it is the smaller sipes between the treads which clog with mud more easily. The technique here is wheelspin to use centrifugal force to clean the treads. Make sure you know where your wheels are pointing and recognise high traction surfaces so you don't suddenly end up spearing off into the trees.
TC will also hinder this technique to an extent.

I think the Rubicons TC is switched off when the diff locks are employed or at least have a different program. Or it might even have an switch to turn off the TC. So it can spin the mud out of the treads as 100I stated.
Your experience just highlights the problem of only relying on TC, And why D3 now has other systems.
Quick fix: get some STT.

In that situation I would think the tyre type made the biggest difference. A Cooper STT is a lot more agressive than the BFG AT tread pattern.

Oh well, as fun as it was, I can't see myself driving in those conditions very often, so I won't be running out to by STT's just yet (not that the missus would let me spend any more money anyway ... )

Originally Posted by mojo

Went down to Levuka over the weekend and had my first real play in the Defender. After a week of rain the tracks were a wee bit slippery to say the least. It was great fun and a real learning experience for me. I was extremely happy with how the Landy went.

I did get stuck in a couple of spots that the guys I was with managed to get through. One of them had a Patrol with front and rear ARB lockers and Cooper STT's. The other had a 4 door Jeep Wrangler - the Rubicon model with factory front and rear lockers. I had my new BFG AT's and my ETC.

Should I have been able to go everywhere they went? I'm wondering if it was the lockers or the tyres that gave them the advantage? I've only just bought the BFG's so I'm stuck with them for a few years now, but I'm thinking maybe I should have got something a bit more aggressive, or perhaps even got the BFG's but in a wider size (I got the standard 235/85 16)?

Wider tyres are not necessarily better in the mud and slop - - although this topic can trigger great discussion.

Was at Levuka the weekend the Pasha Bulker ran aground. Nice and wet then as well.

The only Levuka track that caused me grief was the steep climb on Dingoes run in the rainforest after a big mudpit. Had some 8-12" steps and was quite slippery.

Did not try Havoc Crossing. Looked like you could lose half a day in there.

I'm running 255/85R16"s (33") BFG MTs on my 300Tdi just for offroad with a stock suspension. I like Cooper tyres (run 235/85R16 STs for aroud town) but could not get STTs in the 255 size any more.

I suspect your tyres were the limiting factor. My BFG MTs seemed far more grippy at Levuka than my more AT centric Cooper STs were.

Levuka - Great Place

You are new to the Landy, but new to 4wding? Experience can usually get you through when other with more capable vehicles get left behind. STTs in mud would have made a heap of difference, and the lockers may have helped. Momentum is very important in mud. I reckon with even STs you would have given em a run ;-)

Not new to 4wding, but definitely new to those kind of conditions. I'm sure you're right, with more experience under my belt I could have progressed a bit further. I learnt alot though, so maybe next time I'll go better ...