What is the Diff with or with out rear loc-r?

[Hummer crazy]

When you are 4 wheeling how much more important is it to have the Loc-r diff? I got my H3 thinking they all had the same 4x4 equipment but i did get the stabil-Trac.

[Hummer crazy]

When you are 4 wheeling how much more important is it to have the Loc-r diff? I got my H3 thinking they all had the same 4x4 equipment but i did get the stabil-Trac.

[f5fstop]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Hummer crazy:
When you are 4 wheeling how much more important is it to have the Loc-r diff? I got my H3 thinking they all had the same 4x4 equipment but i did get the stabil-Trac. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Really depends on where you are off-roading. Without the e-lock axle, you are relying on the electronic traction control, to allow traction to the wheel that is not free-spinning. To be honest, it does a pretty darn good job on the front and rear axle, but in some situations, there will be times you will wish you had an e-locker.
Get the left rear and right front wheels stuck and you will wish you had the e-locker.

[Hummer crazy]

Ok yea that helps so just kinda stay outa deep mud...lol so hard pack trail light mud and rock is ok just steer clear of deep or that blk swamp mud i should be ok right? ( mid west) here a lota guys here think off roading is going in the mud pit

[trebor]

Not only in the mud, but if you go through an area that takes one front and one rear tire off the ground at the same time (such as traversing a crevice or dropping a front tire off a ledge and bringing a rear tire off the ground), this happens alot when going across large rocks, you will possibly have to make one of those tires touch ground before you can move, due to limited slip spinning easiest axle. Personally I don't own a 4x4 without at least a locker in the rear. Both my Wrangler and Expedition have had them installed front and rear, I may do the H3 front at about 10,000 miles just make sure there is no problems with the front axle that may need to be looked at under warranty.

[timgco]

just use the BTM technique! This will help.

[HummerJim]

I test drove both in June and went with the non adventure package because it rode a little smoother, and my bad back can tell differences. However, there have been three times since, twice in mud and once in snow, that I wish I would have had the locking axle and the lower creep speed. My next H3 will have the Adventure Package for sure!

[Mike B]

My opinion, resale value will be better with rear locker.

[H3 Hummer]

Lets put is this way. This weekend I went off roading I went through some areas pretty easy with the locker engaged. An H1 without a locker had some issues. The driver was not experienced but the wheels were spinning all around and so forth. I really think they are essential to hard core off-roading.

[First Hummer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Hummer crazy:
When you are 4 wheeling how much more important is it to have the Loc-r diff? I got my H3 thinking they all had the same 4x4 equipment but i did get the stabil-Trac. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I just came back from my first Hummer Happening with my base model with 33 inch tires.I had no problems at all running threw the rocks and mud.If you are an avid 4 wheeler the e-locker is nice to have.For myself an occasional off -roader base works fine for me.By the way an H3 with the e-locker got stock after I went down the same trail.

[DWPC]

There are conditions when ETC may get "confused" or where its slight engagement lag costs critical momentum and grip. Its also good to have a positive engagement control and not rely on a chip. You don't have to have a locker to go offroad, but its a lot better with one. Considering the price of the Adventure pkg, I think its a no-brainer unless you plan to never leave the pavement.

[H3 Hummer]

I am not sure if this is true but the Hummer trainers said that you couldn't do something like the picture if you don't have a locker. I think your wheels would just spin when up in the air. With the locker it only gives power to the wheels on the ground. Sometimes only two.

I could be confusing technologies though.

[H3 Hummer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">I just came back from my first Hummer Happening with my base model with 33 inch tires </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I didn't know you could get 33 inch tires without the Adventure package.

[f5fstop]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by DWPC:
There are conditions when ETC may get "confused" or where its slight engagement lag costs critical momentum and grip. Its also good to have a positive engagement control and not rely on a chip. You don't have to have a locker to go offroad, but its a lot better with one. Considering the price of the Adventure pkg, I think its a no-brainer unless you plan to never leave the pavement. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The lag on the Eaton E-locker is counted in milliseconds, and is faster to engage than a mechanical locker and especially an air locker.
In fact, that was one point brought up by Motorweek in their explanation of how the e-locker operated...lag time is almost non-existent.
The minute you hit the switch, the coil energizes, the plate with the dowels immediately moves and within a set revolution (about a tenth I believe), the locker engages.
There is also no confusion, if you set it under the conditions required as per the owner's manual. It's actually a pretty simple system.
In my use, this locker is a heck of a lot faster than an ARB air locker.

[DWPC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by f5fstop:

The lag on the Eaton E-locker is counted in milliseconds, and is faster to engage than a mechanical locker and especially an air locker.
In fact, that was one point brought up by Motorweek in their explanation of how the e-locker operated...lag time is almost non-existent.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was referring to the ETC lag from relying on the ABS that I've seen happen (but not yet on a H3). Are you saying that ETC engages the locker when slip is detected instead of simply braking the slipping wheel to send torque to the other via the open diff. Thats how all the "ETC" systems I've seen so far work. I assumed thats the way the H3's works too, but I haven't yet had my ETC kick in.

[f5fstop]

I misread your previous post. Now looking back at it, you were talking about the traction control system. I apologize. (I have always been told that engineers can't read, and attorney's don't understand common English, and I guess I just proved this. )
You are correct, the ETC will have a slight lag due to the wheelspin having to be detected, then running the solenoids and valves to apply braking action to the spinning wheel. Lag is probably about one-to-two seconds, but still a lag.
The Eaton E-locker is what I described and once it is locked, it is locked until you unlock it or exceed 20 mph, at which time the controller unlocks to prevent any damage. The E-locker is almost instananeous.

H3 Hummer:
In the photo you show, the H3 will pull out without an E-locker. I know, I did this exact same thing in TN over labor day, and it pulled out slow, but it did pull out (I was in 4-low). I then put the H3 in the same position, and engaged the E-locker, and it pulled out a lot easier.
The traction control will stop the right rear wheel from spinning and the front tires will pull. I have been in similar circumstances with one of my jeeps without an e-locker and in that case, the front wheels pulled me out.
If you have a front and a rear in the air, that is where the E-locker excels.

I will now go and finish my bloody mary.

[ODAMO]

I understand all that has been said but have a question. Can the E-locker be locked at any time (4-high / 4-high lock) or do you have to be in 4-low? I understand that it unlocks above 20mph.