Gembrook techie Questions

Submitted: Sunday, Jul 25, 2004 at 07:14

ThreadID: 14981 Views:1711 Replies:4 FollowUps:3

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Member - Sparkie (QLD)

Just curious about who had diff lockers and which people noticed how much difference did it make.
From Terracan Tims posting it seemed there was a hill there only one car managed to climb or was the only one who was willing to try it.
what was it, that helped him climb it. Could it have been his tyres? Clearance? Power? Difflockers? or a combination of all the above.
I am curious to know because I figure a good tradesman also has good tools so what tools did he use????

Sparkie(IE not Y) ;-)

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Reply By: Jimbo - Sunday, Jul 25, 2004 at 12:17

Sunday, Jul 25, 2004 at 12:17

OK Sparkie I'll have a go. Only Eric got up the first hill with a combination of experience, power (4.5L petrol), 5 inch lift, lockers and good tyres.

Now for another comparison, on a later hill my Petrol Terracan running AT's went up much easier than John's Diesel Troopie running AT's and lockers; and John's far more experienced than me. I'll put it down to power to weight ratio and momentum because I'm never even going to hint that a Terracan is more capable than a Troopie, that would be absurd.

Kevin got up easily in his diesel GQ which has been lifted and runs muddies.

Note: John is buying a set of muddies tomorrow. With decent grip I reckon the Troopie would waltz up.

Tony also had a go at the first hill in his 3L challenger with big muddies and lockers, but failed due to power. He told me with all the extras he has fitted and the increase in gearing, the Challenger simply ran out of puff. But christ, he gave it a red hot go.

I think this generally supports your assumption that it was a combination of man and machine.

Jim.

AnswerID: 69511

Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Sunday, Jul 25, 2004 at 14:56

Sunday, Jul 25, 2004 at 14:56

Jim's pretty well correct in most of what he said.

Tyres was name of the game, the mud was thick clay very very greasy without a tyre that is quick to drop the mud then you had a problem.

Other factors that influence the situation can come down to things such as the last major climb of the day I was tail end charlie and 11 trucks had climbed before me leaving the surface very slick and greasy all sandy grit etc and potential grip had been thrown off leaving a firm slick surface.
The first couple of tries I had I did not take a big enough run at it.
Consider the Troopy weighs probably twice the weight of the Terracan's.

When I finally did back down further and stayed in low 2nd with front and rear lockers in we made the top, a hell of a ride sliding from one side of the track to the other (Surprising we didn't side swipe a tree) we made the top.
My view was no lockers no way to have made the top without winching.
Lockers made the difference, you can feel the front or rear wheels grab as they gained some traction.
They are worth the money. I would not buy a 4by and not fit them having had them.
They take out of the equation, the issue of power lose to the wheel with traction, but when all 4 don't have traction all thet happens is all 4 wheels spin and you still go nowhere.

I believe that if I had a more agressive tyre tread then the job would have been easier, this is the same for all.