Limited Slip or Open Differential?
Finally realized I need a dually for the 16,000# trailer I'll be getting and I'm looking at the 2017 Ford F350 (Chevys are currently hard to get do to a shortage of supplies to make the diesels and th...
Forum Discussion
These were GM trucks, which has the best LS/Locking rear end of the big three. My 88 K3500 with an open diff was useless in rwd, did better in 4wd. My 96 sw 3500 crew cab and the 05 dually had the G80 locker. I went places in rwd the 88 needed 4wd. Including pulling local passes in rwd when chains or 4wd were required! Got thru mud and wet grass in rwd.....rarely needed 4wd in a generally speaking term. Had the g80 in an 89 Astro van too, compared to the 2000 awd no g80. Both did fine in snow etc. But the 89 did well with correct tires. worst case, throw chains on it, it was keeping up with the 88, 96 left it behind for the most part.
I personally for most of how I drive, would take a locked rwd over an oven 4wd. There are times a locked rwd will out do an open rear 4wd, and vice versa. A locked 4wd is best.
As far as axel ratios go.....I'll take the lowest I can ALL the time. Lower gears get you up steeper grade before stalling out! Even with the newer transmissions with lower gears vs older one, better to have the too low option vs too tall for towing, but better mpg empty. Then again, I'vebeen stalled out on 15-20+ percent grades locally enough that I go full tilt toward torque multiplication to tow up steeper grade.
marty
I personally for most of how I drive, would take a locked rwd over an oven 4wd. There are times a locked rwd will out do an open rear 4wd, and vice versa. A locked 4wd is best.
As far as axel ratios go.....I'll take the lowest I can ALL the time. Lower gears get you up steeper grade before stalling out! Even with the newer transmissions with lower gears vs older one, better to have the too low option vs too tall for towing, but better mpg empty. Then again, I'vebeen stalled out on 15-20+ percent grades locally enough that I go full tilt toward torque multiplication to tow up steeper grade.
marty
