so true, I once read in a Unimog review to keep in mind that you can go where no one else can come to recover if needed ;)
What a great question, a little like Nissan vs Toyota..
I am lucky to own a 2004 Toyota 100 series (340,000 kms I drove them all) with front and rear locker, I also own a Landrover Discovery 4 (170000kms) which has an electric centre diff and traction control.
I also drive various 4WD's mostly the 79 dual cabs with electric lockers and occasionally a 200 with Traction Control.
So I can speak about both systems on various vehicles..
Why did traction control get put into 4WD's?
As 4WD's changed from solid axels to indepenent front ends, the wheels started to lift, no suspension kit can overcome the lack of travel that independent suspension has. At the same time, bigger brakes were required for the statutory ABS to be fitted to cars and 4WD's.
Enter traction control, the same ABS action can be used in reverse to give you traction control...
So we now end up with 17" - 18" and 19" rims to accomodate bigger brakes with traction control
More on traction control later....
My 100 series Toyota. I have front and rear ARB Air Lockers, I rarely use the lockers as I have the suspension sorted well and the wheels keep in contact with the ground even with torsion bars at the front. Note: all wheels touching the ground = traction.
But when I demo the lockers, it feels like it can climb vertical walls, rear diff is fantastic, front diff is amazing.
Pro's Lockers are truely amazing, everyone should drive a vehicle with lockers, just once in their life.
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Allows you to approach all obsticles at a low/slow speed
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Can get you through with less damage to the vehicle.
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Perfect for rock climbing or climbing over logs.
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Steep hills, up and down.
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If you get some experience then you will find you use them less and less.... But they are always there..
Con's. Of course gets you stuck further up the track, ,
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Should only be switched on when stationary, which may mean that you are already stuck..
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Should only be used in a straight line..
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Should only be used for the time of need, (short sections) which can make you vunerable at the next obsticle.
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Locked axels can cause sideways slip, on a muddy, clay surface or off camber or slope that deviate to the side, this is scary, if its not happed to you, you haven't tried hard enough
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Cost, a rear air or E-locker locker installed is $1600 to $2000
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If an airline or electric wire gets pulled then you are stuck
Landrover Discovery 4. Traction Control was first used by Landrover in 1995 on the first Disco. It wasn't very good but it was a stepping stone to the best traction control on the market. But Landrovers traction control is different to many other systems on the market.
Landrover Discovery 3 and 4 included Terrain Response, this sounds complicated but when you dial in "mud ruts" it alters the Auto, lifts the suspension and changes the throttle response, on the D4 it also "pre-loads the brakes"... This means less wheel spin that most people are talking about in this thread.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDG06g0V_xw
Older Traction Control systems need wheel speed to engage traction control which is why many hate it.
Just remember to turn off ESV or DSC or ESP or VDC whatever the stability control thing on your car is called, the one that goes off when you are in low range. Some traction controls still work at a reduced rate even when you think they are off.
Pro's All Traction control works in a straight line and when turning and is automatic.The cost is already paid for with the car.
Con's (old style)
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Few people learn how to use it, read the manual, and less would undergo training to learn how to use it properly.
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By time the rev's are high enough to get traction control to work, most people back off = stuck.
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Old traction control is not intuitive to driving
Pro's for new style Traction Control.
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Cars like the Landrover brand have the best traction control possibly in the world.
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Most cars with Traction Control get Down Hill Decent as well can be a pro or con :)
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Jeep have their version of terrain respons
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Ford Everest and top range Ranger have Terrain Response
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The new Mitsubishi Pajero has a Terrain Response which works well
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Toyota, Nissan both are working on a terrain response system
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In 3 or 4 years all 4WD with have terrain respons with pre-loaded traction control.
Con's If you don't learn how to use it it will be as useless as locker that are not turned on.
If I had the money today i would buy one of the last Discovery 4's (love the style) with an electric rear locker,
The LR electric locker can partially lock as required and adds to the traction control...
My Disco 4 goes everywhere my Toyota can go, in more comfort and often better...
The Old Coach Road, Cape York, CREB included...