off roading with 2wd and limited slip

[clemsonnation]

Has anyone done much off roading with the limited slip differential (aka "poor man's 4wheel drive") on a 2wheel drive?

I'd be interested to hear what you've encountered and the muddy areas you've cleared.

Post pics!

Thanks.

[MParker]

I hardly ever go offroad... but a couple weeks ago I got stuck in a ditch while trying to turn around on a back road.

I initially thought I'd stop and reverse, then thought, ah what the hell. There was a shallow ditch and then a 3' or so incline up in to a field. I hit it at an angle where my front left went into the ditch, front right tire was up on top of the mound and my rear right tire came up off the ground 6" or so. My bull bar was touching the ground. Forward and reverse... all it would do would spin the tire that was in the air.

I got out and jumped on the back bumper and somehow managed to get the truck to move enough to get the rear tire to slightly touch the dirt and got it reversed out.

Embarassing...

[TwiztidxxNinja]

I went thru some snow earlier in the year it felt like I was going to get stuck but I just stayed on the gas just in case. I didn't really wanna feel like an idiot and get stuck cause I was screwing around. My truck was just way to light to go thru the mud cause I was spinning tires really easy.

[lightningxb12]

LDS should not be thought of poor mans 4wd, because when you do, that is what will get you into trouble.

Next time your 2wd is one rear tire in the air, hit the brakes and the gas at the same time gently, that should create enough resistance to make the LSD lock up.

[Larzzzz]

True story: In dad's 86 F150 6 cyl, 3 on the tree. gf,(now wife) and I were camping in Maine at the Jo Mary lakes. We were cruising down this logging road and decided to go fishing in this lake that was at the bottom of this fairly large hill that was all boulders. Being the lazy bastard that I was/am, I did not want to carry or drag my square back coleman canoe down. I scoped it out and said, "I can do this." I got down ok, fished w/ no luck for an hour or 2 and when it was time to leave, I looked back up the hill and said, "This is gonna be a VERY expensive tow/ recovery." OMG, the rocks didn't look that big from the top of the hill . Verrrrrrry carefully, I got the truck back to the top. Once I started, there was no way that I was gonna back down. Stoopid flatlander pulled a rabbit out of his @ss Don't try this at home, you need a professional.

[haloplayerhater]

I have a 4x4 Off-Road (rear locker) Much of the time when I'm off road I tend to see how I can do without having the 4wd engaged. I've found that if you keep on the gas most of the time you will be fine. As long as you have momentum you should be able to get through most shit.

[roatan4us]

Out in the Ocitllo Desert a few months ago looking for the old stage coach station, the sign at the entrance of the sand road says, 4wd only, but being the old dirt bike rider I am, off roading in the Tacoma is fun. I let some air out of the tires and and went for it, after winding down a canyon on a sand path just wide enough for one vehicle I was really hoping to find another way out. At the bottom, about 4 or 5 miles I ran into a deep water hole that was totally not happening. I saw a turn around but it was steep and sandy, I thought OK, I will go up it till I spin and then I will back down and get a run at it, to my surprize I felt the one tire spinning some about half way to the top and the other wheel kicked in, No Problem, I went sailing right over the top! I was really impressed, there was a guy in a little Suzuki 4wd Samurai, off the side who came up to me after and told me how impressed he was with what he just saw me do in the 2wd. Ya it was cool. The road out of that canyon would have been another thing, lukily the guy told me how to go out a much easier way.

[TRDTaylor]

I've taken my 2wd with locker out in the sand and also in very loose dirt. I put the locker on and was fine until I stopped. Once I stopped I was pretty much stuck and just had to keep pumping the gas pedal until I got her moving again. The back end of our trucks is too light and the front end just turns into a plow. I think if the back end were heavier or you put some weight back there you'd be much better off. I was thinking about having my girlfriend go sit on the tail gate so I didnt keep embarrasing myself.

The locker works well though. If you plan to use yours and havent yet, or its been a long time...find an empty street or parking lot and engage the locker...make sure you hear the clank and then dissengage. If you dont hear the clank the turn the truck while moving forward (slowly) until you do. These lockers tend to get stuck unless you use them alot. I found all of this out when I was out in the sand trying to use mine for the first time.

[briangp]

Originally Posted by TRDTaylor

I've taken my 2wd with locker out in the sand and also in very loose dirt. I put the locker on and was fine until I stopped. Once I stopped I was pretty much stuck and just had to keep pumping the gas pedal until I got her moving again. The back end of our trucks is too light and the front end just turns into a plow. I think if the back end were heavier or you put some weight back there you'd be much better off. I was thinking about having my girlfriend go sit on the tail gate so I didnt keep embarrasing myself.

The locker works well though. If you plan to use yours and havent yet, or its been a long time...find an empty street or parking lot and engage the locker...make sure you hear the clank and then dissengage. If you dont hear the clank the turn the truck while moving forward (slowly) until you do. These lockers tend to get stuck unless you use them alot. I found all of this out when I was out in the sand trying to use mine for the first time.

I grew up next to the beach and saw far too many people try taking their 2wd's out across the dunes. I had fun trying it many times in 2wd with my ranger, but the minute I stopped in the dry sand I was done, had to switch to 4wd, not to mention you have to have alot of power just to get yourself goin. Poor 2.9v6 in that truck could barely do it! Deep sand and 2wd is a bad combo.

[TRDTaylor]

Luckily I was smart enough to know my 2wd would never make it in the dunes...I stayed closer to the ocean but once you get away from that hard packed wet sand, things start to go bad for a 2wd. Probably didnt help any that my tires werent aired down.

[mhg605]

I have found it a BIG help to let the air out of your tires. Get about 15 to 20 lbs in your tires and you've got a sand hog!

[roatan4us]

To make a huge difference in soft sand, you must air down the tires, that makes all the difference, then its speed at the right time also, I can't tell someone how to do it, it takes trial and error. reading the sand and staying away from the deep stuff. 25 years ago I had a "Scout" with the LSD and actually pulled 4wd trucks out of the mud with that thing, it was a monster V8 though. I am glad to have another LSD that works great like that one did.

[briangp]

Originally Posted by roatan4us

To make a huge difference in soft sand, you must air down the tires, that makes all the difference, then its speed at the right time also, I can't tell someone how to do it, it takes trial and error. reading the sand and staying away from the deep stuff. 25 years ago I had a "Scout" with the LSD and actually pulled 4wd trucks out of the mud with that thing, it was a monster V8 though. I am glad to have another LSD that works great like that one did.

IH Scouts have weight on their side. those things are tanks compared to most vehicles today. long live the scout


another tip for driving in soft sand, never crank your wheel too far in one direction, you'll just stop and spin out.