RustBuket
1/2 ton status
Well with a spool in front, as soon as you're in 4x4, you can't turn worth a hoot! If its slippery it'll just wanna push, if its dry then it'll just bind and hop.
CK5
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snow driving, tires, lockers etc
- Thread starter big_truxx
- Start date
84_Chevy_K10
Banned
With a spool up front, steering will suck any time the hubs are locked in, not just in 4wd.RustBuket said:
big_truxx
1/2 ton status
I knew that really I did. Where's my brain today? 
Thanks. I guess I was thinking if I did end up making my next K5 an on road sometimes vehicle, I would leave the hubs unlocked and in 2wd... but offroad in 4x4... yep it could present a problem in some situations. whereas a selectable locker i.e. ARB air locker when unlocked allows one side to still be powered when in 4x4 right?
spoolnaround
1/2 ton status
selectable lockers are open, so it has good turning manners when it is un-locked. A spool is a get you by set up that you curse when you dont need it.
Leadfoot said:
thats excatly why i got ARB's front and rear. IMO any sidehilling sucks with lockers. i dont know how many times i would've gotten into trouble driving on snow covered mountain trails if i couldnt unlock the diffs. mainly the rear w/ sidehills, its a scary feeling having the back end sliding down the hill when your in the middle of nowhere and by yourself.
personally my favorite tires for driving in snow/ice are bfg A/Ts. they provide superior traction on icy roads compared to my ungrooved TSLs. my ATs stick like glue where my TSLs slide all over the place. in deep snow the A/Ts seem to float on top better, where the TSL's would want to dig and get me stuck. i think the ideal setup for all around cold weather driving is the bfg a/t and f/r ARBs.
84_Chevy_K10
Banned
You don't have "lockers". You have selectable spools. That's the reason you can't do squat without unlocking them. This is just one instance where I feel that an auto locker is superior.Jonny-K5 said:
rcurrier44
1/2 ton status
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I have always found with my ARB's in snow that if I had them locked it would want to slide but would still move forward. If I started sliding on a side hill and unlocked them then I could not move untill I locked my diffs again. On the street they are great but off road in snowy conditions they are highly overrated.
I ended up selling my 1/2 ton ARB equiped axles and am using a welded rear and detroit front now. Never realy had a problem with the ARB's but they are just not worth the $ for an mostly off road rig.
I ended up selling my 1/2 ton ARB equiped axles and am using a welded rear and detroit front now. Never realy had a problem with the ARB's but they are just not worth the $ for an mostly off road rig.
big_truxx
1/2 ton status
Thats why I was thinking a spool may be a good idea for me to start out with. They do not cost a lot and keep all wheels moving. I am unsure if my next K5 will be offroad only or see some street use also. I doubt even a 4" lift is legal here in Maine. I know I could get a 3" body lift and whack the tar out of the fenders and run 35" tires. But that is in no way the same thing as the 6" lift I really like to run 35's. And I know ARB's are expensive... So if it is to be a trail only rig, then I don't know about ARB's being worth it.
84_Chevy_K10 said:
ya ya ya, selectable spools. do you call a detroit an automatic spool? as far as im concerned it is a locker. heck, a spool is a type of locker, just not an automatic locker. the only requirement to being a locker is to lock both wheels together. doesnt matter how its done.
as far as not being able to do squat w/ them w/o unlocking... that makes no sense. when my rear end is sliding down while side hilling, its causs im accelerating. an automatic locker locks both wheels when accelerating too. im not sliding while coasting.. are you suggesting a detroit will not slide in this situation? the only time a detriot doesnt act like a spool is when your coasting. if your pressing the gas peddle both tires are going to turn and lose lateral traction just like a spool would.
RustBuket
1/2 ton status
84_Chevy_K10 said:
If the wheels are no longer powered by the axles how would it make a difference????
RustBuket said:
even tho they arent powered, by having the hubs manually locked it ties left and right tire together. when an arb is engaged, it wont let the tires turn at different speeds, even tho its not getting power from the driveshaft. its like a spool when activated.
