Ranger Raptor locking diffs - are they different?

[momike]

I remain confused by the locking diff settings in the RR drive modes.

Off Road mode and Baja mode each default to rear locker engaged. I understand this vehicle to be made for (and it's certainly marketed for) high speed rallying off road. Certainly Baja mode seems to be intended for such high speed stuff.

However, this guy advocates for much more sparing use of lockers in general - low speed, get out of trouble mode primarily. He explicitly warns against high speed hard surfaces, which I take to include hard packed dirt roads. This is what I understood previous to buying my RR, so I'm trying to figure out what I'm missing - should I be turning of the rear diff lock when bombing around variable surface roads at higher speeds?



Thanks for any thoughts from the mechanical savants on here!

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[pablo94sc]

Bombing down a dirt or gravel road, a good rule of thumb is if you're flinging dirt and rock, you can use your rear locker. If you're just kicking up dust, then it needs to be off. Outside of that, the dude is spot on.

 

[Aonarch]

To add, avoid your front locker unless absolutely necessary and you really only should use it short term with the wheels pointed straight.

Mud hole up ahead, climbing a rock shelf, etc. you can use the front locker.

I'd much rather have a front LSD than eLocker.

I don't use lockers unless needed, including the rear. Also you should turn them on before the obstacle, not during. Will help with engagement and prevent damage. Although Ford has really quick and crisp engagement. Toyota not at all.

 

[momike]

So it seems that Baja and off
Road modes should be used sparingly in this application. How about 4A as a setting then? It’s not clear to me from reading if 4A is the same as AWD. The manual says it activates 4WD when needed, which may or may not be what AWD typically means. Thoughts on when to use and not use 4A?

 

[OxygenMask]

The Raptor system isn't the same as AWD, but 4A is kinda close. You could run 4A all the time if you wanted, it would be 2wd unless more traction is needed, then it would engage the front axle.

Here's a decent overview of how to use it:
https://www.kalispellford.com/blog/...ppropriate,wintry conditions at normal speeds.

 

[Mystic]

Yes, it's stupid that off-road defaults to the rear locker on. Rock crawl, sure could see that, but not the regular off-road mode.

I never have lockers on unless I'm climbing something steep or going through somewhere where I know I'm going to be lifting tires. Would never have them on when doing high speed for sure.

 

[Ron Quixote]

Yes, it's stupid that off-road defaults to the rear locker on. Rock crawl, sure could see that, but not the regular off-road mode.

I never have lockers on unless I'm climbing something steep or going through somewhere where I know I'm going to be lifting tires. Would never have them on when doing high speed for sure.

Indeed. Using your locker to “bomb around” is a good way to prematurely wear out your locker. Use it when you need it.

 

[momike]

This is very helpful! Glad I asked. Very strange that these are the defaults.

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