LSD Equipped Gladiators Better Than Rubicon in Snow ?

[Jack D.]

It’s the slippage correction of LSD I miss on my daily commute. It’s all or mostly hardpack. Also I will never need a locker most likely.

I tried to build a Willys Gladiator on Jeep build Canada and I don’t see the LSD as an option????

I see it is an option on the Overland though.

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[dcmdon]

This is really interesting. The OP is not an ignorant person from AZ who just moved to ME.

He's Canadian so he's driven in snow before. He's got some of the best tires you can get on his jeep. And he's not happy. I'm at a loss honestly. I'm pretty confident a LSD isn't going to change anything. But I also dont' know the cause of this.

 

[Mac]

This is really interesting. The OP is not an ignorant person from AZ who just moved to ME.

He's Canadian so he's driven in snow before. He's got some of the best tires you can get on his jeep. And he's not happy. I'm at a loss honestly. I'm pretty confident a LSD isn't going to change anything. But I also dont' know the cause of this.

Have you owned a Jeep with lsd and without? I have and I can say the lsd helps with starting out and keep forward traction in slippery conditions without the penalty of a spool, I have also had a truck not Jeep with a Lock Right in the rear axle and it could be a handful in slippery conditions.

 

[dcmdon]

Have you owned a Jeep with lsd and without? I have and I can say the lsd helps with starting out and keep forward traction in slippery conditions without the penalty of a spool, I have also had a truck not Jeep with a Lock Right in the rear axle and it could be a handful in slippery conditions.

I'm not disagreeing with you.

The OP is not complaining about traction when starting out. He's complaining about stability and general sure footedness when the truck is already moving.

But also don't forget that the brake lock differential system on our trucks is very effective. I was stuck in my Mojave with the rear axle locked. I obviously dont have a front locker. But when the rear is locked the BLD is disabled.

I was able to get unstuck by UNLOCKING the rear diff so everything was totally open and then applying gradual throttle and letting the BLD get me out. (the front axle had better traction but was spinning one wheel when the rear diff was locked).

 

[dcmdon]

It’s the slippage correction of LSD I miss on my daily commute. It’s all or mostly hardpack. Also I will never need a locker most likely.

I tried to build a Willys Gladiator on Jeep build Canada and I don’t see the LSD as an option????

I see it is an option on the Overland though.

That slippage correction allows the LSD to provide more torque to the wheel with better traction. This is a great thing for getting unstuck or getting going. But it does introduce instability (yaw) into the vehicle. An open diff can only put the same amount of force to each wheel. So it can't make the truck pull left or right.

 

[ilovebikes99]

All I can say is I specifically wanted the Willys model for the LSD because I know it's a great "passive" feature that really helps with traction and stability. You can feel it kick in and when it does it just goes. The truck is a beast in snow even on factory MT tires. Especially when driving higher speed. I think it would absolutely rock on Blizzaks. I rarely have to put it in 4H. You can also drift this truck around in the snow as a sportscar. It's very fun

 

[Jack D.]

So you have the Willys and it comes standard with lsd like the JL Wranglers Willy’s. ?

I’m not seeing it on the Canada build site. Only Overland shows the LSD in the build.

 

[UnforseenWeather]

I intentionally got my Mojave with AWD and it was a fine vehicle for snow… Not sure if it’s my best ever snow machine as yet (the Cherokee Trailhawk has that honor for now). I admit I babied it for a bit but it didn’t even need any sand bags in the bed!

 

[The Duck of Earl]

I don't have experience comparing the two options specifically in the Gladiator, but I have had both an auto locking LSD (chevy) and a manual e-locker (ford). The general engagement/usefulness of the LSD in day-to-day and inclement weather was missed with the ford. I never really needed to engage the full locker there, as just dropping into 4 low and being mindful of wheel spin would have accomplished the same thing for me.

I can agree that an LSD can kick you a bit sideways if you aren't careful, but that will generally be in a predictable way and can be modulated and controlled just by not overcorrecting and letting up a bit on the go pedal.

My experience with BLD and traction control systems in general is that they are not predictable in the same way a mechanical system would be (best example of this is the std BLD in a GTI vs the models with the limited slip front end when hootin' around corners). These systems use the traction control logic and are really there to help keep the car tracking straight for the non-enthusiast driver who are liable to freak out and drive into a ditch or tree in the event of any oversteer scenario. Using brakes to selectively control power to the wheels will impact momentum and the feel of the drive no matter how advanced the system.

 

[guntrust]

I tried doing the video 4HI locker trick. Didn't work. Anyone know if that was new with the 2021? I seem to remember that the 2020 and 2021 might be different in that way.

Probably time to just get the Taser.

Doesn't work on my 2020 JTR, either. (Just tried again and i've had all the updates.) And as i recall marketing materials specifically promised lockers with 4 hi. This was raised previously but not fixed, so i guess only a class action will get attention @JeepCares

 

[PbF00T]

I have a Rubi and I wish the AWD option was available in 2020. AWD really is the answer for snow.

That said, on stock tires I go in and out of 4hi as required by road conditions, if it gets deep I add in OffRoad+ and all is good.

LSD would be nice, I agree, but I'd rather slip a little in 2wd from a stop and have front and rear lockers for backup in case I find myself in a ditch.

 

[Imbuere]

Is a LSD better than open diffs in the snow? Well duh.

 

[JamesWyatt]

Based on all theses responses, it sounds like LSD can help or not help over open diffs depending on the situation. OP and others feel more stable with LSD at on-road speeds. Off road, I have experienced an LSD rear diff take the rear of the truck sideways off the road first, then taking the truck with it (low speed 4H, MTs, slopes on both sides of road center, heavy 2018 Power Wagon).

Personally I’d rather have open diffs and not slide off the road when I’m off-roading rather than getting the extra stability at speed on paved, snow-packed roads. OP obviously has a different priority for stability.

 

[Wheelin98TJ]

Is a LSD better than open diffs in the snow? Well duh.

It says limited slip in the name, it must be better.

Tell me one way it's better and I'll tell you one way it's worse.

 

[Jack D.]

I think many here are mistakenly equating this to off road situations. I never go off road. I am driving in hardpack and often deeper snow but always on the road.

I am going to order the Overland with LSD and outfit it with the Blizzaks and see how it goes.

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