Diff Locks in High Lock

[Tinerfeño]

Why cars have 7 different modes is beyond me.

These are just for the stupid that don't know how to drive at all outside tarmac.

Same with Land Rover. A client once drove to a flat, wet field, not even soft, with his Range Rover Sport and parked it there. When he tried to leave he got stuck and later told me: "None of the programs did help!"

 

[Tazzieman]

These are just for the stupid that don't know how to drive at all outside tarmac.

Same with Land Rover. A client once drove to a flat, wet field, not even soft, with his Range Rover Sport and parked it there. When he tried to leave he got stuck and later told me: "None of the programs did help!"

10 years ago in a car park a woman backed into the rear 1/4 panel of my 1981 Porsche 928.

She got out and said "that's the second time my reversing alarm hasn't worked"
Words failed me.

 

[Tinerfeño]

But I use manual shifting on easy tracks to keep revs reasonable. And for more difficult ones I either downshift in advance or use D.

I drove today trails in El Teide and made some observations. The trails are pretty easy, no hardcore offroading. I did slightly over 50 km in ~3 hours which averages ~15 km/h (10 mph). Some typical sections:

To prevent rain water damaging the trais there are small angled ditches across the trail. There may be one on every ~15 meters (~15 yards) or any uneven distance. One can be seen in the picture above and here is another one, which is reinforced with stones. The depth varies between 25-40 cm (0,8-1,3 feet). As these are usually angled (at around 60 degrees) there is a combined pitch and roll-movement when passing. Grenadier's suspension takes these with ease at 30 km/h (~20 mph). I did some at over 45 km/h (28 mph) but it started to be uncomfortable.

Actual driving speed was typically around 20-30 km/h (12-20 mph), sometimes less and especially on the even part close to Izaña slightly more but usually not over 40 km/h (25 mph). Low ratio on transfer box and manual mode on gearbox were used all the time. Center diff lock was used only once on a steep rise with water induceed ruts. Some observations on my petrol-engined Grenadier:

• About 60% of the driving was done on 6th gear, 30% on 5th and 5% on both 4th and 7th gears.
• 6th was perfect for 25-35 km/h (~15-22 mph) with revs around 2000 rpm.
• 5th for 15-25 km/h (10-15 mph).
• When using 6th the gearbox controller proposed 5th at ~1500 rpm but did pull on a slight uphill well down to 1200 rpm when it decided to use 5th.
• When stopped gears went down to 2nd without any intervention. When moving off, all shifts 2->3->4->5 can be made in just a few seconds.

And here's me, my Grenadier, slope of El Teide from altitude of ~1200 m and Gran Canaria slightly behind clouds.

 

[DaveB]

10 years ago in a car park a woman backed into the rear 1/4 panel of my 1981 Porsche 928.

She got out and said "that's the second time my reversing alarm hasn't worked"
Words failed me.

It should be instant termination for damaging a Porsche 928

 

[Tazzieman]

It should be instant termination for damaging a Porsche 928

Luckily I am mature enough not to lay harshness on village idiots. After all, they are mostly victims of consanguinity.

 

[DaveB]

Luckily I am mature enough not to lay harshness on village idiots. After all, they are mostly victims of consanguinity.

Inbreds in Tasmania, no way.

 

[Tazzieman]

Inbreds in Tasmania, no way.

Taking inspiration from European royalty, long time influencers for the lower classes.

 

[matt_grenadier]

We need to be able to use the diff locks in high range locked center diff.

It's such a hassle, you approach a difficult section when you are in high lock, then you need to
- stop the vehicle
- get it in Neutral
- set the T case to low lock
- push the brake and put back to Drive
- now keep pusing the diff lock rear for 1 sec
- keep pushing the diff lock front for 1 sec

For a vehicle that is about simplification, this is such a hassle, also all the nanny systems in place are terribly annoying. And then you still need be lucky that your t-case shifts smooth to low range, this is known to be an issue, sometimes you need to keep the vehicle rolling a bit to be able to shift to low lock.

Like in old military vehicles like the bombardier iltis, this used to be so simple to get diff locks on, just flick 2 switches, and done, no conditions etc, and extra steps, no nannies.

Locking the diffs in the grenadier should be very simple, just push the diff lock button, and then done. Then you can also keep your momentum on the trails, no need for stopping.

Petition for this software change!

Just watched this video about an unimog and saw the 4x4 system and the pneumatic diff lock system (both rear and front) explained:

View: https://youtu.be/mPAhZJMXAUw?si=GOTRIwqQ99_Is4Eh&t=252
.

Just wow, how easy is that! Just a flick of a switch, going from normal to 4x4, to diff lock, in under a second.

The grenadier preached simplification, this is how the diff lock system should have worked (with rear and front seperate). If you compare that with the 6 step process of the grenny we are far from that. I have a MY23, so i don't even have the change of mind update, so before i can turn the locks back on, the system has to 'detect' it's off, before i can use them again, what a hassle. Hopefully, the change of mind update will become available for MY23.

 

[Zimm]

There are plenty of times In New England I’m on normal roads I turn off to dirt and a short stint on a class 4, then back. With my Toyota and Gwagon, if I see difficulty ahead I can maintain any momentum, hit the lockers to be prepared or prevent an issue, and ride right thru. Being able to do so without stopping is a tremendous aid in preventing wheel slip and trail damage. I can even shift the 95 gwagon to low while moving if I see fit (which I have practiced but can’t say I’ve needed it).

The nanny controls on the Gren were a pure compromise to warranty and legal, and nothing but a detriment to skilled use and protecting the environment.

Period.

 

[Baron von Teuchter]

Agreed. I would rather they could be activated in high range and Ineos protect themselves from liability with an old school idiot warning plate on the dash or door or sun visor like the Japanese trucks used to do.

 

[Tinerfeño]

I can even shift the 95 gwagon to low while moving if I see fit (which I have practiced but can’t say I’ve needed it).

I do this with my Land Rovers, both up and down. Fairly easy with manual gearbox. Also useful when towing heavy trailer when starting uphill. Never dared to try with automatic gearbox.