Front and rear diff locks or just centre diff lock

[Boltie]

I am new to the forum and just about to buy my first Grenadier. I have had defenders for the last 15 years and sold my 110 pickup last year. I do a reasonable amount of off road as I shoot and have a gun dog. I also like to go off road but nothing as serious as some of the stuff you see on Youtube rock crawling. I went for a test drive in a trialmaster and used the central diff lock and the front and rear diff locks but the course we were on was easily handled by the centre diff lock on its own. With my defenders I only ever had a centre diff lock and never got stuck anywhere. I have found the Grenadier I am looking for in all respects other than it doesn't have the front and rear diff locks as an option. So the advice I am looking for is just how much do I need the separate diff locks. Am I likely to regret it if I just go for the centre diff lock? That's all I have ever been used to. Thanks guys.

 

[singlefin]

Personally I wouldn’t purchase one without diff locks. If off-roading you’ll find using the rear diff is needed in low friction surfaces and where you can be cross axle in rutted or scoured roads. I’ve had one instance where triple locked was necessary, mainly because open diffs and off camber surface result in crab walking. Not into rock crawling either, just getting deep in the woods. No aftermarket option currently, so pretty critical decision. With all that most of the time it’s just center diff locked and forest roads.

FWIW you’ve set yourself up for regret by asking the question, just a matter of when.

 

[landmannnn]

Most of us won't need axle diff locks. Without them the traction control system is good enough for all but the most challenging terrain.
Having said that, I would (and did) go for difflocks. Nice to have and no chance of retrofitting them.

 

[Tom D]

I also came from old defenders without axle lockers, I didn’t miss them then…Whilst you don’t need them they are handy. That said it’s a very capable truck without them. I haven’t needed mine much at all. Better technique and momentum will usually get you through. The unlocked grenadier is as good or better than my old defenders were.
The pros:
It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
Vehicles with lockers hold their value better
If you’re doing technical rock crawling you’ll want them
They can’t be added after (yet)

The cons:
Vehicle is more expensive to buy.


So I’d say don’t sweat it, if you never needed them on your defender you wont likely need them on your Grenadier.

 

[anand]

For 90% of owners, the F/R diff locks won't ever be required (or appropriately used)... PLENTY of vehicles spend lots of time off road without F/R diff locks... Unless you are positive you will (correctly) use them, spend the money on driver training instead... A bit of brake throttle modulation will get you a long way.

Sure, vehicles with the axle lockers will have a higher resale value, but again, much of that comes from a lack of education/experience and the assumption that off road = lockers

 

[Jeremy996]

I came from old Defenders and bought a Grenadier without lockers. I have never in 30k miles found a need for them.

If I was buying new today, I'd probably buy them as they are comparitively cheap on build and seem to influence people on resale. If I was buying used, I'd buy on condition, not fussed about lockers, but I'd want the extended electrics, towbar and the sun roofs.

 

[Boltie]

All wise words thank you. On balance I think I will regret not having them and it's a good point about holding onto value. Thanks a lot.

 

[Bayford]

All wise words thank you. On balance I think I will regret not having them and it's a good point about holding onto value. Thanks a lot.

I think that is a wise choice Boltie for all the reasons people have said. You say you use the vehicle mainly for shooting - I have used mine for 2 seasons shooting and a lot of farm work in wet clay fields. I have only ever used the centre diffs and have never got stuck. The car, with BFG All Terrain tyres is a lot better at plugging through wet English winter mud than the old Landcruiser with the same tyres. I specified a winch on order which I have also never used but I rather like having it "just in case" - always a bit embarrassing to have to call a man with a tractor to pull you out of a tight spot. The tractor driver always enjoys it a bit too much.

 

[Gasguzzler]

It's a bit of a toss-up, honestly. I don't have a need for the front and rear lockers and have rarely used them—aside from some playful experimentation. But there's something reassuring about having them on board. They came as part of the Rough Pack, which also included upgraded tires!

 

[Spjnr]

36k on my grenadier and I've used the lockers a good few times. I'd Not have one without, but that's just my use case.

The traction control system on the grenadier allows a lot more wheelspin before kicking in compared to say, new LR products. This is a good thing in mud, as it limits brake application by the computer that would normally slow momentum (we've all seen range rovers do this on shoot days, grind to a halt just before making it out of the muddy track). However, its not a good system for technical rock crawling, but the F/R lockers solve this beautifully, and allow for steady careful progress.

This being said, id like to have the lockers as a backup, they've got me out of a few pickles while towing heavy loads off-road, and will definitely add to the residual of the vehicle

 

[Gasguzzler]

36k on my grenadier and I've used the lockers a good few times. I'd Not have one without, but that's just my use case.

The traction control system on the grenadier allows a lot more wheelspin before kicking in compared to say, new LR products. This is a good thing in mud, as it limits brake application by the computer that would normally slow momentum (we've all seen range rovers do this on shoot days, grind to a halt just before making it out of the muddy track). However, its not a good system for technical rock crawling, but the F/R lockers solve this beautifully, and allow for steady careful progress.

This being said, id like to have the lockers as a backup, they've got me out of a few pickles while towing heavy loads off-road, and will definitely add to the residual of the vehicle

Just curious, what were you towing off-road? Did you get stuck, then enable them? Or were the they locked the whole time?

 

[Spjnr]

Just curious, what were you towing off-road? Did you get stuck, then enable them? Or were the they locked the whole time?

I run a tree contracting business, we do some forestry and clearance work. I tow a 2.7 ton excavator on and off of muddy sites with the grenadier when I have to.

Bit of both, sometimes you just know that having the lockers in will be necessary and preemptive activation gives you the best first attempt at track. Other times I've noticed the rear losing grip on one side so just knock that one in and carry on.

 

[Tom D]

I run a tree contracting business, we do some forestry and clearance work. I tow a 2.7 ton excavator on and off of muddy sites with the grenadier when I have to.

Bit of both, sometimes you just know that having the lockers in will be necessary and preemptive activation gives you the best first attempt at track. Other times I've noticed the rear losing grip on one side so just knock that one in and carry on.

Also a tree contractor, also have a 2.7 ton excavator, and also have used the lockers off road when towing. In fact its the only time I have used them in anger.

 

[Spjnr]

Also a tree contractor, also have a 2.7 ton excavator, and also have used the lockers off road when towing. In fact its the only time I have used them in anger.

It's a good use case for them!

Hard to explain but it's like when you've got 3.5 ton on the back, you can't wait for TC to have a think about what to do, by then it's too late you've lost momentum.

You need all 4 wheels turning before you even lose traction

 

[Mudnut]

Sounds like you have come to a conclusion on diff locks. I too have come from a 110 Defender without diff locks. The Land Rover traction control on the TD5 was actually really good. I have noticed on my QM that the wheels spin on slippery tracks more than my 20 year old Defender did before activating the TC. There were aftermarket lockers available for the Defender, but none for the INEOS yet. When and if they are ever produced, they would be more expensive than the Rough pack offered by the factory. I think that alone justifies ordering the rough pack.