So... 2 votes now for Brian is NOT as smart as a truck.
What does your truck do in Rock Crawl mode, double footed with constant accelerator and modulated brake for speed control?
LOL....not saying you're not as smart as a truck, just that the traction control is so advanced that now does all the work for you. I had an ARB rear locker in my '96 D1 and it was absolutely necessary every time I went off road. Otherwise that thing would get mildly cross-axled and just sit and spin. I had planned on putting another ARB rear in my '04 D2 but the traction control amazed me. Once you learned to double-foot a bit and modulate the throttle and brake and the same time, it was damn near a locker in my opinion. Now the technology is to a level where you just point and click and you're fine
as long as there is traction. I've gotten myself stuck twice in my LR4 - both times when going very slow in very loose, unconsolidated silty sand & gravel outwash. In the picture below I was looking for a good camping spot up the wash and driving very slow and it just sank down. If I had some speed it would just keep pushing over the top and not get bogged down. Note...I bought a couple Maxtrax after this trip. Also note that my compromise all-terrain tires suck in this loose stuff.
To be perfectly honest, I've never even tried rock crawl mode. The first time I got stuck in the loose sand I tried the sand mode (or whatever it's called) and it didn't do anything for me. The only thing I do differently off road is usually put the transmission in sport mode because it improves throttle response and holds gears longer. Good for maintaining speed and power (and traction) going up deep, sandy, twisty washes.
On Saturday I was a few miles up a very rocky and sandy wash and I wanted to get over to the next gulley to the right for a good flat smooth camping spot. Rather than get beaten back & forth over a quarter mile of big chunky rocks, I just put it in low range and went up & over a big steep rocky hill. The approach was pretty damn steep with rocks ranging from basketball size to gravel. The kind of slope where you take a few steps at a time and just about slide backwards a half step for every forward step. I found a path that avoided the basketballs and just drove right up. The traction control and automatic locking/unlocking center diff and the automatic rear locker just made the truck walk right up it like it was nothing. You can hear an occasional short tire spin and then traction control says whoa there little tire, settle down, and it just keeps you moving. The slope down the other side was even steeper (my buddy was outside on the ground at the desired camping spot and he started waving his arms and said not a good idea) but the truck just crawls right down in low gear with barely any sliding.
There's also a window on the display screen where you can watch the truck automatically locking and unlocking the center diff and rear diff. They actually pop in & out of lock quite a bit.
Now I think I will investigate the different modes. I've just never needed to up to this point because the truck is that good. After a good day of off roading it even shoots rainbows out of the tailpipes.
