Washington Washington members that live to wheel

[Wildman]

That sucks, but gotta get healthy first and foremost

Well I thought I was doing better... I got a stomach bug now or the flu???

Yeah, almost no snow this last Winter. It’s catching up with us now. Some fires already around here. Sucks.

Wouldn’t be happy driving without lockers. I’d just be frustrated. It’s an entirely different way of driving.

IMO it's better to learn how to wheel without lockers first and then get them.... IT's one of the nice things about selectable lockers... You can just leave them off and practice picking the better line....

 

[JMT]

Well I thought I was doing better... I got a stomach bug now or the flu???



IMO it's better to learn how to wheel without lockers first and then get them.... IT's one of the nice things about selectable lockers... You can just leave them off and practice picking the better line....

I did that for 2-3 years. Then I wheeled one locker for 1 year. Then I locked both axles.

I agree with you. Learn open.

 

[All 4 Wheelin']

I did that for 2-3 years. Then I wheeled one locker for 1 year. Then I locked both axles.

I agree with you. Learn open.

It just means different momentum in certain situations. I still do that often just to keep the skill set fresh.

 

[JMT]

It just means different momentum in certain situations. I still do that often just to keep the skill set fresh.

Can’t always crawl everything, but knowing what I know and living on 5 of the 6 possible sides, everyone is living with their particular axle setup and what risks they want to incur. Open one needs more wheel speed. Locked that so not as advisable because if you hop and those tires get traction the torque is already far greater than open and then you’re whole situation is tied to splines, u joint size, axle composition, gear ratio and gear quality. As you know, everyone is weighing all these considerations in deciding the amount of risk they want to take, how they like to wheel, trail lightly ethics mentality, etc…

 

[All 4 Wheelin']

Can’t always crawl everything, but knowing what I know and living on 5 of the 6 possible sides, everyone is living with their particular axle setup and what risks they want to incur. Open one needs more wheel speed. Locked that so not as advisable because if you hop and those tires get traction the torque is already far greater than open and then you’re whole situation is tied to splines, u joint size, axle composition, gear ratio and gear quality. As you know, everyone is weighing all these considerations in deciding the amount of risk they want to take, how they like to wheel, trail lightly ethics mentality, etc…

When I talk about what I do, in no way am I recommending anyone follow my lead. I go off of my own experiences. I've also been doing this for quite some time.

 

[Wildman]

When I talk about what I do, in no way am I recommending anyone follow my lead. I go off of my own experiences. I've also been doing this for quite some time.

40+ years at this point.... And 20 of those years I never had locker. Couldn't afford them....

I try to go as far as I can without my lockers engaged a lot of the time... Plus as you said it's good to keep those skills refreshed in your mind...
For me now it's trying to remember how to do things again since it's been 12+ years since I was wheeling last. And my Jeep is wider & longer now than it used to be.

 

[JMT]

I always use my lockers except if I’m turning sharp. Then I turn off the rear locker, but this is rare. I’m not telling anyone what to do either, just what I do and what I like to do. If my rig isn’t working it’s very annoying. Like a V8 running on 4 cylinders. I can drive it but I’m going to be pissed the whole time. Who wants a Ferrari that only sorta works!?

 

[PG.]

I ran for years without lockers or a winch when I was POOR..... (Shit still am poor)

As I tell my kids. I was once poor and young and after years of hard work I’m no longer young.

 

[JMT]

For me now it's trying to remember how to do things again since it's been 12+ years since I was wheeling last.

I thought you drove good in Sand Hollow. Remember the beginning of The Fallen there was sort of switchback to get up and at the top a steep ledge on the right? That took awhile for you to get up, and it was dicey, but you got up. Pretty good driving if you ask me.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Well I still have the time off and no wife or kid in town, so I decided I'm heading to Brown's Camp tomorrow evening after work. It's about the same drive (maybe a hair less) than Naches for me. I've posted in a FB groups to see if anyone is interested in joining. The campground was nearly full for the dates so I think I'll go outside my box and try to talk to people and meet some folks to go with, or at least people that will be monitoring radio in case I have a problem. May try to do the Badge of Honor trails and a few others.

 

[Redsquatch]

Well I still have the time off and no wife or kid in town, so I decided I'm heading to Brown's Camp tomorrow evening after work. It's about the same drive (maybe a hair less) than Naches for me. I've posted in a FB groups to see if anyone is interested in joining. The campground was nearly full for the dates so I think I'll go outside my box and try to talk to people and meet some folks to go with, or at least people that will be monitoring radio in case I have a problem. May try to do the Badge of Honor trails and a few others.

I just got my Badge last Night.

 

[bbaldwin237]

I just got my Badge last Night.
View attachment 694484

Nice! Well I'll be heading down tomorrow if you want to join to run it again you can add Cedar Tree

 

[Redsquatch]

Nice! Well I'll be heading down tomorrow if you want to join to run it again you can add Cedar Tree

I would totally join you but i'm leaving saturday to start the WABDR. Going to do sections 4-1. I would like to go back and get Cedar Tree soon.

 

[Wildman]

I always use my lockers except if I’m turning sharp. Then I turn off the rear locker, but this is rare. I’m not telling anyone what to do either, just what I do and what I like to do. If my rig isn’t working it’s very annoying. Like a V8 running on 4 cylinders. I can drive it but I’m going to be pissed the whole time. Who wants a Ferrari that only sorta works!?

I'm the opposite on this then as I only turn my lockers on when I see a spot where I think I might want them... And I can't tell you where I got this from but I'd swear at some point it was thought that running with your lockers engaged all the time causes more resource damage than when running with them disengaged... But my memory could be wrong here too..
And as this whole discussion got started about, driving with your lockers off can help keep your skills honed on picking the better lines.

I thought you drove good in Sand Hollow. Remember the beginning of The Fallen there was sort of switchback to get up and at the top a steep ledge on the right? That took awhile for you to get up, and it was dicey, but you got up. Pretty good driving if you ask me.

Thanks..... I had spots where I was questioning myself and then wondering why I was having issues... But I did make it through and only flopped once...

Well I still have the time off and no wife or kid in town, so I decided I'm heading to Brown's Camp tomorrow evening after work. It's about the same drive (maybe a hair less) than Naches for me. I've posted in a FB groups to see if anyone is interested in joining. The campground was nearly full for the dates so I think I'll go outside my box and try to talk to people and meet some folks to go with, or at least people that will be monitoring radio in case I have a problem. May try to do the Badge of Honor trails and a few others.

Sorry to screw up your plans. Have fun down @ Browns Camp.

 

[bbaldwin237]

Sorry to screw up your plans. Have fun down @ Browns Camp.

No need to apologize at all! Health and family are more important than wheeling.

 

[reddvltj]

I'm the opposite on this then as I only turn my lockers on when I see a spot where I think I might want them... And I can't tell you where I got this from but I'd swear at some point it was thought that running with your lockers engaged all the time causes more resource damage than when running with them disengaged... But my memory could be wrong here too..
And as this whole discussion got started about, driving with your lockers off can help keep your skills honed on picking the better lines.



Thanks..... I had spots where I was questioning myself and then wondering why I was having issues... But I did make it through and only flopped once...



Sorry to screw up your plans. Have fun down @ Browns Camp.

This^^^ You hit the nail on the head. If you have the ability to run open, it is far less damaging to the terrain. Less scrubbing means less erosion and trail degradation. It's a good thing to be conscious about treading lightly when possible, though there are MANY who don't have selectable lockers and quite a few with spools or lincoln lockers that no matter how light footed they are they're going to scrub on every corner.

 

[bbaldwin237]

This^^^ You hit the nail on the head. If you have the ability to run open, it is far less damaging to the terrain. Less scrubbing means less erosion and trail degradation. It's a good thing to be conscious about treading lightly when possible, though there are MANY who don't have selectable lockers and quite a few with spools or lincoln lockers that no matter how light footed they are they're going to scrub on every corner.

Or SxS's that have to power slide every corner, peel out from a stop, or go off trail to avoid obstacles. They're fun to drive, but the people are often knuckleheads.

 

[reddvltj]

Or SxS's that have to power slide every corner, peel out from a stop, or go off trail to avoid obstacles. They're fun to drive, but the people are often knuckleheads.

Oh we wont even go there... I have a multipiece windshield (cracks on inside pane and outside) thanks to a side side by side...

I have one myself and you're right they are fun... noisy, dusty, just as expensive (if not more) as a Jeep, lack DOT compliance, fold like tinfoil in a reck... Oh, sorry! Where was I?


Yeah, they are WELL known for wreaking havoc on trails and forest service roads. Unfortunately the knuckle heads are here to stay regardless of what they drive.

 

[JMT]

And I can't tell you where I got this from but I'd swear at some point it was thought that running with your lockers engaged all the time causes more resource damage than when running with them disengaged... But my memory could be wrong here too..

My memory, which only goes back to 2016, was that the tread lightly principle was to use lockers. I checked their website under 4x4’s and the only principle that touches on this is to go light in the gas on moist terrain in order to limit wheel speed which makes ruts.

I know when we’re in the creek beds those who are open tend to start wheel spinning to get over a log or rock and they move the rocks and dig out a hole and get stuck. Those with lockers just climbed over and the rocks generally stayed in place, though they can move if they’re not large. Scrubbing can move dirt and rocks a little, but that’s not the kind of trail damage I see a lot of. On tight turns I turn my rear off to turn sharper. What I do see is ruts in wet areas.

I’m not sure which is actually more tread lightly friendly, but it would be a good thread topic for the forum.

https://treadlightly.org/tips/4x4/

On an Overlanding forum a comment was made that having lockers is advantageous for treading lightly and decreasing impact, but that could just be someone’s opinion.

https://www.overlandbound.com/forum...riences-and-recommendations.36555/post-531466

This thread is on the forum, and features our old favorite Canadian, Billy Bob! Essentially says low traction and spinning tires causes erosion.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/tread-lightly.114/post-390

 

[Wildman]

My memory, which only goes back to 2016, was that the tread lightly principle was to use lockers. I checked their website under 4x4’s and the only principle that touches on this is to go light in the gas on moist terrain in order to limit wheel speed which makes ruts.

I know when we’re in the creek beds those who are open tend to start wheel spinning to get over a log or rock and they move the rocks and dig out a hole and get stuck. Those with lockers just climbed over and the rocks generally stayed in place, though they can move if they’re not large. Scrubbing can move dirt and rocks a little, but that’s not the kind of trail damage I see a lot of. On tight turns I turn my rear off to turn sharper. What I do see is ruts in wet areas.

I’m not sure which is actually more tread lightly friendly, but it would be a good thread topic for the forum.

https://treadlightly.org/tips/4x4/

On an Overlanding forum a comment was made that having lockers is advantageous for treading lightly and decreasing impact, but that could just be someone’s opinion.

https://www.overlandbound.com/forum...riences-and-recommendations.36555/post-531466

This thread is on the forum, and features our old favorite Canadian, Billy Bob! Essentially says low traction and spinning tires causes erosion.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/tread-lightly.114/post-390

No ONE option fits every situation.
As Hugh said there are times running with your lockers engaged will cause more damage and other times where running unlocked does.
But again what works for one person doesn't for another.
I find myself forgetting to engage my lockers sometimes and then forgetting to unlock them.
But I also drove for years with auto lockers....

I wouldn't take most opinions of off-roading from overlanders as even close to informed or valid. But my opinion of them puts them slightly above most SXS owners which is very low.