Best diff option for slippery mud roads.

[jumpsoffrock]

Sometimes I think folks get a little caught up in modding their vehicles with things that aren't necessary for their way of life, but because it sounds cool and other Hi performance cars have them.

I don't go offroad nor do I race.
I am rebuilding a 1-ton SRW truck to use as a work truck. I have found myself in a few muddy situations in life, only getting stuck twice.

What kind of differential would do me best? Detroit locker? Tru Trak?
Will neither of those do any good on muddy roads? Or slippery dusty dirt roads?


Thanks for any thoughts.

[LS short box]

My non off road hot rod I've used and like the Tru Trac.
I used to hang out with some Jeep guys that did a fair amount of off road stuff but still drove their rigs on the street. Most of them had air lockers in the rear. They require a small air compressor but at the touch of a button you have fully locked rear end.
I haven't looked into it but now their similar units that do it electrically no compressor.
My 22 Ram has axle lock and I believe its electric.

[bnorth]

It may be overkill for occasional use in your situation as I think selectable lockers are often 50% - 100% more than a conventional locker but I have a selectable e-locker in my F-Word built daily driver that I really like. It has all the easy manners of an open diff until you need some extra traction.

[farmall]

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

Sometimes I think folks get a little caught up in modding their vehicles with things that aren't necessary for their way of life, but because it sounds cool and other Hi performance cars have them.

I don't go offroad nor do I race.
I am rebuilding a 1-ton SRW truck to use as a work truck. I have found myself in a few muddy situations in life, only getting stuck twice.

What kind of differential would do me best? Detroit locker? Tru Trak?
Will neither of those do any good on muddy roads? Or slippery dusty dirt roads?


Thanks for any thoughts.

You did not say what truck or diff you have.

I put a Trutrac in the back of my K5 because I drive it in the snow.
It works great as a DD.
Mid winter, butass cold and an ice storm coming down from WA, my heater fan went out. No way I am working on that in the cold dark after work. I took it to my former co-workers shop and had them install a new fan and relay. Their 1940 front garage doors are close to the widened downtown main street and they unlocked my front hubs to make the tight turn into the bay.
I picked up my K5 that evening with a working heater in a bad ice storm.
Unknowingly drove it all the way home in rear wheel drive on ice. Worked great.

If you have an open 14 bolt GM FF, a Detroit/Eaton No Spin is ssuper easy to install.
Just remove the the open diff. Split it open and throw away the spider gears and install theNo spin.
No gear set up required.
It is the internals of a Detroit Locker.
A tad harsh on the street, but I like it.
I put one in the rear open Dana 70 of my M715.

https://www.drivetrainamerica.com/22...-5-14-bolt-ff/

[truckster]

I'll put a vote in for the TruTrac. I have one in my K/5 and it performs exactly as expected.

[jumpsoffrock]

Sorry guys, 1972 GMC C3500 1 ton , big block 4 speed in stock form. 4.10 open diff Eaton H072

Hoever if I do any diff changes I'll simply swap the rear out to a 1-ton 14 bold FF from a junk yard, I see them often enough.

Thank you for the comments, I appreciate it.

[farmall]

Originally Posted by jumpsoffrock

Sorry guys, 1972 GMC C3500 1 ton , big block 4 speed in stock form. 4.10 open diff Eaton H072

Hoever if I do any diff changes I'll simply swap the rear out to a 1-ton 14 bold FF from a junk yard, I see them often enough.

Thank you for the comments, I appreciate it.

I could use a 4:10 hog's head for my 55.