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Post Info TOPIC: Open or Limited Slip differential


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Open or Limited Slip differential


After much consideration I ordered our truck today.  My wife told me she wanted either a black truck or a white truck.  Knowing how much I enjoy washing vehicles I order it in Oxford White!  Ended up getting a 2018 Ford F350 DRW 4x4.  It was a tough choice between the Ford and the Ram but I feel confident I would have really enjoyed either truck.

When ordering our truck the question came up if I wanted the limited slip differential or the open differential.  Since the truck is a 4x4 that I will not be using as an "off road hill climbing truck" and the cost of the limited slip option was another $350 I went with the open differential.  I still have time to change my mind but feel if I have the trailer parked in as grassy or gravel location I would just put the truck in 4x4 high or 4x4 low to keep from spinning any wheels.  I would like to see if there is any reason I am unaware of to justify the additional cost of the limited slip option.  I had a Chevy Blazer 4x4 a long time ago that had positraction and hated the way it would want to slide sideways off a banked or crested road in icy conditions.

Thanks again for your input!

 

Jon



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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I would highly recommend going with the limited slip. Having had 4X4 for close to 50 years I have learned that with out limited slip you will find the right rear and left front are your drivers. Going with limited slip provides 3 wheels pulling. Yes it says 4X4 but the way differentials work is that power goes to the wheel that slips the most.

I had a full size 1979 Ford Bronco that had limited slip in both the rear and front. It was a beast, but once stuck boy was it stuck.

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I’ve never had a truck or SUV without a limited slip differential.

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.



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Thanks Rick, the limited slip differential is an option for Ford and I think in the Dodge with the 3:73 (at least that is what I have read for the Dodge). Just wanted to find out if there were any reasons not to stay with the open differential. I know that of all the trucks I looked at on lots I did not see any of them having the limited slip option. It was hard to find exactly what I wanted on the lots, that is why I am ordering this truck and how I came up with the $350 option for the LS. For what I am paying for this truck the $350 option isn't a big deal, just wanted to see if there were reasons not to get it.

Jon

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Get limited slip if available. My last truck didn't have it and if I was on the slightest incline on wet grass I had to put it in FWD to move a trailer. . . even a small cargo trailer.

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Had the open on cars.. in slippery conditions only the right rear had any motion. Had a posi,,,, stayed away after hitting gravel and the entire rear end slid. The limited slip is the choice we made.. Had limited slip on a 69 GTO and when one tire slide the other tire would take over..Best Wishes..

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I too have always had positraction. Wouldn’t buy without.

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I order the truck, it should be here in mid July. I opted for the limited slip rear end. Thanks for all the input!

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Also consider modern electronic stability control, antilock brake, and anti sway systems will negate the oversteer (rear sliding in corners under power) caused by limited slip rear differentials in older vehicles.

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Limited slip, with the RAM that is what you get.

Just for fun you may want to do a search on Ford PowerStroke CP4 issues. GM dumped that Bosch pump for Denso since they were tired of paying warranty claims.

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Well this is kind of a stupid question. Stock 2011 JKU - does it come with a standard limited slip diff? Or is it an open diff with the electronic brake sensor controller thing that acts like a LSD ?

What happens when you shift into 4H?

PS - watched the official jeep video on it, and I'm still confused.

Thanks!!



-- Edited by Johnywalter on Wednesday 18th of July 2018 01:13:38 PM



-- Edited by Johnywalter on Thursday 19th of July 2018 09:28:12 AM

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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LarryW21 wrote:

I too have always had positraction. Wouldn’t buy without.


 VERY unlikely you have true POSI.



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2015 RAM/Cummins/Aisin/4.10's/3500Dually

2016 Mobile Suites 39TKSB3 "Highly Elited"

32,950# combined



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Gee, Cummins, that’s what Chevrolet said starting with my 1969 Chevelle SS

See www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet/1969-Chevrolet.pdf

Page 6 - Chassis section. Second column about one-third down.



-- Edited by LarryW21 on Saturday 21st of July 2018 03:15:02 PM

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.



RV-Dreams Family Member

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LarryW21 wrote:

Gee, Cummins, that’s what Chevrolet said starting with my 1969 Chevelle SS

See www.gmheritagecenter.com/docs/gm-heritage-archive/vehicle-information-kits/Chevrolet/1969-Chevrolet.pdf

Page 6 - Chassis section. Second column about one-third down.



-- Edited by LarryW21 on Saturday 21st of July 2018 03:15:02 PM


 Understood, I was referring to a modern day HD truck.



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2015 RAM/Cummins/Aisin/4.10's/3500Dually

2016 Mobile Suites 39TKSB3 "Highly Elited"

32,950# combined



RV-Dreams Family Member

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I see. With further reading on my part, I agree with you on today’s vehicles.

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Winnebago TT 2101DS & 2020 Silverado LTZ Z71. 300 watts WindyNation solar w/MPPT, 2 Trojan T-125s. TALL flag pole. Prefer USFS, COE, BLM, USF&WS, NPS, TVA, state/county camps. 14 year Army vet-11B40 then 11A - old MOS 1542 & 1560.



RV-Dreams Community Member

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If I had to select, I'd definitely pick limited-slip differential.

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Have had the truck for 6 weeks now and am really enjoying the purchase. The dealer suggested putting on at least 1000 miles before towing with it so we have taken it on a couple of short trips. I have 1200 miles on it now and have found getting used to the length and width of the new dually has not been as difficult as feared. All in all it is a very nice truck to drive and I am quite surprised how nice the ride of the truck is. Fuel wise I have been averaging 16 mpg in town and between 17.5 to 19 mpg on the highway depending on wind direction and highway speed. I usually run between 60 and 75 miles per hour. With the truck purchase complete we are in the process of building a shop to store the 5th wheel in when it is not in use. Since we both won't be completely retired for another 4 years we will be traveling mostly in the summer months. Once retired we plan to spend 5 or 6 months in the southern part of the US since winter has become our least favorite season in the northland. We are being patient on purchasing the 5th wheel. If we have one by next spring that would be great, if not we feel time is on our side right now. We have about a half dozen 5th wheels we really like. It sure has been an eye opener to see how the prices of these units change depending on the time of year. We took a week this summer and visited several trailer manufacturing facilities in Indiana. Thanks for all the input, we did end up with the limited slip differential. I think one of the of the coolest things with this truck is the five video cameras on it that, with the display, gives you a top down view around the truck. Really nice to use in close quarters!

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Since I'm not sure of what you are doing for a shop for storing the fifth wheel, all I can suggest would be to allow about 14 1/2 feet or more to allow for the slides to be extended while stored.  Our trailer is a bit wider than most at 101 inches, and with the slides out, we would need 14 1/2 inches just for the slides.  More would be needed to be able to walk around the RV if one needed to do some maintenance or whatever.

Terry



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Terry and Jo

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Terry and Jo wrote:

Since I'm not sure of what you are doing for a shop for storing the fifth wheel, all I can suggest would be to allow about 14 1/2 feet or more to allow for the slides to be extended while stored.  Our trailer is a bit wider than most at 101 inches, and with the slides out, we would need 14 1/2 inches just for the slides.  More would be needed to be able to walk around the RV if one needed to do some maintenance or whatever.

Terry


 Terry,

 

Me thinks the word after the second 14 1/2 should be feet and not inches but maybe you're in "Honey I Shrunk the RV" Movie!



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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Thanks for the input Terry. The shop will be 28 feet wide, 54 feet long with a ceiling height of 17 feet. We opted for a 20 foot wide x 14 foot tall garage door with operator. I think that should hold the trailer and the truck with room for another car and give me room for some additional storage and some shop tools/equipment.

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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Limited slip is a cost-effective option that can improve your 4x4 rig. I'd go for it.

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