Rear diff question

[Kenneth Brown]

My F250 turned F350 (one ton DRW) has a traction problem, or better yet I have a problem of going into places I shouldn't. It gets driven 5 miles on dirt/mud/sand for every mile on pavement. I average about 4000 miles a year on the truck. I have some super aggresive mud treads on her but it isn't enough. I have looked into lockers and they are EXPENSIVE! In addition I have the install cost. I can set up a set of gears for a dirt track car but I don't rely (is that spelled right?) on it to get me and tha family home either. I'm just a little too nervous to do my farm truck. I have found a Lockright Locker Ebay ad that you don't have to reset everything. Its not as bad as say a Detroit but still $350. I've Lincoln locked many dirttrack cars. I feel like it would be ok for my truck since it spends so much time off road. It has 8 lug wheels with huge studs, the axles are about 2", its just beefy. The question I geuss is will I be able to tow. I pull a 16' gooseneck with my tractor on it. Total weight is about 10000. I kinda wonder what will happen if I'm turning the truck around in the pasture with all the weight on it. Will it hold? Am I REALLY asking for trouble? What would you really do, not what should I do? If all else fails I'll support Visa a little more and go with the Lockright.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Rear diff question

I should add I meant total weight of trailer/tractor is about 10000.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Rear diff question

Ken with that kind of weight somethings got to slip or break I'm afraid, we had a doodle bug on the farm when I was a kid with alot less motor and weight and it would break axle if put in a hard pull

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Rear diff question

Seems to me if you lock the rearend and fully load it and turn on grass/dirt you will probably be ok.<br /><br />Turn on pavement, and I would think something would pop.<br /><br />Dang I miss my old race car hopping around corners. Had a mini-spool, it was fun.<br /><br />Ken

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Rear diff question

Yep, thats what I',m afraid of. As little as it sees the road the only time it would carry a big load is when on pavement. Looks like I'll have to curb my driving habits.

 

[heycods]

Re: Rear diff question

Time to go to the wrecking yard for more parts, Like a transfer case and a front dif.<br /> We were deer hunting in Co. back in the early 80s and got snowed in at about 7000' a good old boy from Austin pulled all our 2wds out with a 4wd dually with chains on it, that thing was as close as you could get to a bulldozer without having stering clutches.

 

[Mercr]

Re: Rear diff question

See if you can find a Trac-Loc 3rd member. That's Ford's version of a limited slip dif. You didn't mention what year your 250/350 is, but a 9" Ford Trac-Loc works great for me. <br /><br />I swapped in a new one, last year. It's about as easy as it gets - the 3rd member is already all set up. Just unbolt & pull the axles out a bit, remove the old 3rd member , & stick in the new one. Bolt the axles back up, & DRIVE.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Rear diff question

No 9" in mine. I have the Sterling 10.25 where the gears come out the back, no pumpkin.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Rear diff question

Voice of experience here, Dana 60 rear-end with floating axles is what should be under your Ford. With a locker type differential and a heavy load expect, yes expect broken axles on pavement. The upside is you can still drive the truck (on one axle) if you pull the broken one and reassemble the axle flange.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Rear diff question

Well this is what the website says- "How does a Powertrax® Traction System or Lock-Right Locker affect the towing of my trailer?<br />The No-Slip Traction System or Lock-Right Locker will have no affect on the towing of your trailer on the road other than you will have more traction when you need it." <br /><br />Who knows. It says that it will disengage enough to make turns. The lockright will be louder and you will hear the clicking but will keep both tires engaged together in bad conditions. The No slip is supposed to be for people that drive mainly on road. If tha Visa will support it I'm gonna go with the LockRight, tired of having to go get a tractor, jack, come-a-long, chains, etc.