Air lockers beneficial in sand?

[finga]

Shannan's are brilliant.
They came and valued the Kingswood for insurance purposes (not bad seeing they're in Brisbane and the Kingswood's in Warwick) and we now have 6 cars insured with them.

As for this thread wouldn't be a wise thing to have a look at the track and do a few runs before attempting to tow a boat through it to try and see what 'troubles and problems' there are and to see what driving lines may be best instead of debating on the ability of the vehicle and hoping for the best when the time comes to tow the boat when your going at it like a bull at a gate??

Sometimes a few moments of planning saves a hell of a lot of time and troubles.

[addobaz]

Now that sounds like some good advice. Lockers, beadlocks, and big tyres might not be enough for the lack of experience hey! The fun part is finding out. Can't wait to get out there!!!!!!

[SummerTrance]

On the insurance issue,

I have mine through NRMA. I am covered anywhere offroad, as long as it's legal to be there. Recently had to make a claim after doing panel damage at glasshouse. Claim went through with no hassles.

As for modifcations, NRMA dont even list them on the policy anymore. They just say to make sure that your agreed value covers the value of everyone on the vehicle. When I ring up with new mods, they just ask if I want to adjust my market value.
When I put the claim in recently I was worried when I had to take the vehicle to the assesment centre, because I had mods I hadnt advised them of, including lift kit and bigger (illegal) tyres. Nothing was said.

[Deelirious]

Just reignite this old debate, I've just spent 2 weeks on Fraser towing around my 6m Seafarer Victory with all the usual overloaded paraphernalia such as big eskies extra fuel etc. I have used my lockers before doing the same job with my smaller boat and as per my previous post on this subject was not yet convinced of their worth - well that has all changed now that I have the bigger boat.

I credit the lockers to allowing me to poke along more slowly through the rough and or soft stuff without getting stuck and making a huge difference to being able to gently pull the boat through the cuttings to and from the beach each day. Sure I still needed my mate with a snatch strap through the big beach cuttings at Indian but on a daily basis I had a lot of confidence to head to and from the beach and launch and retrieve on my own - with the lockers. We did some unintentional experiments with them off and on and you cn actually come to a stop with them off (yes while being towed) and then lock em in and just pop out and start moving again.

They are a great addition but a mate with a snatch strap is still more important.
Ed

[CT]

Single or twin lockers Ed? And what sort of car/engine/gearbox?

Sorry for the 20 questions but going through the same dilemma at the moment.

Cheers
Craig

[BenDover]

He said Lockers, So I would say both lockers CT.

Speaking of lockers I have a spare ARB (RDCKA) compressor, wirring loom and switch (complete set up) for $100 if anyone wants it.

[Deelirious]

Yeah thats front and rear ARB air lockers on a 2005 petrol prado so when in HL or LL both front and rear and the centre diffs are actually locked.

Great fun vehicle and if you haven't used lockers before be careful using both front and rear if traversing a slippery slope at an angle because you tend to go sideways, best to leave either the front or both off or just head straight up or down. The sideways trip can be fast once you bust traction with both front and back locked.

Ed

[wags on the water]

Yeah thats front and rear ARB air lockers on a 2005 petrol prado so when in HL or LL both front and rear and the centre diffs are actually locked.

Great fun vehicle and if you haven't used lockers before be careful using both front and rear if traversing a slippery slope at an angle because you tend to go sideways, best to leave either the front or both off or just head straight up or down. The sideways trip can be fast once you bust traction with both front and back locked.

Ed

Thanks Ed. This was some much needed info I've been chasing for some time - whether to buy front or rear or both. Is your prado manual or auto?

Just have to convince my better half that this mod is necessary.


Regards,
Wags

[CT]

Yeah thats front and rear ARB air lockers on a 2005 petrol prado so when in HL or LL both front and rear and the centre diffs are actually locked.

Great fun vehicle and if you haven't used lockers before be careful using both front and rear if traversing a slippery slope at an angle because you tend to go sideways, best to leave either the front or both off or just head straight up or down. The sideways trip can be fast once you bust traction with both front and back locked.

Ed

Thanks for the reply Ed,
My father has the same car (auto) and the traction control is always applying brakes to stop a spinning wheel and its a PITA when towing in sand. He's thinking about lockers for our Simpson trip next year plus giving me a hand to drag the boat up Fraser so its good to get some feedback from someone who's done it to the same car.

I might annoy you with a few PM's closer to when he's getting them fitted if thats OK?

Cheers
Craig

[Deelirious]

No worries with the info. The car is great and since my 05 model petrol auto gxl prado doesn't have traction control I haven't had this problem but a mate in a pajero did or at least he did if he forgot to turn off traction contro which happenned a lot since it reset itself each time the car was turned off. I check Ausfish fairly regularly and so should pick up a PM.
I have had two problems with the lockers or ....
1) A front axel seal was damaged during install that took a bit to replace but once fixed all good, and
2) an air hose was run too close to the exhaust and burst under pressure when towing the boat on sand in low range = instant bogging and I mean instant.

Relocated the air hose to the other side of the chassis rail fixed that problem.

Its too windy to take the boat out maybe I should take the car and get it dirty this weekend - plenty of mud around!

[BenDover]

Melted air lines are a common problem. Even if its touching the compressor itself it will melt and burst. 2 solutions. Arb sell a heavy duty upgraded air line. Or you can use a electric wire protection tube to cover the hose (the small dia ribber plastic tube from supercheap).